It takes the intereaction of both an input and an output device in order for information to be reflected in a computer. When information is entered, for example, with a keyboard, mouse, or microphone, the computer then
outputs the sound and/or visuals.
The computer provides visual output via the video card. This dedicated circuitry interprets information from the CPU (Central
Processing Unit) and then sends it to the monitor for you to view. Computer systems with Graphical User Interfaces (GUI), such as
Microsoft Windows, rely on fairly sophisticated video output to provide information.
Because they're an essential part of the computer, many motherboards have built in video processors. They handle everyday
computing tasks such as word processing and e-mail. Video editing, graphical design work, and high-end games require specialized video
cards capable of 3-D interpretation. < dir=ltr
Types Of Cards
Integrated video processors are connected directly to a monitor as a part of the motherboard. This is the least expensive
video adapter that requires no special installation consideration. They don't require extra cards. You just plug in the monitor and
you're in business.
Integrated video offers relatively limited applications and not every motherboard has integrated video. They're especially
inadequate for 3-D rendering for graphic design and game uses,
Before you buy a video card, you must know which type of card your computer's motherboard accepts. AGP (Advanced Graphics
Port) has been the standard for some time now. AGP is popular for low and mid-range video cards, and will likely be available for
another few years.
AGP is gradually being replaced, however, by PCI-Express. Almost all the high-end video
cards use PCI-Express. If you have special graphics requirements, be certain your motherboard has this kind of slot.
What Will It Cost?
The type of video card appropriate for your computer, depends on what applications you plan to use. Unless you're playing the
latest in hot computer games, you can easily manage with a 64 MB PCI or AGP card that cost under $50.
Serious gamers should consider cards in the 256 MB range, which will require an investment of $100-$200 for an AGP 8X or
PCI-Express card.
Specialized graphic cards for video editing, which have Video In/Video Out (VIVO) capabilities, will run between $200 and
$500.
What Are The Specs?
Just when you figured your computer's memory requirements were taken care of, along comes something new. High-end video memory
cards are identified by the quality of the video processor and the amount of money they cost.
Video cards have their own integrated memory chips. A specific amount of memory is required just to get an image shown on the
monitor. Eight megabytes, for example, is required to display a screen resolution of 1600 x 1200.
Most video cards have a minimum of 32 MB or 64 MB. Extra memory is used for enhancing the refresh rate to provide a more
stable display and for 3-D imaging. Cards designed for professional graphic design have the maximum amount of memory, which is 640
MB.
64 MB is suitable for routine computing such as word processing and Internet browsing. Computer games and video editing
applications need cards with between 128 MB and 256 MB.
Another factor that determines the quality of the video card is the processor, sometimes called the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Modern GPUs are extremely efficient in 3-D video rendering and, like CPUs,
require a dedicated cooling fan.
