GPUs & Video Graphics Cards

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Understanding Graphics Card Types for Optimal Display Output

Graphics cards, housing both the GPU and essential hardware, interpret CPU data into monitor-rendered images. Today’s graphics cards have evolved from older standards like VGA (Video Graphics Array) to modern display interfaces such as HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI, offering higher resolutions and improved image quality. Mainstream desktop graphics cards excel in gaming workloads, while workstation cards cater to professional design and scientific applications. While today's mainstream cards handle creative applications adeptly, workstation cards aren't optimized for gaming graphics engines and may not be powerful enough, making them underperform in gaming scenarios.

GPU vs Video Graphics Card

AMD, NVIDIA, and recently, Intel are the primary chipmakers crafting GPUs. Numerous manufacturers like ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and others produce desktop graphics cards for PCs. These manufacturers, known as board partners, assemble interfaces, cooling mechanisms, and components for GPUs, ensuring various customizations for cooling, overclocking, and other functionalities.

NVIDIA and AMD Computer Graphics Cards Offer Key Features

Historically, AMD and NVIDIA have dominated the GPU space, offering powerful graphics cards for PC users. Next-gen GPUs like NVIDIA RTX 40-series graphics cards (released Oct. 2022) offer some of the most powerful desktop graphics processing available. The AMD Radeon RX-7000 series cards occupy the mid-to-high range. Additionally, a newcomer to the GPU space, the Intel Arc A5 and A7 series graphics cards offer mid-range performance at competitive price points. Meanwhile, Intel Arc A3 series graphics cards offer an economicaly option for players interested in running contemporary games at standard settings. These Arc cards are available in gaming laptops from ASUS and MSI.

Ray-tracing for Lifelike Gameplay

Recent generations of NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon graphics cards introduced support for ray-traced graphics, an example of hardware-assisted graphics acceleration. This technology aims to enhance realism in gaming by simulating how light interacts with surfaces, resulting in more lifelike visuals. While ray tracing without dedicated hardware is possible, the latest advancements happen by way of dedicated cores built into your GPU. Tensor cores were added alongside the CUDA cores that traditionally handle the graphics load in gaming systems. Adding tensor cores into the mix allows graphics cards to handle more advanced workloads, most notably crunching number sets that are involved in machine learning.

DLSS increases graphics performance using AI

NVIDIA Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) helps your PC render images at a lower resolution initially, and then increase the resolution so it matches the native dimensions on your screen. For example, say you want to play games on a 1440 (2k) monitor -- DLSS 2.0 does some of the processing for you -- with the help of NVIDIA supercomputers pushing some of your pixels. Your system assumes a 1080 workload while you play on 1440 image.

Understanding Graphics Card Size and PC Case Form Factor

GPU clearance is an umbrella term for the physical dimensions of graphics cards. Graphics cards are measured in millimeters by length, width, and thickness. Your PC case cannot be shorter or narrower than your graphics card. You can find low profile graphics cards that have compact builds to fit inside smaller case form factors.

Graphics Card Thickness and PC Case Rear Panel

Desktop graphics cards fit into the PCIe-x16 slot in a computer motherboard. The external interface of the graphics card contains the video inputs where you plug in display cables and slots into the rear panel of the PC case. Flagship graphics cards are thick and occupy between three and four slots on the rear panel. Less powerful graphics cards may fit into two slots. Even though a card typically only takes up two or three ports in the case, if it's got a fan shroud and a big heatsink, then it can end up partially blocking an extra adjacent slot.

Look At the Power Connectors for Compatible Power Supply

Most gaming graphics cards power requirement exceeds the 75-watt maximum standard provided by PCIe slots. Graphics cards receive supplemental power from a PC power supply (PSU). Power connectors for graphics cards that usually come in 8-pin and 6-pin varieties. More powerful graphics cards like NVIDIA 30-series and later and AMD Radeon RX 6000 series and later may require up to four 8-pin connectors. In terms of wattages, graphics cards list a Thermal Design Power (TDP) rating in Watts in the product specifications. The TDP rating listed is for the graphics card only. You will also want to calculate your system power with the Power Supply Calculator if you are considering whether your existing power supply can handle a graphics card upgrade.

Match the Graphics Card to Virtual Reality Usage

If you intend to use PC VR platforms, video graphics cards are an important element. Then you'll need to use, at the very least, mid-range workstation graphics cards that have optimal performance levels. In fact, you just might want to concentrate on the high-end models of video cards that are intended for gaming. These are well-optimized to support virtual reality gaming. There are some lower cost options you can use. However, most seasoned gamers will advise you to go for the top-tier desktop graphics cards if you're looking for seamless virtual reality gaming.

Bestselling GPUs / Video Graphics Cards Reviews:

Product:
XFX SPEEDSTER SWFT309 AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT CORE Gaming Graphics Card with 12GB GDDR6 HDMI 3xDP, AMD RDNA 2 (RX-67XTYJFDV)
Double ants
3/20/2024 2:03:41 PM
Fast Shipping and pretty good
“Better GPUs like the 7600xt are usually better but this specific 6700xt model is pretty cheap at the time of purchase.”

II MOUSE II
1/26/2024 6:43:38 PM
Crisp Frames and Quality Built GPU
“In my opinion AMD GPUs give you equivalent if not more performance at half the cost of overhyped Nvidia Gforce Cards.”

Product:
ASRock Phantom Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 ATX Video Card RX7900XT PG 20GO
Anonymous
3/13/2024 11:19:29 PM
Quality GPU from Asrock
“Their GPUs seem to be similar, I have seen pictures of the PCB and this card comes with some nice power delivery components and a sturdy PCB with an additional heavy duty support frame that I haven't seen on a GPU before.”

Product:
SAPPHIRE NITRO Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 x16 ATX Video Card 11322-01-40G
Blake R.
2/20/2024 7:17:34 AM
Superb Design
“I've only owned high end GPUs for the last 10 years and I do feel like this is the best overall card I've owned.”

Product:
MSI Suprim GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RTX 4090 SUPRIM LIQUID X 24G
Anonymous
2/10/2024 10:20:28 AM
Excellent product, easy to setup, quiet and cool
“Worth the price (it already shows significant benefits over the other GPUs that I've used in the past).”

Product:
SAPPHIRE NITRO+ Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 x16 ATX Video Card 11330-01-20G
Anonymous
2/7/2024 5:45:24 PM
Amazing at 1440p
“I definitely recommend this card to anyone who is looking for a GPU @ 1440P and maybe some light 4K gaming.”

Product:
ASRock Challenger Pro Radeon RX 6750 XT 12GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RX6750XT CLP 12GO
Anonymous
2/3/2024 1:33:41 AM
Powerful GPU
“Sweet spot GPU, one of the best cheap-ish high end GPUs Ive ever used.”

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