How to choose a video card?

If your computer only serves youdocuments, the Internet, e-mail and you are not going to play in modern three-dimensional toys or to be engaged in construction of three-dimensional models, then any inexpensive modern video card will suit you. If you are an avid gamer or model in 3D, then you need a video adapter with good performance characteristics.

In general, when choosing a graphics card, you should pay attention to such parameters:

1. Graphics processor. A graphics processor (GPU) is a microprocessor,which is responsible for the calculation and formation of the image that is transmitted to the monitor. An important characteristic of the graphics processor is its clock speed, what it is higher, the more productive the processor. Modern graphics processors operate at a frequency in the range from 300 to 500 MHz.


2. Video memory. Video memory or frame memory is a buffer memoryMemory, which stores all the data necessary to display the image on the screen. An important role in choosing a video card is played by the type, volume and frequency of video memory. There are video memory types: DDR, DDR2, GDDR3 and GDDR4. GDDR3 and GDDR4 are the most modern types of video memory and are intended for use in graphics cards, unlike DDR and DDR2. Memory frequency - this is the number of switching transistors of memory chips per second and in modern video adapters is approximately 1 GHz. Video memory capacity Is the total capacity of chips installed on thegraphics adapter. The amount of video memory is associated with the performance of the graphics processor. The higher the level of GPU performance, the more amount of video memory is needed for data storage, so the large amount of video memory is played only for high-performance graphics processors. For game computer complete sets, video cards with a memory capacity above 512 MB are required, for non-game enough 256 MB or even 128 MB.


3. The width (width) of the memory bus. The memory bus is responsible for transmitting information frommemory chip graphics card to the graphics processor. The wider the memory bus, the more data can be transferred per clock cycle and, therefore, the more productive the memory bus and the entire graphics card.


4. Connector type. Modern video cards are equipped with a PCI slotExpress x16 (PCI-E), outdated models - AGP. These types of connectors are not compatible with each other and the card with the PCI-E connector can not be inserted into the AGP connector on the motherboard and vice versa.


5. Type of cooling. Video cards are made with two typescooling: active and passive. Passive cooling is carried out by distributing the heat generated by the video card to the surrounding air using an aluminum or copper radiator. The active cooling system includes a radiator and a fan and is usually called a cooler. The fan forcibly directs air flow to the radiator, thereby cooling is intensified. In addition, many high-performance video cards use active cooling with liquid. The liquid circulates through a closed cooling system and, absorbing the heat from the video card, distributes it into the surrounding air.


6. The manufacturer of the video card. To date, the main manufacturers in the video card market are ATI and NVIDIA, which produce graphics cards Radeon and GeForce respectively.


7. Connectors for output devices. Modern video cards are equipped with suchconnectors for output devices: VGA, DVI, HDMI. VGA is a connector for analog monitors (on cathode ray tubes). To date, they are considered obsolete. DVI is the connector that is most commonly used to output digital video signals to LCD monitors, is considered standard. HDMI - a connector for the HDMI interface (High Definitin Multimedia InterFace).

When choosing a video card, do not hesitate to check withseller-consultant of her characteristics. You can ask the seller to give you the comparative characteristics of several similar models. If you liked any particular model, you can always ask about it in specialized forums or read about its characteristics on the manufacturer's website.

The main thing, remember, when purchasing a video card,first of all, focus on the purpose of its use. Overpay for a powerful professional video card, if you do not use it for its intended purpose, it is not worth it.