A top-quality graphics card can transform a computer into a powerhouse gaming machine. Whether you’re looking for console-beating performance or something to tackle your Steam backlog, there are plenty of options available to suit a variety of builds.
Graphics cards can also speed up tasks like video editing and 3D modeling and rendering. They also accelerate machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.
What is a graphics card?
The graphics card, also known as a GPU (graphics processing unit), is the heart of your computer’s video display system. It receives information from the computer processor, or CPU, and transforms it into pixels – tiny squares that combine to create images on your computer screen. The more pixels an image has, the higher its definition – for example, an HD image has twice as many pixels as a standard-definition image.
GPUs have their own dedicated memory — also known as VRAM — which increases performance and makes them different from the integrated graphics processor that is built into the motherboard. The cards are usually encased in large heatsinks and powered by multiple fans to keep the internal components cool. Gaming computers require powerful GPUs, but many other tasks like photo and video editing can benefit from the extra performance as well. Choosing the right GPU for your PC depends on your specific needs and budget.
How does a graphics card work?
Graphics cards take image information from a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and convert it into pixels — tiny squares of color that combine to form complete images on your monitor or display. A higher number of pixels means a greater level of definition.
The card needs somewhere to store this data and completed pictures, so it has a special type of memory called video RAM. It operates at high speeds and is dual-ported, meaning it can write to and read from the memory simultaneously.
The graphics card then rasterizes the picture, filling in all of its pixels with their correct colors. This process takes place about 60 times per second in fast-paced games. Without the help of a graphics card, this would be impossible for a computer to accomplish. The GPU also adds lighting, textures and other elements to the image. The GPU’s programmability has led to it being used for tasks beyond 3D rendering, including accelerating work in high performance computing and training deep learning algorithms.
What are the main components of a graphics card?
Graphics cards contain a microprocessor with lots of transistors. Some have billions of them and can draw hundreds of watts of power, so they’re very hot (and expensive).
The microprocessor on a GPU is called the graphics processing unit, or GPU. It has the same basic functionality as a CPU, but is designed for the mathematical and geometric calculations that go into rendering graphics. Today’s graphics processors are much more programmable, enabling them to perform tasks that weren’t possible with older technology.
Many graphics cards also include memory, which is used to store the information and completed images that the GPU generates. Typical video RAM runs at high speeds and is dual ported, allowing it to be read from and written to at the same time. Modern graphics cards use a PCI Express interface to communicate with the host computer, which limits the amount of current they can draw from the two sets of voltage lines.
What are the benefits of having a graphics card?
Besides gaming, a dedicated graphics card can improve the performance of other high-end software like photo editing tools (Photoshop, Maya etc), heavy video editing applications etc. It can also enhance the experience of watching Blu-ray movies or full HD videos on your computer.
Another benefit is that it can ease off the load on your CPU as compared to an onboard graphics solution. This is because the GPU does not depend on your system’s RAM for all graphical operations and processing.
Finally, a dedicated graphics card can offer better driver support. This is because GPU manufacturers release drivers for their cards time to time to make them compatible with new operating systems and games. This makes the overall system performance much faster and reliable. This is especially important when it comes to business computing.
