Reference cards from Nvidia and AMD are hard to come by, which is why most people buy AIB variants from brands like Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, Zotac, Galax, Innno3D, PNY, Sapphire, XFX, and others. Many of these aftermarket graphics cards sport better thermals, lower noise levels, and slightly higher performance compared to reference editions. Some AIB features are worth paying extra for, but many of them are just there to justify the overpriced variants. These features don't add meaningful performance, and often come in the way of optimal operation. If you're still paying a premium for these useless features, it's high time you reconsidered.

Boosted clock speeds

An upgrade in name alone

Factory-overclocked GPU variants might seem like a good deal on the surface until you realize you're paying extra for little real-world benefit. A few extra MHz in clock speed doesn't magically boost your framerates, at least not in any way you'd notice. Overclocked GPUs provide, at most, a 5% increase in performance compared to reference and non-overclocked graphics cards. That's the difference between 100 and 105 FPS, or 180 and 189 FPS. It doesn't even exceed the margin of error, let alone be noticeable in terms of actual gameplay.

AIB partners will do their best to market slightly higher clock speeds as game-changing features, but you're better off investing in a model that features a better cooler instead. Your GPU's cooler design can impact your FPS more than higher clock speeds, since a greater thermal headroom allows it to maintain boost clocks for longer, improving average as well as minimum FPS. Undervolting your GPU yourself works on the same principle, and you can probably extract more performance that way than by investing in a premium overclocked card.

Proprietary overclocking and AI utilities

Stay away from my PC

Even if you wish to overclock your graphics card to squeeze out single-digit FPS gains, you don't need first-party software to achieve it. AIB brands still love to bundle overclocking and monitoring software with their GPUs, so you stay within their ecosystem. Overclocking or undervolting your GPU doesn't need anything more than MSI Afterburner. You don't need to subject your PC to bloated and resource-heavy utilities just to maximize your GPU's performance. Of course, if you like the functionality and interface of proprietary software, go for it. That said, don't feel obliged to pay a premium for it.

Even worse than overclocking programs are first-party AI apps. These programs either revolve around AI image generation or AI performance tuning, neither of which is particularly useful. I have tons of other AI image generators at my disposal, and manual tuning almost always gives me more control and better results. It's best to uninstall such bloatware if it's present on your system. You probably can't avoid buying a GPU just to stay away from these "tools," but at least don't prioritize them when making your purchase.

Dual BIOS

No one is flashing a custom vBIOS

You'll often see "dual BIOS" being advertised prominently on GPU product pages, promising a choice between peak performance and silent operation modes. I don't know about you, but I've never felt the need to switch my vBIOS on the fly. If I want my GPU to run no holds barred, I'll simply configure a quick overclocking profile in MSI Afterburner and switch to it whenever I'm running a demanding game. On the other hand, when I'm cruising with a lightweight title, writing an article, or browsing the web, I'll revert to the stock profile in Afterburner. Most graphics cards have a zero-RPM mode, eliminating fan noise during idle workloads. I don't need a physical toggle on the GPU or yet another utility to achieve similar results.

Another benefit of having dual BIOS on your graphics card is that you can flash a custom vBIOS without worrying about bricking your card. Even if things go wrong, you have a backup GPU to boot from. However, vBIOS flashing isn't popular or necessary these days. GPUs are already configured to perform near their potential. Forcing a different vBIOS on your card in hopes of unlocking extra performance is a fruitless endeavor. Even if you succeed, the difference in performance will be minimal. Finding the right vBIOS will essentially waste your time and yield little to no performance benefit.

Premium thermal pads

Doesn't change things on the ground

Another curious addition to the GPU product pages is "superior thermal pads." Brands replace conventional thermal paste with phase-change thermal pads that can change their physical state depending on the GPU core temperature. This can ensure better contact between the GPU core and the heatsink as the thermal pad liquefies under heat, and reverts to the solid state when the core cools down. While phase-change pads are undoubtedly superior to thermal paste, they don't add much to the actual GPU performance. Sure, you won't need to change the thermal pad once it's there, but most gamers never replace their GPU's thermal paste anyway. Plus, if your GPU model already has a decent cooling assembly, it probably runs cool enough and performs as well as a premium model that has phase-change thermal pads.

Moisture-proof PCBs

If it sells, who am I to question?

Who are these users who need their graphics card's PCB to be coated with a moisture-proof layer to protect against short circuits? That's legitimately the claim made by several AIB brands on the GPU product pages. Protecting the GPU against moisture, dust, and debris seems to be high on their priority list, but I don't see the point. Unless your PC is somehow heavily exposed to the elements, a premium PCB seems like a marketing gimmick. It's one of those features that you expect on an overpriced GPU variant just for the sake of it. If you have the money to burn on a premium GPU with a premium PCB, go ahead. For the rest of us, a dry, ventilated, and ideally air-conditioned room is enough to keep the GPU and the rest of the PC safe from corrosion and short circuits.

Integrated screens

So you can display your empty wallet

Finally, we've arrived at integrated screens on graphics cards. LCD screens have invaded nearly every PC component, so you should expect them on GPUs, too. If tiny screens on the side don't cut it for you, you can even get 8-inch discrete displays to install alongside your graphics card. Jokes aside, integrated displays are one of the most overkill features on AIB graphics cards, inflating the price the moment they land on any model. It's a neat gimmick that you can play with for a few days, but it gets old after that. You'd probably leave it untouched after cycling through dozens of GIFs or images, forgetting about it as it blends in with the rest of your PC. It certainly doesn't justify the massive premiums AIB GPUs demand for it. So, before you start wondering about having a screen on your GPU, make sure you've considered every other aspect already.

Buying a GPU at MSRP is luxury enough in this market

In a time when graphics cards, along with RAM and SSDs, are selling at inflated prices, it's tough to care about premium AIB GPUs with useless features. It's neat having a screen on your over-engineered and factory-overclocked GPU, but it does little to improve real-world performance. There are far too many GPU models with decent coolers and build quality without dipping into luxury variants. If you can find a decent graphics card deal somewhere in the vicinity of its MSRP, consider yourself lucky.