Ever wondered how you can see things on your computer screen? No, it’s not Lord Voldemort. It is the job of a not-so-little board-shaped card known as the Graphics Card.
The graphics card is a piece of hardware built for the computer. This piece of computer hardware is responsible for the things you see on the computer screen. The carte graphique produces images that are visible to your eyes on the computer screen.
You might be wondering how that is possible. Well, it’s technology. The graphics card converts data into a signal that your monitor can analyze and understand. Seems pretty simple since we can not see any of it as it happens. But we see is the result. Beautiful colors and shapes on our computer screen.
But the graphics card is most important for gamers and people who use software that needs a lot of graphic capability.
Types of Graphics Card
Graphics Cards are not all the same. Over the years different variations have emerged with different capabilities. But it leads us to just two types.
1. Integrated Graphics Card
The integrated graphics card refers to graphics that have been built into the motherboard without the presence of an actual card made separately for the purpose. These integrated graphics cards are easily built into standard computers. It might be cheaper but becomes a bit of a problem when it is time to make an upgrade. It can not be handily updated.
2. Discrete Graphics Card
A discrete graphics card refers to an add-in card that is attached to the motherboard of the computer. Unlike the integrated graphics card that is built into the motherboard, this one is attached as an extra component. It is a good choice for those who wish to modify their computer system by making upgrades to the graphics card.
People who use their computers for standard activities like surfing the Internet, watching movies, creating and editing documents may not have any serious need for a graphics card and can carry on using their computer with one.
Then another group of people uses their computers for heavier activities like gaming and editing videos and pictures. These are the ones who need to have the discrete graphics card available. It is needed to increase the speed of the processing time. Without the graphics card present, the user may not enjoy his or her experience as a result of jittering or lagging at crucial points.
The Graphics Processing Unit
The graphics processing unit (GPU) can be said to be the brain of the graphics card. The GPU is responsible for whatever shows on the computer monitor. The GPU takes information from the CPU and converts it to imagery so that it can be displayed on the monitor.
Games with high definition will need a more complex and faster GPU to process and manage the stream of data. That is why people can purchase more powerful GPUs depending on the selected model.
A graphics card can support multiple monitors at a time. It solely depends on the type of graphics card as some have a limited number of outputs.
