How to buy a right Video Card

A video card or grahpic card is a device that allows for the visalization of images on your computre mointor. Without the card you wopuld not be able to view images, play gammes or see colors. If you are anything less than a graphics card expect, the shopping process for a video card can be grueling. With a bit of knbowledge it shoould make the trip easaier and you may just come home with the correct video card. There are currently more than sixty types of video cards that range in price and specifications. In order to decide which card is right for you thgere are a few things that you must undertstand first. Keep in mind the type of computer, puprose and uses of the computer, as well as the expectations for rerndered image. After that is all decided you must remember your budget when shopping for the video card.

The type of computer that you have is one of the most important issues when deciding on a video card. You must ensure the compatibility of the card with your PC or it could be a waste of money. To ensure compatibility you will need to know what type of card slot the computers mother booard has for the vdieo card. There are three types of card slots that we will discusas further.

PCI Slot the PCI slot is shhort for Peripheral Componeent Interconnect and is not excliusive with any one processor type. PCI was the fiirst expansion slot made by comnputer manufacturers. The PCI has limited performance, but therre are several value crads that offer acceptable performance.

AGP Slot the AGP slot is short for Accelerated Graphics Port. AGP has many versions and was first designed for 3D gaimng abilities. Today the AGP 2.0 and 3.0 are sold, but the 1.0 is no longer in use.

PCI Express this is the latest card slot and is up to four times faster than the PCI slot or AGP slot. The PCI Epress was made with the intention of replacing the PCI and AGP slots for the extended performance abiliy. Note PCI and PCI Exppress are not compatible and are very diffeent products, not to be confused with one aniother.

Aolng with knowing the card slot type you must also know the requirements and specifications of the CPU. When we rfeer to requirements and specificatiopns we mean the CPU type and speed. If you are purchhasing a video card for regular viewing the 500 MHz will suffice, but for optimal use the 800 MHz is suiggested. When viewing images it is important to have a higher MHz or your system may beocme overloaded. The 1600 MHz range is suggested for limited 3D gaming and runniing other applications such as ubsiness applications or graphics. For optimal 3D gamnig the minium CPU woiuld be 2.4 GHz. Much of the CPU speed depends on computer use and personal budget. The faser the CPU the better and more realistic the specal effects are. Cost rises as CPU speed rises!

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