There are a few different parties involved in the manufacturing of graphics cards. Depending on what GPU you choose, one of the big boys, Nvidia, AMD, or Intel, are responsible for manufacturing the GPU die itself, made of silicon. The card that the GPU sits on can be made by various different manufacturers, and these cards are referred to as add-in-board (AIB) partner models.

Companies like ASUS, Sapphire, Gigabyte, MSI, and others will purchase GPUs from the die manufacturers to build their own custom models. These models have their own special sauce put into them, and can vary pretty widely in quality, features, and most of all: price. Some of the more premium AIB cards can be hundreds of dollars more than the reference GPU's MSRP, and advertise features like a factory overclock and better cooling. Some of the extra bells and whistles are worth paying for, but some of them really aren't.

4 Worth it: Beefier cooler

Runs cool and quiet

Beefier cooling is among the benefits of splashing cash on a premium GPU model. These cards typically have quite large heatsinks paired with copper heatpipes, along with at least three fans to dissipate the heat. On more expensive models, these fans will often be of a higher quality, and run a bit quieter. Because of this beefier cooling solution, your card will stay a lot quieter under full load as well, but some GPUs will just run hotter than others, so your mileage may vary. Lower temps can also allow your GPU to boost its clock speeds higher, depending on the model.

3 Worth it: Dual BIOS

A useful addition

While not it way not be super useful to everyone, a GPU that has multiple BIOS configurations is something that I think is worth paying extra for. Most GPUs that feature a dual BIOS configuration will have a default BIOS that has a stock configuration, featuring power limits and clock speeds for that of a bog-standard model of that GPU. The second BIOS will usually feature higher clock speeds and power limits, allowing for more aggressive overclocking. Sometimes the fan curve is affected as well, but this can also be changed within software.

Not all AIBs are created equal though, and there's no "standard" for how dual-BIOS configurations are set up out of the box. Some will feature wildly different settings, and others will be pretty similar to one another. Sometimes manufacturers will release new BIOS versions which you can flash over either existing BIOS on your card, and one benefit of having two is that bricking your GPU becomes more difficult. A failed vBIOS update on a graphics card with a single BIOS can render it completely inoperable, while if it fails on a card with two, you can switch to the other and easily re-flash without issue.

2 Not worth it: "OC" models

Not a meaningful increase in performance

If you've shopped for PC components at all in the last decade plus, you've become accustomed to the bombardment of marketing jargon that's been thrown onto parts of all types. GPUs are among the worst for this kind of jargon, and one term specifically is used disingenuously.

The overclocking branding, or "OC" as it's written on GPUs, isn't worth paying more for in the slightest. While yes, in most cases there may actually be a slight overclock on the GPU in comparison to the reference model, it's one that can be very easily achieved on an MSRP model.

One slight argument in favor of getting a more expensive "OC" branded GPU is the fact that the manufacturer may bin the silicon that goes into these GPUs, meaning you might get a chip that's capable of pushing its clocks a little higher than a non-OC chip would. In terms of out-of-the-box performance, there's nothing noteworthy about getting an "OC" GPU, and it's certainly not worth paying extra for.

1 Not worth it: more RGB

Appearance isn't worth paying more for

Beggars can't be choosers, especially in terms of how the GPU market has been lately, but if you're looking for a GPU with a specific look to fit your build, that's great. Keep hunting for that crown jewel to fit your rig. If you're just trying to get your hands on a GPU at all, don't bother paying more for how it looks. RGB lights add nothing other than flair to your PC, and if you're chasing nothing more than framerate, aiming for a card closer to MSRP is a much better plan than paying for vanity RGB effects.

Premium GPU models just aren't worth paying for

When it comes to GPUs in the mid-to-high performance range, units within the same product class can vary quite wildly in price, but despite that, will offer almost identical performance. Unless you're looking for a specific color or design, want beefy cooling, and/or a dual BIOS for tinkering, there are very few reasons to splash cash on a premium AIB partner model. Your wallet will thank you.