It’s hard to find a new computer these days that does not include a video card. It’s also hard to find a new video game that doesn’t require a high end graphics cards. So what is a video card? Basically, it is a processor (graphics processing unit, or GPU) dedicated to accelerating and processing graphics. If a computer doesn’t have a video card then the graphic accelerating is done by a combination of the CPU and RAM, so when you use a video card it takes the load off the CPU and RAM, therefore, increasing the speed of your computer when graphic intensive applications are being used.

After hearing about the visual benefits of using a desktop video card a lot of people will want to use one, but there are some things to consider before just popping in any video card into your system. The first important factor is making sure your power supply can supply enough power to your video card and still function normally. Video cards are power hungry so some users might have to upgrade their power supply with a higher wattage rating. Also make sure that the power supply has the right power connector necessary for the graphic card. The second important factor is to provide the proper cooling for the GPU. Video cards run extremely hot, especially under full load, so cooling is very important. When it comes to cooling a card you can either add more case fans or liquid cool the card. Whatever the choice make sure to keep your graphic card cool because heat is the number one reason for premature failure.

When it comes to desktop video cards it seems like the choices are endless. There are a few things to consider when comparing different models. Some cards are better suited for gaming and some cards are designed for 2D and 3D editing. If you need a video card for autoCAD or video editing then make sure to buy a card that is optimized for OpenGL and if it’s gaming you want then you’ll need a card that’s optimized for DirectX.  Another consideration is the amount of video memory available to your card. The higher the better. Also the processor speed of video cards is another factor to think about when choosing a card. Try to get the highest speed card that you can afford. The last difference between cards is the video outputs. The most common output today is the dual DVI connector. There are still cards that use the older VGA connector and some high-end cards that use a DMS-59 connector which provide two outputs on one connector. Now you know what to look for when shopping for a new GPU and to help start your search we have listed the top 3 video card manufacturers, based on performance, below to further help you decide.

Best Video Card Manufacturers:

1. ATI
2. nVidia
3. Matrox

Picture – Top:

ATI Video Card

Picture – Bottom:

nVidia Video Card

We hope this article on “Video Card” was helpful. If you have any questions or need some advice on choosing the best product then let us know. We would be happy to help answer your questions.

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