These GPUs are also the first ones that become available to buy.
So how do they perform with GPUs manufactured by board partners such asASUSorGigabyte?
Are they worth looking at when you buy your next graphics card?
Thats what I will discuss today in this article.
So, if a reference card is what you are looking for, dive right into the article.
What is a Reference Card GPU?
The new graphics card ensures that it has all these baseline values set for a specific model.
The partners cards release their version of the GPU after some time.
NVIDIAs reference cards are also known asFounder Edition.
AMD also releases its own versions of reference cards.
These are the current generation of reference GPUs that you’re free to buy.
We coveredprofessional versus consumer GPUsin a separate article.
Do check it out.
What is a Custom/Aftermarket GPU?
They use the reference design of a GPU to mass manufacture the graphics card for consumers.
The GPU die, or its heart contains all the stream processors and transistors.
NVIDIA and AMD manufacture these using their fabrication plant or a third party, such asTSMC.
The AIB partner obtains this, installs them to the PCBs, and adds the coolers and heatsinks.
You will find versions that come overclocked for better performance.
These are marketed as OC versions by the AIB partners.
We have also put theTi vs. Super GPU lineups from NVIDIAin a head-to-head fight.
Do check it out to see how they perform.
How do Reference GPUs Differ from Custom GPUs?
Reference GPUs come with the stock prefs imposed by the manufacturers.
But with custom GPUs, the manufacturers have some leeway and implement the changes to their hearts content.
AIB boards generally have higher memory and core GPU clock speeds.
Sometimes, specific models have factory overclock on them.
The Gigabyte 3060 Ti mentioned here gets a nice overclock of 100 MHz over its Founders edition.
The PCB has components such as better VRM and power-switching modules to support this.
The GPU will be able to sustain higher loads for more extended periods of time.
If you want, it’s possible for you to apply your own overclock to these cards.
And then, they can perform similarly to a custom overclocked unit.
Custom GPUs typically perform510% faster than a Reference card.
This amount strictly depends on the overclock and the cooling that is present.
Read more oncan Motherboard Bottleneck GPU?
Power Consumption
Reference card GPUs will consume less electricity than custom cards.
This is due to higher clock speeds and overclocking present.
With any overclocking present, you should expect the power draw to be greater.
Lets take the RTX 3060 Ti as an example.
The Founders edition draws208 Wduring peak gaming.
When idle, it draws only8 watts,and it consumes15 Wwhen playing videos or browsing the web.
The overclocked version of RTX 3060 Ti consumes approximately256 Wduring gaming.
This value remains the same during the stress testing.
Similarly, the card draws9 Wwhen idling and18 Wwhen running less intensive tasks.
Cooling
This is where a custom GPU shines.
Manufacturers equip the OC units with large heatsinks and multiple cooler fans.
This reduces the GPUs overall temperature to below 80 degrees even while running the games at maximum options.
Meanwhile, Founders edition cards normally come with a single blower-style fan.
Blower fans are less efficient at cooling than axial fans on custom GPUs.
And a single fan is not enough to dissipate all the heat.
As a result, we see higher temperatures during gaming.
Coming back to the RTX 3060 Ti, here are the average temperatures during gaming.
Noise is where the Reference GPU is able to keep things silent.
Both GPUs can remain at 0 dB during normal workloads as the fans can stop spinning altogether.
You may also like to read aboutwhy is my GPU usage so low?
Design
Reference GPUs are unbeatable when it comes to aesthetics.
Take the RTX 30 series Founders edition, for example.
It is a thing of beauty if you ask me.
If you own one, you would want to use a vertical mount and put it on display.
Colorful also makes some great-looking GPU inspired by the Sakura tree blossoms.
They are really unique and complement well with an all-white build.
In short, there are many graphics cards, and the designs are endless.
So choose a design that you like and one that complements your build.
Compatibility with Cases
Reference cards fit well with most cases.
These use a two-slot design and hence fit in most cases.
Meanwhile, the RTX 4090 is an exception here.
Custom GPUs can vary wildly in size.
If you havent seen it, just google it.
When placed vertically, it is just short of a few inches of a freaking PS5.
So, before buying a GPU, you must ensure it fits inside your case.
Measuring a cases insides and the clearance you get should help you out.
Pricing and Availability
Reference cards are priced lower than custom GPUs.
When a manufacturer announces a new GPU, reference cards are the ones that become available instantly.
However, over the course of a GPUs lifetime, the reference cards become less available in stock.
In comparison, custom cards are priced both equally and greater than reference cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell if a GPU is a reference card?
A reference GPU has its unique design and comes with a blower-style fan.
you’re free to sometimes find NVIDIA or AMDs logo in the GPUs PCI-e connector.
Or do a quick google search, and you will get the design based on the model.
Are reference cards better?
Reference cards normally have less cooling than aftermarket cards.
And they perform lesser than overclocked cards.
But reference cards are normally priced less than aftermarket cards.
Final Words
Reference GPUs are made to showcase how specific GPUs should perform in real-life.
These are a great way to get in the latest generations of graphics cards without paying a price premium.
Plus, they have their design pomps too.
Until that time, its a goodbye.
