CONTENT
- 1 What is a video card in a computer for?
- 2 Can a computer work without a video card
- 3 What does a video card look like in a computer, and where is it located
- 4 Main characteristics, or How to choose a video card for your computer
- 5 Major video card manufacturers
- 6 How much does a video card cost for a computer
What is a video card in a computer for?
A video card means a special device that is needed to convert information coming from the central processor into a video signal that is displayed on a PC monitor. In simple terms, this is a board responsible for the graphics component of a personal computer. A video card is one of the most important units of a modern PC.
The first models of video cards, which were used in early computers, produced the simplest conversion of digital information. In essence, these devices were part of a common video path and were responsible for the formation of an analog signal from the incoming binary data stream. As the complexity of microprocessor technology required an increase in power, so manufacturers began to supply video cards with a separate processor and special blocks, the task of which was not just signal conversion, but also its treatment.
These models learned not to do their own calculations, which led to the release of the processing power of the CPU.
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As the technological process became more complex, the structure of the chips became more powerful, which required the installation of cooling systems to contain the rising temperature.
Then three-dimensional graphics standards appeared, which led to an even more serious complication of the processors responsible for processing graphics. In some cases, modern models are distinguished by even greater computing power than a CPU. The only difference is that a video card for a laptop or stationary PC solves narrowly focused tasks.
Can a computer work without a video card
The answer to this question is unequivocal - no. Without a video card, regardless of whether it is a discrete or integrated option, when trying start the PC, the user will hear several BIOS warning signals, and then the computer will boot will pause. The answer will not be so unambiguous if there are two video cards on one computer. In this case, we are talking about the presence of a separate or discrete "vidyuha", which is installed in the corresponding connector of the motherboard and integrated or soldered on the "mother" itself. If one PC fails, it will be able to work using the other.
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also, some computer models are equipped with a video card built into the processor, which can also be considered integrated.
But if there is no device for video processing in the system unit or laptop at all, the computer will not start, and it will be impossible to work on it.
What does a video card look like in a computer, and where is it located
To determine where the graphics card is located in the computer and what it looks like, you need to determine what type of graphics device is installed inside the PC. It also affects the appearance. There are two types of video cards - external and built-in.
Built-in (integrated) video card
Almost all manufacturers, especially laptop manufacturers, equip their products with an integrated graphics card. Outwardly, it is a small chip that is soldered to the motherboard. You can determine its location:
- or by the presence of a small fan, which is required for cooling;
- according to the manufacturer's marking, which is applied to the board cover.
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modern laptops use a different form of integrated graphics. Most processors have a second core, which is a graphics module. It is impossible to see it without parsing the CPU.
Integrated graphics cards do not have their own memory. It is allocated from the resources of the central processor. There is also no inherent power supply as power is supplied directly from the motherboard or processor.
When installing an external adapter, some users are wondering how to disable the built-in video card on the computer so that all graphics go through the discrete model. This can be done through the "Device Manager" or through the BIOS. If you need to know how to turn on the built-in video card, then everything is done exactly the opposite. In the "Device Manager" you need to find the adapter and, by pressing the right button, select "Enable".
Built-in video processing devices are notable for their small size, which does not have the best effect on their performance. They are suitable for everyday tasks or watching videos, but their power is not enough for demanding games. Therefore, if you plan to buy a video card for a computer that will be used more for the purpose of active "gaming", then the choice should be made in favor of a discrete board.
External (discrete) video cards
As the name suggests, an external graphics card is a separate board that houses the graphics processor, memory, other chips and system necessary for computing and converting binary code cooling.
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the more powerful the video card, the more massive the cooling system will be. In modern models of video cards for games, two powerful fans and a passive heat dissipation system can be installed, which provides good heat dissipation.
On the motherboard, the video card is placed in a special connector. Previously, there were AGP cards, now all of them are produced in the PCI-E format, which is due to the higher bandwidth of this type of connector and bus. The video card is placed in the slot closest to the central processor. This is done deliberately to give vidyuhe priority over other peripherals, as it is more important than a sound or network card.
