Quick Guide to Buying a Computer Video Card
Computers and computer parts continue to improve year after year and it is impossible to keep track of all these innovations and know for certain which ones are worth buying.
Choosing a video card for your computer can be an overwhelming task especially that there are so many choices available.
If you are not careful, you can end up spending so much for something that is already obsolete.
Memory: When you use your computer for gaming and are buying a computer graphics card, it is important to note that while you need sufficient memory to get the maximum performance from your video card, the memory is not all there is.
Good video cards often have enough memory and this is so the GPU horsepower will not go to waste due to insufficient memory.
People who are not very familiar with how these things work often look for the biggest memory size when they are buying a computer video card.
Manufacturers have taken advantage of this and produced cheap video cards with high memory capacity and low GPUs.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): The most important thing that you should consider when buying a computer graphics card is the GPU since the 3D performance is dependent on that small chip.
It is important to know which GPUs have the best performance compared to others in the market.
Take time to look at the type of the GPU, model numbers, and additional modifiers.
These numbers indicate whether they are entry level or high end and also give you an idea of the clock speeds and shaders.
It is recommended that you do your research and be familiar with the latest models and check out different reviews and performance guides.
System power: System power requirements are very important consideration when buying a computer graphics card as most requires a lot of power to perform at its best.
The information on system power requirement is often indicated and can be found on the box.
The numbers may be higher than what is actually required as it takes into consideration overload systems and the poor quality of the power supply.
In general, mid and high end single video cards require 400-450W of power supply and set ups with dual cards often require 550W.
Pipelines, shaders, clock speed: When buying a computer graphics card, you should take note of the clock speed and pipeline count as this will give you an idea of the video card's performance.
For entry-level video cards, pixel pipelines are usually 4 and mid range cards have 8-12 and high end cards have 16 or more.
It is also recommended to choose cards with higher clock speeds.
However, if you are to choose between a card with a high clock speed and pipeline count, choose pipeline counts.
Price: New and high end video cards are often priced around $500.
However, you can still find high end cards with comparable performance for $200-$300.
This price range is often for current generation of enthusiast-level cards and high end cards from previous generations that are already offered on discounts.
If you have the option, it is best to choose the new card as they can support advanced features.
Choosing a video card for your computer can be an overwhelming task especially that there are so many choices available.
If you are not careful, you can end up spending so much for something that is already obsolete.
Memory: When you use your computer for gaming and are buying a computer graphics card, it is important to note that while you need sufficient memory to get the maximum performance from your video card, the memory is not all there is.
Good video cards often have enough memory and this is so the GPU horsepower will not go to waste due to insufficient memory.
People who are not very familiar with how these things work often look for the biggest memory size when they are buying a computer video card.
Manufacturers have taken advantage of this and produced cheap video cards with high memory capacity and low GPUs.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): The most important thing that you should consider when buying a computer graphics card is the GPU since the 3D performance is dependent on that small chip.
It is important to know which GPUs have the best performance compared to others in the market.
Take time to look at the type of the GPU, model numbers, and additional modifiers.
These numbers indicate whether they are entry level or high end and also give you an idea of the clock speeds and shaders.
It is recommended that you do your research and be familiar with the latest models and check out different reviews and performance guides.
System power: System power requirements are very important consideration when buying a computer graphics card as most requires a lot of power to perform at its best.
The information on system power requirement is often indicated and can be found on the box.
The numbers may be higher than what is actually required as it takes into consideration overload systems and the poor quality of the power supply.
In general, mid and high end single video cards require 400-450W of power supply and set ups with dual cards often require 550W.
Pipelines, shaders, clock speed: When buying a computer graphics card, you should take note of the clock speed and pipeline count as this will give you an idea of the video card's performance.
For entry-level video cards, pixel pipelines are usually 4 and mid range cards have 8-12 and high end cards have 16 or more.
It is also recommended to choose cards with higher clock speeds.
However, if you are to choose between a card with a high clock speed and pipeline count, choose pipeline counts.
Price: New and high end video cards are often priced around $500.
However, you can still find high end cards with comparable performance for $200-$300.
This price range is often for current generation of enthusiast-level cards and high end cards from previous generations that are already offered on discounts.
If you have the option, it is best to choose the new card as they can support advanced features.