Video cards are at the core of every PC, and have an enormous effect on gaming experiences. That is why selecting an appropriate one for yourself is of utmost importance.
Key factors when it comes to selecting a GPU are price, performance, requirements, and availability. Let's examine each factor individually.
Price
Video cards can be some of the most expensive components in a PC, like the AMD Radeon 5700G, and overspending on one could cause other issues. For example, if its performance surpasses what your processor can manage, this could cause bottlenecks elsewhere and render your computer slow overall and less reliable.
To avoid this situation, it's essential that you understand what type of games and specifications will be required for them, and which types are within your budget. First-person shooters tend to have higher requirements while real-time strategy games often have lower ones; also being aware of your monitor resolution can help when choosing an ideal card - dedicated graphics cards tend to cost more but they offer superior performance over integrated ones while not sharing memory with the CPU - though larger and producing more heat are factors too.
Performance
The performance of a video card depends on its intended use; more demanding tasks require more powerful GPUs - for instance, if playing at higher frame rates or resolutions exceeding 1080p resolution will necessitate one.
As opposed to CPUs (Opens in new window), which feature individual cores, GPUs (Opens in new window) use dedicated pools of memory that hold information about pixels and colors as well as completed images that need processing by the GPU. The more RAM that exists within each GPU means the faster its tasks can be completed.
Upgraded graphics cards can help enhance the performance of your PC, but before purchasing one, it is essential that you understand its differences from competing cards and how adding additional cards may cause compatibility issues with some programs. It is also crucial that your motherboard supports multiple cards as well as having enough room in its case to house any additional hardware.
Requirements
Memory on a video card serves to store data related to pixels and completed images until they're ready for display. As more graphics processing power is added by GPUs, their memory requirements increase accordingly.
Video RAM plays an essential part in how well GPUs perform, especially for high-end or 4K gaming. To maintain optimal gaming experiences on monitors, minimum frames per second (fps) requirements should be respected as this will ultimately determine your display's framerate capabilities.
Professional reviews and benchmarks can provide invaluable insight into how well a particular level of graphics card will handle the games you love. Also important are port configuration options to make sure it provides all necessary connectors for your monitor(s). Finally, the form factor should also be taken into consideration as newer cards tend to take up more room in your case than older models.
Availability
GPU, or video card, is one of the key components in a computer for gaming performance. Unfortunately, with so many cards to choose from, identifying which is suitable can be challenging. When selecting one to buy it is essential to review all its specifications and benchmarks to ascertain which level card best meets your gaming needs - also make sure you look out for user feedback or professional reviews to assist your decision-making.
The form factor is also something you must keep in mind, as its size will determine how much room your card takes up in your case and which type of power connectors it requires.
Though graphics card shortages and scalpers on eBay may no longer be an issue, newer cards can still be quite expensive at launch. Luckily, PC manufacturers typically provide their own version at a reduced price; older cards may even be offered discounted.