ATI Video Card Suffixes

ATI video cards can have one of multiple suffixes attached to their name indicating relative level of performance, the use of suffixes was abandoned with the release of Radeon HD 3000 series products, the last two digits of the model number was then used to indicate relative performance of the products, except for the "X2" suffix indicating dual-GPU solutions, such that the product has two GPUs on one PCB. Below is the listing of the suffixes used in previous generations of products, in order from least powerful (at the top) to the most powerful. (at the bottom)

Not all suffixes will be found on a particular line of cards.

Each suffix tends to indicate a general trend of features and limitations that are common when applied to different lines of card and different graphics cores. These are related to the number of processing units (pipelines) available, the bit width of the video RAM interface, and the clock speed of the graphics core and video RAM.

The distinguishing feature of 'HyperMemory' cards is their use of ATi's HyperMemory technology. Otherwise, they are very similar to other budget-level suffixes such as 'SE' or 'LE.'

The MHz of the core clock measures the rate at which the GPU processes, higher core clock in turn is a contributing factor to the clarity of the graphics due to faster processing, the loading of images, the differential of colors and shades, the sharpness, brightness, texture, motion, distance capture etc.

'SE' defines the bottom of the 'budget/value' segment for Radeon cards; it shares this segment with 'HyperMemory' cards, though 'SE' cards, unless marked as such, do not use HyperMemory technology.

'LE' cards, like 'SE' cards, are designed around the lowest specifications in use for any particular graphics core. A video card line may come with an 'LE' card in the lineup, or an 'SE' card in the lineup, but never both; because of this, they can both be considered effectively the same.

'GT' cards are among the less powerful and expensive suffixes, though they are only applied to graphics cores designed for the enthusiast/performance segment, resulting in a card made for the mainstream segment.

'RX' is identical to 'GT'; a company might produce a card and give it the 'RX' suffix, or the 'GT' suffix, and never sell cards using both labels; because of this, they can both be considered effectively the same.

Contrary as to what it may imply, the lack of a suffix, for most modern video cards, does NOT indicate that it is the "default" model. Rather, it simply lies roughly in the middle in terms of performance and price.

Somewhat similar to the 'GT' suffix, 'GTO' cards feature an enthusiast/performance-level graphics core, with reduced specifications to result in a less-expensive/less-powerful card.

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Wikipedia