Graphics Cards: What to Look For
There is a lot to graphics cards, but we've managed to break them down and define the key aspects so you can find the one that works for you. They broke down into the following categories.
GPU/Interface
The graphics processing unit (GPU) is basically a second CPU but is designed to offload all the graphics rendering from the CPU and process it on the graphics card. Obviously, these are made to handle intense graphical workloads, which frees up your CPU to run all the other aspects of applications. What does that mean for you? Faster processing! The fastest processor on the market would bog down and overheat if it tried to process graphics in addition to everything else. The main thing you're looking for on the GPU is the clock speeds.
The graphics processing unit (GPU) is basically a second CPU but is designed to offload all the graphics rendering from the CPU and process it on the graphics card. Obviously, these are made to handle intense graphical workloads, which frees up your CPU to run all the other aspects of applications. What does that mean for you? Faster processing! The fastest processor on the market would bog down and overheat if it tried to process graphics in addition to everything else. The main thing you're looking for on the GPU is the clock speeds.
Video Memory
This criteria goes hand in hand with the GPU; you also want a fast clock speed. The amount of memory is also crucial because it is the GPU’s own RAM. Like your CPU needs RAM, the GPU needs its own video memory to reach higher speeds. Also, the larger the bus width and bandwidth, the more information can be processed simultaneously.
This criteria goes hand in hand with the GPU; you also want a fast clock speed. The amount of memory is also crucial because it is the GPU’s own RAM. Like your CPU needs RAM, the GPU needs its own video memory to reach higher speeds. Also, the larger the bus width and bandwidth, the more information can be processed simultaneously.
Display Interface
These are the connections that the graphics card uses to connect to a monitor. DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort all support the higher resolutions, with dual channel DVI as the most common. It is important to match up these connections with the ones your monitor has. If your monitor doesn’t have the same connections then you have to get a converter cable which may result in lower resolutions.
These are the connections that the graphics card uses to connect to a monitor. DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort all support the higher resolutions, with dual channel DVI as the most common. It is important to match up these connections with the ones your monitor has. If your monitor doesn’t have the same connections then you have to get a converter cable which may result in lower resolutions.
Supported API
Application Programming Interface (API) is the interface that enables interaction with software. Software that wants to use the GPU has to be compatible with the API of the card. For example, if your card only supports DirectX 9 and you buy a game or application that requires DirectX 11, you will have to upgrade your card in order to run it.
Application Programming Interface (API) is the interface that enables interaction with software. Software that wants to use the GPU has to be compatible with the API of the card. For example, if your card only supports DirectX 9 and you buy a game or application that requires DirectX 11, you will have to upgrade your card in order to run it.
Rendering Technologies
This criterion refers to the various technologies that are integrated in to the graphics cards. It’s hard to say which ones are better than others, because opinion-based prejudice runs rampant when it comes to graphics cards and which is the best. Truth be told, they’re all very similar and do basically the same things. Also, unless a game or application is built specifically with some of the technologies, they often don’t make a great deal of difference. Others do make a difference, however. Nvidia is known for their CUDA technology and it has been a thorn in the side of ATI for a while now. On the other end, ATI’s new Eyefinity technology looks pretty impressive when you stretch your desktop across 6 screens and maintain HD quality.
This criterion refers to the various technologies that are integrated in to the graphics cards. It’s hard to say which ones are better than others, because opinion-based prejudice runs rampant when it comes to graphics cards and which is the best. Truth be told, they’re all very similar and do basically the same things. Also, unless a game or application is built specifically with some of the technologies, they often don’t make a great deal of difference. Others do make a difference, however. Nvidia is known for their CUDA technology and it has been a thorn in the side of ATI for a while now. On the other end, ATI’s new Eyefinity technology looks pretty impressive when you stretch your desktop across 6 screens and maintain HD quality.
Additional Features
These are just a few extra goodies that aren’t extremely important and actually vary depending on the board manufacturer (ASUS, EVGA, Sapphire, etc). The information on our site is from the base models of each manufacturer. Typically, board manufacturers will have additional versions with multiple fans, liquid cooling and other variations.
These are just a few extra goodies that aren’t extremely important and actually vary depending on the board manufacturer (ASUS, EVGA, Sapphire, etc). The information on our site is from the base models of each manufacturer. Typically, board manufacturers will have additional versions with multiple fans, liquid cooling and other variations.
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