Many people get confused when they see the requirement "NVIDIA graphics card acceleration required" in AI software: My graphics card is Colorful, ASUS, or GIGABYTE, not NVIDIA. Can I use it?
Don't worry! Today, we'll break down the "secrets" of graphics cards in plain language, helping you figure out if your graphics card has "NVIDIA DNA."
Understanding Graphics Cards with an Analogy
Imagine building a car:
- NVIDIA is like the manufacturer of car engines. It designs the GPU chips (like RTX 3060, 4090), but it's not responsible for assembling the whole car.
- Colorful, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and other brands are like car assembly plants. They buy NVIDIA's "engines" (GPU chips), add their own car bodies, cooling fans, and circuit boards, and assemble complete graphics cards to sell to you.
What are the Styles of These Brands?
Each brand has its own "car-making characteristics," but the core engine is always from NVIDIA:
Colorful: Like "domestic high-value cars," affordable and with sufficient performance.
ASUS/ROG: Like "high-end modified cars," especially the ROG series, focusing on luxury and strong performance.
MSI: Like "racing-style cars," with good heat dissipation and strong overclocking capabilities.
GIGABYTE: Like "all-around family cars," with good value and stability.
ZOTAC: Like "mini hot hatch cars," specializing in small graphics cards.
GALAX: Like "cool supercars," with a flashy appearance and unique personality.
Inno3D: Like "practical utility vehicles," focusing on heat dissipation and durability.
Key Point: AI Acceleration Depends on the Chip, Not the Brand
How to Determine if You Can Use It? As long as your graphics card model starts with RTX or GTX (e.g., RTX 4060, GTX 1660), regardless of whether the brand is Colorful or GIGABYTE, the core is an NVIDIA chip, and you can run AI without any problems!
What's the Difference Between Brands? The brand only determines the appearance, heat dissipation, warranty, and other "external" factors. AI acceleration capability depends entirely on the NVIDIA chip model (e.g., 3060, 4090).
Tips for Self-Checking Your Graphics Card
- Look at the Name: The graphics card name is usually "Brand + RTX/GTX + Number," such as "Colorful RTX 4060."
- Check Software Requirements: If it requires "RTX 3060 or higher," as long as your model number is ≥ 3060 (e.g., 4060, 4070), any brand will do.
- Check Your Computer: Windows users can press "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" to open Task Manager, click the "Performance" tab, and see the graphics card model.
Summary in One Sentence
NVIDIA is the "chip leader," and Colorful and others are "assembly partners." Look for RTX/GTX + Number, and AI acceleration will be no problem!