Many people get confused when they see the requirement "NVIDIA graphics card required for acceleration" in AI software. They ask: "My graphics card is from Colorful, ASUS, or GIGABYTE, not NVIDIA. Can I still use it?"
Don't worry, today we'll explain graphics cards in plain language to help you understand whether your graphics card has the "NVIDIA DNA."
Understanding Graphics Cards with an Analogy
Imagine building a car:
- NVIDIA is like the manufacturer of the car engine. It designs the GPU chips (like RTX 3060, 4090) but doesn't assemble the entire car.
- Colorful, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and other brands are like car assembly plants. They buy NVIDIA's "engines" (GPU chips), add their own chassis, 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 style," but the core engine is NVIDIA's:
Colorful: Like a "domestic high-performance-to-price car," affordable and with sufficient performance.
ASUS/ROG: Like a "high-end modified car," especially the ROG series, emphasizing luxury and strong performance.
MSI: Like a "racing-style car," with good heat dissipation and strong overclocking capabilities.
GIGABYTE: Like an "all-around family car," with good price-performance ratio and stability.
ZOTAC: Like a "mini hot hatch," specializing in small graphics cards.
GALAX: Like a "cool supercar," with a stylish appearance and strong personality.
Inno3D: Like a "practical utility vehicle," focusing on heat dissipation and durability.
Key Point: AI Acceleration Depends on the Chip, Not the Brand
How to determine if it can be used? As long as your graphics card model starts with RTX or GTX (like RTX 4060, GTX 1660), regardless of whether the brand is Colorful or GIGABYTE, the core is NVIDIA's chip, and it can run AI without any problems!
What are the differences between brands? Brands only determine the appearance, heat dissipation, warranty, and other "external" factors. AI acceleration capability depends entirely on the NVIDIA chip model (like 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 above," as long as your model number is ≥3060 (like 4060, 4070), any brand is fine.
- Check your computer: Windows users press "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" to open Task Manager, click the "Performance" tab, and view the graphics card model.
Summary in One Sentence
NVIDIA is the "chip leader," Colorful and others are "assembly juniors." Recognize RTX/GTX + Number, and AI acceleration is definitely no problem!