You can identify the video card visually when parsing the system unit. It will be the largest board on a "motherboard" that has a fan or other cooling system.
Also, if there are many additional peripherals, locate the graphics device as follows:
- find the cable connecting the monitor and the system unit. The place in the system unit where the wire will be connected is the output of the video card;
- early models had a VGA output that is always blue. Newer models of cards have a DVI output, which has a white tint.
How to remove a video card from a computer if it fails or needs to be replaced? After identifying the location of the graphics adapter, you will need to disconnect the locking lever, which is located on the connector, and then carefully remove the card from the slot. Be sure to disconnect the monitor cable first. You will also need to remove a couple of bolts that hold the output strip on the back of the PC.
Main characteristics, or How to choose a video card for your computer
Before proceeding to the description of the technical parameters of the video adapter, you should familiarize yourself with the constituent components of the card. It consists of the following main parts:
- Graphics processing unit, or GPU. This is the core of the adapter, which is required to perform calculations and create graphical information displayed on the monitor. Modern gaming graphics cards for the computer can have a processor that is more powerful than the CPU.
- Memory. The purpose of this node is identical to RAM. The memory in the video card plays the role of a buffer in which the elements of the displayed information are temporarily placed, as well as the parts necessary for the formation of the picture.
- Video controller. The element responsible for the correct formation and transmission of information received from the central processor and GPU to the digital-to-analog converter of the video card.
- RAMDAC, or DAC. A digital-to-analog converter that is required to convert a binary code into an analog signal displayed on a monitor. The digital peripherals connected to the video card use their own DACs, therefore they do not use the capabilities of the built-in RAMDACs.
- ROM. In addition to RAM, the video card contains ROM or video ROM. This node contains the BIOS of the graphics adapter and the basic input / output system, which determines the system of interaction of all parts of the video card with each other.
- Cooling system. An important part that is applied to dissipate heat from the GPU and memory, which ensures good performance and stability.
The technical characteristics of the video card include a number of basic parameters.
Memory
Memory for a video card is no less important than a similar characteristic of the PC itself, since it is this node that is one of the components of performance. It differs in type and volume. This is especially important when the goal is to buy a gaming video card for a computer, which should provide high-quality processing of complex video information.
By type, the memory is divided into GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5. The number in the name indicates the generation to which the adapter belongs. Logically, each subsequent video memory should be better than the previous one and provide a higher operating frequency. In fact, this is not entirely true, since not only the amount or type of memory should be considered, but also its performance. The amount of memory can vary. For home computers that are used as gaming computers, the optimal size is 2 or 4 GB.
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some game manufacturers indicate the recommended requirements, where is the amount of video memory. Sometimes the figure can reach 16 GB, but in fact this is due to the reluctance of developers to engage in optimization, which translates into additional expenses for the user.
Volume also affects performance, but this happens up to a certain limit, since it is important to focus on performance additionally when purchasing.
Graphics memory performance
Performance, in practice, turns out to be the weakest point. This has less to do with the size or power of the GPU, but rather with the bus bandwidth, which determines the rate at which data is exchanged between the GPU and memory. It depends on two criteria: the frequency or speed of clock oscillations and the width of the bus, measured in bits, which means the amount of data information transmitted in one working tact.
Example: there are two video cards. One runs at 1000 MHz and has a bus width of 256 bits. This means that for a second of operation, it transmits an amount of information of 256 bits, and its speed is 256,000 bit / s. The other card is clocked at 1800 MHz, but the bus is only 128 bits wide. It turns out that the real speed of work will be 230 400 bit / s. It turns out that memory with a higher frequency works slower.
