To determine if a graphics card (GPU) is good or bad, evaluate its performance benchmarks, compatibility with your system, power efficiency, and value for money. High-end GPUs like NVIDIA’s RTX 4090 or AMD’s RX 7900 XTX excel in gaming and professional workloads, while budget options like the NVIDIA GT 1030 or AMD RX 6400 may suffice for light tasks. Check if the GPU meets your needs (e.g., 1080p/1440p gaming, ray tracing, or AI tasks) and ensure it’s compatible with your motherboard, power supply, and OS. Power efficiency is critical for desktops; look for GPUs with low TDP (e.g., NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 with 160W TDP) and efficient cooling. Value for money balances specs against price; compare reviews and market trends to avoid overpaying.

A GPU’s performance is determined by its processing power, measured in CUDA cores (NVIDIA) or stream processors (AMD), and clock speed. For example, the RTX 4090’s 24,352 CUDA cores and 2.5 GHz boost clock outperform the AMD RX 7900 XTX’s 5,792 stream processors and 2.5 GHz clock in 4K gaming (3DMark Time Spy scores: 12,500 vs. 8,300). Compatibility requires matching PCIe slots, VRAM (8GB+ for modern games), and power supply (e.g., RTX 4080 needs a 750W+ PSU). Power efficiency is quantified by TDP and energy consumption; the AMD RX 6650 XT (132W TDP) consumes 30% less power than the NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti (170W TDP) under load (AnandTech benchmarks). Value for money is assessed by price-to-performance ratios; the RTX 4060 Ti (₤399) offers 120 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, outperforming the AMD RX 6650 XT (₤349) at 100 FPS, making it a better value. Market data from PCPartPicker (2023) shows 85% of users prioritize NVIDIA GPUs for gaming, while 60% choose AMD for budget builds. Incorrect choices lead to hardware bottlenecks, higher costs, or energy waste, underscoring the need for rigorous evaluation.