A key part of any computer, the graphics card plays an essential role in how every PC works. This important component is responsible for the display of all graphical information on your monitor. Its job is to process graphics data to provide a usable output for the user.
Definition and purpose
The graphics card connects to the screen (using a VGA, DVI, USB or HDMI connector). Its main function is to reduce the workload on the processor in your computer.
More specifically, this part handles the processing of graphics data in order to power:
- Operating system visual features
- Photo and video editing or image processing software.
- Running video games (which require a powerful graphics card).
A quick tip: remember to update the drivers for your graphics card regularly to avoid issues such as:
- Screen flickering
- Frozen images
- Black screens
- BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death)
A graphics card is a small computer inside your PC. It has its own processor, its own RAM and even its own cooling system (fans).
Depending on its power, a graphics card can output images at high resolutions (8K, 4K, 1080p, 720p). So if you want high image quality, choose a powerful card.
Key criteria when choosing a graphics card
On the market you’ll find different brands offering graphics cards (AMD, NVIDIA, INTEL). It’s not easy to navigate such a huge choice, so here are some key factors to focus on:
- How you plan to use the graphics card: office work, multimedia, gaming, or professional workloads (accounting, CAD, architecture software and so on).
- The physical size of the graphics card, which must be compatible with your case
- The budget you’re prepared to invest
- Power consumption, usually given in watts
- Available memory and the supported frequency
- Compatible cables: VGA for connecting to a monitor, S-Video for a TV or projector, HDMI for HD screens, DVI for monitors and TVs, DisplayPort, and so on.
The graphics card connects to the motherboard via a PCI EXPRESS slot. This allows the central processor to communicate freely with the card’s components.
- The graphics processor or GPU: this is the processing unit that handles graphics data.
- RT cores (Nvidia only): these are small processors dedicated to Ray Tracing calculations (a graphics technique that improves shadow rendering).
- Video memory or VRAM: this part handles image data. It processes system information and display output. The latest models can reach 24 GB of VRAM.
- The BIOS: this is firmware stored in the ROM that contains all the essential data needed for the graphics card to start up.
Types of graphics cards
GPU makers (AMD, NVIDIA, INTEL) and board brands (ASUS, EVGA…)
To get the best possible performance, you need to make an informed choice. There are real differences between graphics cards depending on the GPU manufacturer. The main GPU makers are AMD and Nvidia. However, they don’t generally sell the finished cards themselves. They mainly design the chip architecture and make their technology available to board partners such as:
- Asus,
- Gigabyte,
- EVGA,
- KFA2
- …
These manufacturers tweak settings such as frequencies, add more memory and design cooling solutions. The difference therefore lies in how they balance performance and price. Longevity depends on the clock speed, the amount of on-board memory and the cooling system.
- At NVIDIA: generations of graphics cards are identified by the hundreds digit in the model number. For example, a GeForce GTX 7XX series card was released in 2017. Then came the GeForce 9XX series, released in 2015. In 2018, the GeForce RTX 20XX series arrived. More recently, the green team launched the 3 000 series, which is ultra powerful (capable of running games in 4K).
One series stands apart: GeForce TITAN. These are seen as the ultimate graphics cards. The latest model in the series is the NVIDIA RTX TITAN. Nvidia also offers cards dedicated to specific workloads, such as the Tesla, Quadro and Maximus ranges.
- At AMD you’ll find the same generation principle as with NVIDIA. Graphics cards follow a chronological order: Radeon Rx300 for 2014, Rx400 for 2015 and Rx500 for 2016. In 2017, however, AMD introduced a new architecture and gave it a new name: Radeon Rx Vega.
Graphics card ranges and generations
As you’d expect, the more recent the release year of a graphics card, the more powerful it tends to be. In general there is around a 20% performance gain with each new generation.
Another way to distinguish graphics cards is by their range. With Nvidia, the higher the reference number, the more high-end the card. For example, a GeForce RTX 3060 is less powerful than a GeForce RTX 3080 or RTX 3090.
It’s the same idea with AMD. A Radeon RX550 is an entry-level model compared with a Radeon RX580. More recently, the naming scheme has changed and we now talk about RX 6XXXX XT or non-XT models.
A GPU runs at a certain number of megahertz, which is the unit used to measure the processing speed of a card. This lets you compare cards within the same range. The higher the clock frequency, the higher the frames per second.
Memory is another way to tell graphics cards apart. This component stores large textures and adds certain effects where needed. The aim is to make the video game sharper and better looking. Today’s gaming cards generally offer between 8 and 11 GB of memory. In terms of cooling, some cards are fitted with dual fans, or even triple fans, for improved durability and performance.
IGP or integrated graphics processor
Some CPUs include a small integrated GPU (INTEL, AMD). These work in much the same way as a dedicated graphics card. The difference lies in the power available. They are not powerful enough to run the latest-generation video games. They’re best suited to office work, media playback and web browsing.
Installing a graphics card
A high-performance graphics card that’s poorly installed will never work properly. Here are a few tips to help you install it successfully:
- Remove any protective stickers from the card and the fans
- Use a piece of kitchen roll slightly dampened with alcohol to remove any residue
- Plug the graphics card into one of the PCI Express 16x slots on the motherboard. If there are several slots, choose the top one
- Remove the blanking plates from the case. Secure the card to the case using the brackets and screw it in straight and firmly.
- Connect the card to the PC’s power supply (6-pin, 8-pin, 2x 8-pin…).
- Plug in the cable linking the graphics card to the monitor
- Check that the graphics card is detected by the computer (via your operating system)
- Then install the drivers, which you can download free of charge from the manufacturer’s website.
- Run a few tests, ideally using benchmark software, to check the health of your graphics card (performance, temperature and so on).
