Things to Look For In a Graphics Card

Here is what to look for in a new graphics card.

This year is claim to be the year of PC gaming. With the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and an eon in the fast-moving timeline of graphics, the PC’s hardware is now exponentially more powerful than the technology time capsules that are today’s gaming consoles. As a result, PC hardware will play host to the hottest graphics this year, a key factor in immersing players in detailed and believable worlds, that’s why selecting the right graphics card is necessary because it can be an arduous and confusing task. So, listed below are the things to look for in a graphics card:

Memory
A gigabyte of memory is now standard for most of today’s video cards. Anything less can lead to slower performance when high resolutions and detailed textures are in use.

Speed
Don’t always believe that more memory guarantees higher performance; some 2GB cards are slower than 1.5GB cards.

Cooling
In general, the faster the card, the hotter it will run. So, that can require an additional cooling, which can lead to excessive fan noise.

CPU matching
If you have a low-end CPU, go for an entry-level video card. The opposite is also true, with a performance CPU demanding a performance video card.

ATI vs NVIDIA
The differences between ATI and NVIDIA tend to a be a matter of personal brand allegiance, though many believe NVIDIA has a slight performance edge while ATI cards are more energy-efficient, leading to quieter, cool systems.

Power
Most of today’s video cards require a power supply directly from your PSU, usually in the form of one or two 4-pin connections. Thankfully 4-pin molex to 6-pin adapters are available for just a few dollars.

Slot
It’s time to upgrade, if your PC is still using an AGP slot.