Graphic Card. What’s so Essential About It?
Today we want to touch upon an equally interesting and important topic: “What is a graphic card or graphics processing unit (GPU)”. Let’s start with the basic principles, terminology, and a little background to the emergence of GPUs. Keep reading.
What is the GPU?
A graphic card is a device that converts a graphic image or code stored as content in the memory of a computer into a form suitable for further display on a monitor screen.
Simply put, a graphics card, in conjunction with other computer components, allows you to convert the flowing machine code (sequence of instructions) inside your computer into a readable image for the human eye.
First of all, a video card means a device with a graphics processor, which is engaged in the formation of a very graphic image. All modern video cards are not limited to simple image display. They have a built-in graphics processor that can perform additional processing of commands and code, removing this part of the task from the computer’s central processor.
Main characteristics of GPUs
Let’s go through the main characteristics of video cards. Below we list only the main characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a video card. We won’t dwell on such parameters as the technical process or the number of CUDA blocks.
Type and amount of video memory. Video memory should be understood as a separate independent memory soldered on the video cardboard for the needs of the video card itself when working with graphic tasks.
On the modern market, there are video cards with video memory of the following types – GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5, GDDR6, and GDDR6X. The type of video memory and its amount determines the main parameter – the memory bandwidth. But the amount of video memory does not always indicate the performance of a graphic card, so you need to pay attention to other important characteristics, such as the type of memory used and the width of the bus.
Therefore, the newer the type of memory used and the larger the amount, the faster the graphic card will be able to render and load new textures in games, or, as an option, will be able to use textures of higher quality and resolution.
Cooling system. Here, too, everything is very simple – the more efficient the graphic card, the more heat it emits. Therefore, all modern graphics solutions use two or more coolers (fans) to cool the video processor and video card memory.
In some models, the cooling system may run quieter than in other models, therefore, if such a parameter as the noise emitted under load is important to you, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with user reviews before purchasing a specific video card model.
Power connectors. With an increase in the performance of a video card, its power consumption increases in direct proportion, therefore, the better and more productive the video card, the more lines of additional power it will need to work. Do not be surprised, but most modern video cards are the most “power hungry” elements of a computer in terms of power supply. And it is possible that changing the video card in your computer to a new one will entail another waste – the purchase of a new, more powerful power supply unit.
We hope that after reading this article, you were able to put everything in its place and realized that a graphic card is no less a complex and functional component of most modern computers than a processor. If you are ready to get the new graphic card for your computer just visit the Currys website.
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