Cooling system
This is a set of elements that are required to dissipate heat during operation of a video card. Modern models use a system of vacuum thermotubes, which provide better heat transfer and, at the same time, practically do not create noise during operation. Outdated fans take up more space in the video card case and, as the load increases, they begin to emit an audible hum and noise that makes work or gameplay less comfortable.
power usage
Another parameter to consider when choosing a video card, as it shows how much power the graphics adapter will need when the load on the processor increases. Manufacturers of video cards on the official websites provide illustrative tables of how much the adapter will consume at peak load. Depending on this, you need to choose a power supply so that it can provide the required amount of energy.
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for most modern graphics adapters, the standard power supply provided by the PCI-E bus is not enough. Therefore, they have additional connectors for connecting a power cable. The most powerful cards can have up to two of these elements.
Dimensions (edit)
The physical dimensions of the video card directly depend on the installed cooling system. Here comes a collision - the larger the surface of the cooling element, the better it provides for the heat transfer process, but the more space inside the system unit is occupied by the adapter. The largest cards are those with coolers or fans. When installed, they can overlap an adjacent slot, then they are called two-slot or even three-slot. This point is also required to be provided during the purchase of the video adapter.
Connection interface
In the process of choosing a video card, you should take into account the expansion slot that is available in the computer so that it matches the one on the card, otherwise it simply will not work.
There are the following types of expansion slots:
- AGP. The slot that allows direct communication between the CPU and the adapter is currently obsolete and practically not used;
- PCI Express. There are three versions of this slot - 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0.The difference lies in the increase in the speed of the transaction. In the latest version, it reaches 8 Gt / s;
- External PCI Express. A special kind, which is an external interface that has 4 kinds: x1, x4, x8, x
Most modern adapters work with support for the PCI-E 2.0 interface, which, according to analysts, will be relevant for several years to come.
Major video card manufacturers
The most important part of a graphics adapter is the chip or processor. There are currently two major GPU players on the market, AMD and NVIDIA. There are smaller brands (SiS, S3, Matrox), but their share is negligible. The majority of video card manufacturers use chips from the aforementioned majors in their models.
The three leaders in the production of graphics adapters, according to users and computer analysts, are represented by the following manufacturers.
Asus
A Taiwanese company that produces models with both brands of chips. The assortment is represented by two main lines:
- Dual, which are budget models equipped with two fans;
- RoG Strix. Advanced graphics adapters that already have three coolers "on board" and provide top graphics parameters.
MSI
The lineup of this company is represented by three series:
- Armor. Entry-level adapters with high-quality cooling and overclocking potential;
- Gaming. An advanced line, which is distinguished by its increased frequencies and large (100 mm) fans for cooling;
- Sea Hawk. Top-of-the-line liquid-cooled product with huge overclocking potential.
Gigabyte
A company offering 4 lines of video cards:
- Mini ITX. Models with compact dimensions, resulting in a stripped-down cooling system in the form of just one fan;
- WindForce. The next most powerful line of adapters with two coolers and higher frequencies;
- Gaming G Models with a high frequency of the GPU;
- Extreme Gaming. Three-slot cards with maximum overclocked characteristics out of the box.
Among no less popular brands that produce video cards, one can mention the company Zodac, Palit, Inno3D. And, of course, do not forget that chip manufacturers release models under their own brands - these are GeForce from NVidia and Radeon from AMD.
How much does a video card cost for a computer
The price of a video card for a computer depends both on the manufacturer (to a lesser extent) and on the characteristics. The most expensive are the models designed for games, as they have higher performance and more memory.
| Model | Price (as of April 2018), RUB |
 | 16 400 |
 | 15 000 |
 | 13 100 |
Budget models that are designed to solve everyday problems will cost significantly less.
| Model | Price (as of March 2018), RUB |
 | 94 000 |
 | 7 900 |
 | 8 500 |
The purchase of a graphics adapter is carried out depending on the priorities of the user and his financial opportunities, since top solutions from manufacturers can reach 50,000 rubles in price and even higher. You can see again how to choose a video card for a computer in the video to the material:
