Over the decades of its existence, computers have come an impressive path of development, today combining compact size and high performance. In an effort to enjoy the achievements of science, we continue to modernize the system, updating it to work with the latest, most modern games and media products. But before the upgrade, you have to make sure that the entire system is compatible – including the question of how to choose a video card for the motherboard.
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The question of choice – do we need these expenses
Let’s make a reservation right away – for owners of old dual-core processors with Celeron or Pentium processors, there is no particular point in buying high-performance cards. The system will not support them – in practice, they turn out to be unnecessary overpayments.
Therefore, you can confidently limit yourself to video cards up to $ 80, which are fully consistent with the system.
But this is just a lyrical digression on our part, let’s move on to the main question – how to determine the compatibility of a motherboard and a video card.
How to choose a video card for a motherboard – the main selection criteria
Let’s make a reservation right away – today, the choice of a video card for compatibility with a motherboard does not present any particular problems, since since the mid-2000s, a PCI Express slot has been provided for all video cards and motherboards. There are 3 different versions of this connector, but they are fully compatible with each other.
Therefore, when choosing a not very old computer for updating, there should be no problems with the search. But when working, forgive the word, with already “age” models, you need to check a specific motherboard connector. Since until 2005 the AGP connector was widely used, and during the transition period motherboards with both connectors were common. To determine a specific species, we recommend:
- View photos of connectors on the Internet and compare with your motherboard.
- Read the specification and characteristics of the motherboard on the manufacturer’s website.
If you can find PCI Express on the motherboard, you can install any modern models. There is a lot of work to do with the AGP motherboard. After all, only video cards with such a connector are suitable, which over the years have become a real rarity. As a result, you will have to spend a lot of time searching and buying funds. Therefore, it is often better to just buy a new motherboard – much easier and cheaper.
Compatibility of motherboard and video card in terms of power
It should be understood that PCI Express has several types, compatible with each other, but differing in power.
The connector can be PCIex16 2.0 or PCIex16 3.0. The first variant represents version 2.0, the second generation. The last one is the third generation. Outwardly, they are the same, but 3.0 is characterized by double bandwidth, and fully supports video cards with a 2.0 slot.
If the video card with a PCI Express slot is version 3.0, and the motherboard is with a 2.0 slot, this can reduce the performance of the video card by about one and a half times. To maximize the use of all its resources, you need to make sure that this parameter is consistent.
About video chips for cards
These devices are mini-processors built into the design of video cards. They will determine the power that the graphics adapter is capable of, as well as compatibility with some computer components. For example, video cards from manufacturers such as Intel or AMD have connectors designed to connect to processors from the same brands. In other cases, the user will suffer greatly in performance.
This criterion for video chips is measured in the number of computational units, and not in frequency or cores. Their number can reach several hundred or even several thousand. The conditions under which the video chip was produced are also important. The lower the nanometer value, the more economical the video card itself will be – it will overheat and consume less electricity.
Impact of memory on graphics card performance
The cards have their own video memory, but it differs from the operational one by a higher operating frequency and some other operating standards. However, it must be compatible not only with the motherboard and processor, but also with RAM in a number of ways.
Most often, video cards with frequencies of GDDR3 or GDDR5, or GDDR5X are offered for sale. But, for example, the AMD standard is used only by this manufacturer, so it should not be combined with components from other brands. The least in demand are GDDR3 – they are suitable for budget cards. But for them it is not worth purchasing a graphics adapter with a frequency of less than 1600 MHz, which is simply not enough even for weak gaming applications. Most often you can find the GDDR5 type, for which the operating frequency ranges from 2000 to 3600 MHz.
In addition to the memory classification, it is necessary to consider how many GB it is designed for. Budget boards usually provide only 1 GB, and the mid-range price segments can already provide 2 GB of video memory. This is enough for most of the existing games, but it is unlikely to be enough in 2-3 years after purchase.
Graphics adapters – energy efficiency
Not all power supplies and motherboards support the required capacities for video cards. Also, they may not have connectors for connecting any type of card. This should be borne in mind before purchasing. Also, the graphics adapter may not match due to high power consumption, which will immediately affect the performance of the video card as a whole.
In terms of consumption, they are classified as follows:
- up to 70 W is usually called the primary class. They work well with any power supply and motherboard;
- no more than 150 W belongs to the middle class. They are not compatible with all components;
- 150 to 300 watts are considered high performance. They will require special components adapted for this energy consumption.
Cooling video cards
Another of the most important factors to consider before buying. In case of overheating of the adapter, not only the processor may fail, but also the motherboard may be damaged. That is why video cards began to be equipped with an autonomous cooling system, which can be like this:
- passive, when only the radiator takes part in the cooling. This will only be enough for graphics adapters with low performance;
- active, which is considered complete cooling. In this case, there is already a fan, a radiator and even heat pipes. This cooling is considered to be highly efficient;
- turbine. This option is similar to the previous one. A special turbine on the casing draws in air at high speed and drives it through the radiator and heat transfer lines. However, this option is advisable only for very powerful and large video cards.
As for cooling, it is necessary to look at what materials the radiator and lines are made of. In cases where the card will be actively and intensively used, it is better not to take a plastic heatsink, but pay more for an aluminum one. Better yet, an option made of copper or steel. The same goes for the fan blades.
Dimensions of video cards
Small graphics adapters are suitable for compact or inexpensive motherboards. Overly bulky ones can bend the board or even won’t fit on top. Usually, the smaller the size, the less powerful the video card is, which often does not have cooling.
The exact dimensions will be suggested by a representative of the manufacturer or a sales consultant. The wider the card will be, the more connectors it has. On budget varieties, only one row is usually installed.
Connectors on the video card
Various connectors are provided for correct operation and connection options for additional equipment. They can be as follows:
- HDMI is designed to connect your computer to modern televisions. It is not installed on cheap video cards.
- DVI, with which the card is connected to a computer monitor, so it is mandatory. It can be only for digital or for analog signal.
- VGA is an irreplaceable assistant when connecting to various monitors.
- Display Port is used with a limited type of video cards, and therefore is in demand only with certain monitor models.
If you are purchasing a powerful video card, then you need to check for the presence of a special connector on it for additional power. They can have 6 or 8 contacts. It should be consulted whether the power supply and the motherboard can support them in a way that ensures correct operation and functionality.
Support for multiple graphics cards
Most motherboards have several connectors that are needed to connect video cards. Often there are 4 and that’s usually enough, but some professional PCs may have more. You also need to make sure that the cards are compatible with each other. That is why the following guidelines should be considered:
- “Motherboard” should be such as to be able to support several cards at once. To do this, you need not only to have a connector, but also so that it is supported by the operation of the motherboard, and does not function as a spare;
- video cards must be of the same standard, otherwise a conflict will arise between them, and normal operation cannot be achieved;
- to increase the performance of the entire set, graphics cards should also have connectors – with their help you can connect additional equipment;
- the presence of the option to support a bundle of video cards will serve as a pleasant bonus for the user. Most budget options support only one of the technologies: AMD or NVIDIA. Without this option, if you need to buy and install an additional video card, you will have to do it only in the same format as the card that is already on the PC.
A little about useful utilities for checking compatibility
It is worth reminding once again – you can check the compatibility of the motherboard and the video card using software tools. For example, you can find out about the parameters of the current GPU thanks to the TechPowerUp GPU-Z utility, available to the user completely free of charge.
In our article, we fully examined how to choose a video card for the motherboard. Let us also recall two other important criteria – compatibility with the processor, compliance with the user’s tasks. These issues also deserve special attention, so they will be considered by us in the near future. Enjoy your favorite games and programs – we will try to always prepare up-to-date information for comfortable and productive work.