How To Interpret Nvidia Graphics Card Numbers

The kind of choice of graphics cards in the Geforce range is dazzling, yet it can get pretty confusing too!!!

Nvidia Geforce cards use a code based system of identification and demarcation.Put simply, they use four digit numbers for their GPUs and also add suffixes, now mostly starting with 'G'.What does all this mean?!Read on and find out!
Numerical codes
Entry Level GPUs

• _200 eg: 7200 GS, 6200 GS etc.
• _300 eg: 7300 GS, 9300 GS etc.
• _400 eg: 8400 GS, 9400 GT etc.

All cards with their second digit being any of the above three types represent Nvidia's affordable, discrete multimedia type of graphics cards.

For:

1. These are for those people who don't like integrated graphics chipsets which consume RAM and other resources from their computer.
2. People who want to watch movies in great quality without wanting overwhelming power.
3. An affordable discrete graphics solution.

These cards can play most games in great quality, but newer games will run at slightly reduced Frames Per Second[FPS] and lower graphics quality.

Mid Range GPUs

• _500 eg: 8500 GT, 9500 GT etc.
• _600 eg: 8600 GTS, 9600 GT etc.

For:

1. A discrete graphics solution that does more than just watching movies...
2. A slightly tight-on-budget gamer, since it will offer fantastic gameplay for most games and great performance for more modern games too.
3. Someone who wants to play games but doesn't want a wardrobe-sized cabinet with noisy fans and advanced power supply units.
4. An above average card for a good PC.

These are very convenient, since they offer awesome power at an affordable price.They offer very good gameplay too, even for new age games.All this and [usually] very reasonable power requirements.

Top-End GPUs....

• _800 eg: 9800 GX2, 8800 Ultra etc.

For:

1. The no-compromise gamer....
2. Professional video and photo editors, 3D rendering, whatever!!!
3. Perfect gameplay with mind-boggling graphic detail, high FPS and all
4. Future-proof gaming capabilities!!!

These cards can tackle games for years, eg: the Nvidia 6800 GT can still support games as advanced as Crysis, Race Driver: Grid and so on!