How to choose the right graphics card

One of the most difficult and important questions to which every computer owner should know the answer, how to choose a video card. At first glance, it may seem that this problem is unimportant. Indeed, it is enough to go to the first computer equipment store and study the proposed price list. Rarely when the number of rows in a column with video cards is less than 20 pieces. Choose any and buy! These computer components are now in demand. A rare computer system does without such a solution. Not surprisingly, so often novice users are asked how to choose a video card.

We will respond to it a little later. In the meantime, let's determine what exactly is the cause of the incredible popularity of discrete video adapters. The word "computer" comes from the English "compute" - to calculate. And initially this device was intended for performing mathematical calculations. However, the situation changed after a while: the simplest computer games arose. It was chess, sea battle, boa constrictor, Tetris ... the list goes on. At that time, no one thought how to choose a video card, because even the simplest conversion of digital data into control signals of electronic cannons of monitors (TVs) was able to display several points, circles and lines on the screen. At present, the computer has become something more than a huge calculator.

It has become a multimedia system capable of performing complex game applications. And one of the requirements of the games is a powerful video adapter. Hence the popularity and logical question of how to choose a video card. The right choice makes it possible for several years not to worry about updating the components.

Consider how to choose a video card to the motherboard. It is necessary to find a section in the instruction manual for the board, where the existing slots are listed. It can be PCI, AGP and PCI-Express. We bring them in order of origin. If the board has PCI-Express 16x, then there will be no problems with the choice of video card. But with AGP and, especially, PCI, everything is not so simple. These standards are outdated, so the modern video adapter for them can no longer be found. In this case, the best solution is to buy a new motherboard.

The next point about choosing a video card is the existing video output connectors on it. Now it's VGA (D-Sub), DVI, HDMI, Display Port and a rare Thunderbolt. It is necessary to see which interface the monitor uses, and, based on this, select the card with the desired output. Sometimes as a compromise solution you can use adapters.

Next, you need to decide on the amount that you plan to spend to buy. Typically, the rule is that more expensive components provide better performance (although there are exceptions). In any case, the selected graphics card must support DirectX version 10 (better than 11); Have a memory of at least 1 GB of DDR5 standard; The processor-memory bus must be 128- or 256-bit.

Several years ago, the question of how to choose a graphics card for the processor was very popular. It was believed that in some trim levels the performance increases. For example, it was advised to buy AMD cards from the same manufacturer. In fact, these guesses are completely unfounded. NVidia video adapters work well with AMD boards and processors, and vice versa. If this were not so and similar "tricks" existed, then the video card manufacturers would lose 50% of potential buyers of their products. It is obvious.