On graphic cards, what is the difference between core clock speed and memory clock speed?

Answer 1

This question relates to two different kinds of Integrated circuit used in a computer system. Both core and memory are made up of millions of transistors integrated together to form one electronic chip. They are similar in a way that they both process data. Data in computer technology is translated in electronic pulses that each of the transistors can process by turning on and off where in mathematics the ON and OFF is represented by the binary digits 1 and 0. the speed of which the transistors turn on and off is reliant on an on board clock in the motherboard which supplies the electronic pulses to the said memory and core. This clock pulses are measured in hertz hence the symbols MHz (million hertz) or Hz (thousand MHz). The answer to your question is, Memory is different to the Core in terms of its functionality but both components uses the electronic pulses supplied by the internal to process the data.

Answer 2

In simple terms:

Core speed refers to the graphica card's processor speed (it has it's own CPU just like your computer does). The core speed determines how fast the video card "processes" the graphic data used to display images on your screen.

Memory speed refers to the card's onboard RAM speed. Graphic data used to display images on your screen is stored on the card's memory modules.

Ultimately the level of any video card's performance is a balance of how high the core speed is along with that of the memory & how much of it is present (32MB, 64MB, 128MB card, etc...)

Using a computer for an example: it may have a P4 processor that runs at 2ghz, however the RAM installed may run at 333mhz. In this case 2ghz is core speed & 333mhz is memory clock speed.

Answer 3

Companies are good at marketing pre-overclocked cards to people who don't know what they're doing. You could set the cheaper card to the same frequencies and it would perform at exactly the same speed.