Table of contents: 1. What is the graphics card memory type 2. How to know the graphics card memory type - Using the app - Through the website
What is the graphics card memory type
There are two types of GPU memory – GDDR and DDR. Modern graphics cards use only GDDR – the graphics memory with doubled data transfer rate.
Please note: DDR is, most often, RAM.
GDDR memory is divided into several types. Depending on the type of GDDR, its bandwidth may vary greatly. Nowadays GDDR3 and GDDR5 are the most common types of GPU memory. But you can find all other memory variations – GDDR, GDDR2 and GDDR4 – still present on the market.
Please note: Graphics cards may have almost the same name and memory size, but differ in memory type. This is why a GPU model with more modern type of memory will cost significantly more.
It is worth noting that GDDR4 memory, which is more modern than GDDR3, does not have much popularity among manufacturers. This is due to the fact that the transition from GDDR4 to GDDR5 happened too quickly, and many companies did not rebuild their technological capacities from the production of GDDR3 memory to GDDR4. As a result, they immediately switched to GDDR5, retaining part of their capacities for the production of GDDR3. Thus, GDDR4 memory never became popular.
How to know the graphics card memory type
There are many ways to know the GPU memory type. In this article we will take a look at two of them – using one of the specialized applications and using the website.
Using the app
Please note: Many applications that analyze the technical components of a particular computer are able to show the type of graphics card memory. We’ll mainly look at GPU-Z, but it has a lot of analogues.
Run the app to analyze information about the technical components of the system. In our case, it is going to be the GPU-Z application. It is worth noting that this particular app can be downloaded for free from the developers’ website.
At the bottom of the application, you can switch to the desired graphics card if there are several of them installed in the computer.
Having selected the required GPU, you can find its type of memory in the “Memory Type” column.
Please note: GPU-Z application gives you the opportunity to get the most comprehensive technical information about the graphics card. In addition to the type of memory, you can find out its size, the technical process of the GPU itself, the version of the drivers on the computer, and much more information regarding graphics.
Through the website
There are many websites that contain information on all major graphics cards. Such a website makes it possible to find out the type of GPU memory without installing additional applications on the computer.
Please note: In order to determine the type of graphics card’s memory using the website, you need to know exactly the model of your GPU.
Game Debate is one of the websites that allow you to find the GPU memory type. Just go to the website and enter your graphics card model in the corresponding field.
You are going to see a webpage with full information about your GPU. At the bottom of the table you can see the Memory Type item – here you will find the memory type of your particular graphics card.
Please note: On the website you can also see the rating of your particular GPU in comparison with other models.