| |
|
|
|
Graphics Card Basics |
|
 |
The four main
components of a graphics card are connections for the
motherboard and monitor, a processor, and memory.
A graphics card works along the same principles. The CPU,
working in conjunction with software applications, sends
information about the image to the graphics card. The graphics
card decides how to use the pixels on the screen to create the
image. It then sends that information to the monitor through a
cable.
|
The Evolution of
Graphics Cards
Graphics cards have come a long way since IBM introduced the
first one in 1981. Called a Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA),
the card provided text-only displays of green or white text on a
black screen. Now, the minimum standard for new video cards is
Video Graphics Array (VGA), which allows 256 colors. With
high-performance standards like Quantum Extended Graphics Array
(QXGA), video cards can display millions of colors at
resolutions of up to 2040 x 1536 pixels.
|
|
 |
|
|
Creating an image out
of binary data is a demanding process. To make a 3-D image, the
graphics card first creates a wire frame out of straight lines.
Then, it rasterizes the image (fills in the remaining pixels).
It also adds lighting, texture and color. For fast-paced games,
the computer has to go through this process about sixty times
per second. Without a graphics card to perform the necessary
calculations, the workload would be too much for the computer to
handle.
Integrated Graphics
Many motherboards have integrated graphics capabilities and
function without a separate graphics card. These motherboards
handle 2-D images easily, so they are ideal for productivity and
Internet applications. Plugging a separate graphics card into
one of these motherboards overrides the onboard graphics
functions.
The graphics card accomplishes this task using four main
components:
A motherboard connection for data and power
A processor to decide what to do with each pixel on the screen
Memory to hold information about each pixel and to temporarily
store completed pictures
A monitor connection so you can see the final result
|
What Makes a Good
Graphics Card?
A top-of-the-line graphics card is easy to spot. It has lots of
memory and a fast processor. Often, it's also more visually
appealing than anything else that's intended to go inside a
computer's case. Lots of high-performance video cards are
illustrated or have decorative fans or heat sinks.
But a high-end card provides more power than most people really
need. People who use their computers primarily for e-mail, word
processing or Web surfing can find all the necessary graphics
support on a motherboard with integrated graphics. A mid-range
card is sufficient for most casual gamers. People who need the
power of a high-end card include gaming enthusiasts and people
who do lots of 3-D graphic work.
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
