Graphics Cards

Whether you are a hard-core gamer, an artist or simply interested in managing digital pictures or watching DVDs, it is important to invest in a quality 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.

How to Choose

Major Brands ATI  NVIDIA  Matrox  Intel  3DFX  PC World'sTop Models Mainstream Cards XFX GeForce 7900 GT470M Xtreme  EVGA e-GeForce 7600 GT KO  XFX GeForce 7600 GT XXX Edition  PowerColor Radeon X1800 GTO  Power Cards Asus EAX1900XTX artTitle ATI All-In-Wonder X1900  EVGA e-GeForce 7950 GX2 artTitle PNY GeForce 7900GTX Limited Edition

When Buying A New Computer

Know that when you buy a new computer, there is usually a graphics card pre-installed that is meant to handle basic 2-D 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.

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 low-end, budget graphics card is usually sufficient. Once you start watching movies and editing photos you will need something more powerful. Consider a 128MB budget or midrange graphics card from ATI or Nvidia.

• Watching Movies
• If you like watching DVDs with crystal-clear picture quality or are interested in editing video, look for something with minimum specs of at least 128 MB of memory or higher, and Pro, XT, or Ultra speed models. Also, the higher the model number, the better the card. Choose a 128MB or 256MB graphics card from ATI or Nvidia.

• Photo Imaging
• If you like digital photography and editing your photos on your computer using Adobe Photoshop,  Picasa  or other programs,  you need a better graphics card to properly view 3-D images. Make sure your printer  is up to so that your graphics card won't go to waste. Look to buy a 256MB graphics card from ATI or Nvidia.

• Gaming
• If you are a Hard-core gamer, a professional who regularly works with 3-D images, such as a graphic designer or artist or are running software like Maya,  3D Studio,  or Lightwave,  you'll want the best of the best high-end card. Choose a 256MB graphics card from ATI or Nvidia, or two Nvidia graphics cards in SLI mode.

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 = Peripheral Component Interconnect.
• The slowest and oldest type.
• Also used for other devices, including modems.
• Cards supporting this type of connection are now hard to find.
• AGP = Accelerated Graphics Port
• 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 compatable (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 = Peripheral Component Interconnect Express
• The fastest and most modern.
• Supports a much faster transfer rate of data than the other types.
• The most common data port supported by allmost all new graphics cards
• Before you buy a new graphics card, check which kind of slot you have -- they aren't intercompatible.
• 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.

External Links:

• Itreviews: An extensive list of graphics cards and a brief description about each product.
• Microsoft: More information on digital video imaging.
• Epinions: A detailed explanations of whether or not to buy a new video card.
• Choice.com: How graphics cards work for various tasks.
• Crucial.com: PCI vs. AGP information.