Graphics Cards
Whether you are a hardcard'>video graphics card. A high quality card will:
* Have a high resolution to produce sharp images.
* Offer a range of vibrant colors.
* Replicate the smoothest video playback.
Graphics Cards Simplified
The world of video cards has a lot of letters and numbers and vague acronym brand names, so here are some basics.
* There are two major video card manufacturers, Nvidia and AMD/ATI. Nividia produces the
GeForce. AMD/ATI produces the
Radeon.
* Other companies badge and package these two memory cards. So you don't buy a Nvidia GeForce 1GB, but an
ASUS Geforce GTS 250 1GB.
* Most modern graphics cards span from
1GB of memory. There are other variables that dictate performance, but this is the most accurate measurement of how well the card will generally perform.
How to Choose
When Buying A New Computer
Know that when you buy a new computer, there is usually a graphics card preD image rendering. Upgrades are usually available when customizing the computer features that you want, including RAM, burners, CPU speed, etc. Consider what types of programs and applications you plan to use prior to choosing a graphics card in order to avoid the hassle later.
For Upgrading
There are many levels of video graphics cards to choose from, so it is best to decide what you want to use it for before purchasing one. Otherwise, simply going from Web site to Web site will not simplify this complicated search, especially when there is a lot of technical jargon to muddle through. When you install a higher grade graphics card, the old card will be overridden automatically. Remember, you can't just stick a state of the art video card on a
CPU from the 90's and expect to be playing newly released games. If you invest in an expensive card, your machine should be relatively fast by today's standards. Check compatibility between cards and with your
motherboard before you shell out any money.
Consider Your Computing Profile
* '''Basic Productivity'''
** If you planning to use your computer for the Internet and emailing, word processing or other basic productivity applications, a lowcard'>128MB budget or midrange graphics card from ATI or Nvidia.
* '''Watching Movies'''
** If you like watching DVDs with crystalcard'>256MB graphics card.
* '''Photo Imaging'''
** If you like digital photography and editing your photos on your computer using
Adobe Photoshop,
Picasa or
256MB graphics card.
* '''Gaming'''
** If you are a hardcore gamer who wants to be able to play the latest high definition games, you should buy a
256MB card will suffice.
Basics Specs
* '''Memory'''
** Graphics cards have their own memory to store the image information.
** By using their own memory, graphics cards avoid filling up the system's
RAM, so that images can be rendered more quickly without sacrificing other aspects of computer performance.
** The bigger the memory, the better the graphics card will be for handling image-intensive jobs like video editing.
** If you plan to do any kind of graphic-intensive work, like desktop publishing or photo editing, you will probably want at least 128 MB of RAM.
** Some gamers might be happy with 128 MB, but the serious gamer should go with a 256 MB card.
* '''Video Card Processor''' (aka Graphics/Video Processing Unit, Graphics Processor, Controller, etc.)
** Graphics cards have their own processors so that they don't have to take up the CPU.
*** Graphics processors are specially designed for the calculations involved in drawing images, so they are better than an ordinary CPU at these kinds of tasks.
** An "integrated graphics solution" means that instead of its own chip, the graphics card uses your main CPU, which is the less efficient way of doing things.
*** If you are serious about your graphics, you should probably avoid these systems as their performance is often inferior to a dedicated graphics processor.
** The higher the clock speed (measured in MHz) the more calculations it can do per second. This means faster image refreshing and better images, especially moving ones (like in a video game).
* '''Connector Compatibility'''
** Your computer comes with one of three types of data bus ports for graphics cards: '''PCI''', '''AGP '''or '''PCI ''' '''Express'''.
*** '''PCI '''= '''P'''eripheral '''C'''omponent '''I'''nterconnect.
**** The slowest and oldest type.
**** Also used for other devices, including modems.
**** Cards supporting this type of connection are now hard to find.
*** '''AGP''' = '''A'''ccelerated '''G'''raphics '''P'''ort
**** Faster than PCI, but now starting to show its age.
**** Commonly availble in three versions: AGP2x, AGP4x, AGP8X.
**** Whilst AGP is meant to be backwards compatible (meaning you can use a AGP4x, in an AGP8x slot) you are unlikely to be able to use an AGP8x card in an AGP2x slot, also, using a faster card in a slower slot will mean the card isn't running at its fastest speed.
**** Fewer and fewer new cards are being made that support AGP8x, thus the new cards are becoming more expensive.
**** An AGP8x version of a graphics card will be slower than the PCI Express version, when used with modern games.
**** Still apropriate for mid-range games and general applications.
*** '''PCI Express = ''''''P'''eripheral '''C'''omponent '''I'''nterconnect '''E'''xpress
**** The fastest and most modern.
**** Supports a much faster transfer rate of data than the other types.
**** The most common data port supported by most all new graphics cards
** Before you buy a new graphics card, check which kind of slot you havecompatible.
** Also be sure that the speed of the card and the speed of the port are compatible.
* '''Data Width/Register Width'''
** The larger the width, the more information can be manipulated with each calculation.
** A larger number translates into a faster card.
* '''Maximum Resolution'''
** For example: 2048 x 1536 @ 75Hz
** The higher the resolution, the sharper the image.
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