Nowadays, when the word “rig” is uttered, the first thing that comes to mind is three graphics cards bridged together. GPUs always fascinated me and left me hungry for more information, specifically about the evolution of the graphics card over the years. After searching the internet for hours, I failed to find the data I was seeking in a simple, informational chart complete with history and release dates. Finally about five months ago, I decided to create one myself and now I’m sharing it with you. Be advised, clicking on the thumbnail below will open the full-size chart (14,000px × 6,135px and approx. 6mb).
Graphics Cards History Chart
Having in mind that this chart is useless in low resolutions, direct links are listed below. Medium ones have 3000 pixels horizontally, which is barely enough for a rough view. The large ones have 14000 pixels horizontally, and are suitable for print even on high resolution plotters or flatbed printers for a nice wall print of 120 x 55 centimeters on 300dpi respectively. I created three different color schemes. There is no difference in the information within the chart, just the color.
Medium:
Large:
I’m completely open for comments and suggestions. This is version 1.0 of this chart, and it will be updated in the future.
Tags: Boskovic, Chart, gaming, gpu, graphics card, History, Loo, Luka, video card
10-18-10 04:47 PM
10-18-10 04:52 PM
I wonder if my boss would be mad if I printed this on our plotter? Maybe I'll do it after hours.
10-18-10 05:06 PM
10-18-10 05:30 PM
I have a few design and content suggestions for you.
- I found myself flipping back & forth between the specs for each card and their respective photos. It'd be easier to read the chart if these were in the same row or column. Colour coding the spec boxes with the manufacturer names was helpful.
- game titles do provide context, but the choices seem pretty arbitrary. I'd suggest cutting this list down to the major 1-2 games from each respective year. Some games you mention weren't even 3D titles. Maybe put the titles themselves in the grey bar area, between the year markers. On that note, Doom 2 was released some years before Quake.
- include API information as well as game titles. It'd be interesting to see when the Glide era began/ended, or how many years it took MS release successive versions of DirectX.
- it's hard to tell from the specs how the cards would perform next to each other. Maybe use texture or pixel fill-rates?
- include original MSRP under specs
- layer the chart a little:for instance you could have a line graph representing average transistor counts or some all encompassing figure behind the main chart.
Other subtitle suggestions:
'The rise of ATI and nVidia'
10-18-10 05:47 PM
10-18-10 06:12 PM
I think some ATI cards were left out of 2008 and 2009...
Lets see... Ive had...
nVidia Riva TNT2
nVidia GeForce 256
nVidia GeForce 4 Ti 4600
nVidia GeForce FX 5850 Ultra
nVidia GeForce 6600GT
ATI X850 XT PE
ATI HD4870 Toxic
ATI 2X HD4890 CF
Oh, and nice work
10-18-10 07:10 PM
It is interesting to see how the number of players in the market has shrunk while the HSFs just keep getting bigger.
The games don't seem arbitrary to me. I think I own like 90% of 'em.
10-18-10 07:46 PM
10-18-10 10:31 PM
better than porn
as good as porn
not as good as porn
its so easy to understand, why hasnt anyone else thought of this. it will make decision making less of a hassle since i, like most people, already understand everything in terms of pornographic literature anyway.
very nice
10-18-10 11:04 PM
ATI 128 Pro -> FX5200 -> 7600GT -> 8800GTS -> GTX460
10-18-10 11:54 PM
Thanks Luka
10-18-10 11:59 PM
Does Crysis still boast the best graphics, if so then why are we getting better cards, we need better games first! (although the price reduction of older cards is nice)
Can't wait for Crysis 2 =D
10-19-10 01:31 AM
I actually didnt expect for all replies to be positive and VERY useful. First of all, thanks to overclockers.com staff who approved my first post
midijunky, you know the score!
Also, about the nVIDIA & ATI rises and falls, there are always polemics about that, I really didn't want to ruin any ATI or nVIDIA enthusiast dreams, I simply wanted to make a chart for everyone...
P.S. 1: Guys, run the plotter in DRAFT mode
P.S. 2: Fennecfox, np mannn, I LOVE DESCENT.
P.S. 3: Better than porn? Argh... but better than a PORN MOVIE, definitely yes
10-19-10 02:23 AM
Matt
10-19-10 02:42 AM
I went from a voodoo1, to a voodoo2, then SLI voodoo2s, then a Rendition card of some sort, then a voodoo3 3000(this died due to a passive sink and open case) then a GF2 of some sort, then GF4 mx440 (aka gf2 redux), then a Ti4200(fan died, card roasted), then a laptop 6800 semi-ultra, then a 4830, and now a 4890.
10-19-10 03:10 AM
10-19-10 04:37 AM
10-19-10 01:28 PM
10-19-10 01:33 PM
Very Well Done!
10-19-10 02:12 PM
10-19-10 02:25 PM
10-19-10 05:41 PM
10-21-10 05:06 PM
nvidia 8800gts
nvidia 6600gt
ati radeon 9500pro
ati rage 128pro
don't know prior to that, whatever came built in...
As some others have mentioned it would be useful to see performance comparisons. Maybe you could capture the information here: Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart
10-21-10 06:01 PM
10-27-10 11:23 AM
10-27-10 10:00 PM
10-31-10 03:43 PM
11-01-10 01:00 AM
There is a game more taxing than Crysis, it's Metro 2033. Turn off Advanced DoF and Tessellation (way too much fps loss for too little gain), then it's playable on Very High. Other than that, nothing really... and Crysis 2 will be less taxing because it's optimized for consoles... has way less geometry and no open levels.
11-15-10 10:22 AM
11-16-10 08:06 PM
12-19-10 12:31 PM
I'd forgotten that the GeForce name came out in 1999 with the GeForce 256 and can the GeForce 2 really be a decade old?!
12-19-10 12:54 PM
Saw the GTX295 and says 1400M transistors, shouldn't this be x2?
12-20-10 09:03 PM
Geforce 2 Ultra (first card I was ever super excited about. Still have it.)
9700 Pro (first card I ever modded!)
Geforce 6600 GT (temporary replacement after the 9700 died, still have this too)
X850 Pro (I still love that card! Gave it to my pops who finally replaced it with a 4850)
2x HD 4870 (ya, a huge JUMP...still rocking these now)
HD 6970 (in the mail!!!)