It is a mistake to think that a video card, as a separate component, is an indispensable element of any computer. This is not true. In fact, separate, that is, discrete, video adapters are used mainly for games or for working with complex graphics.
When a PC is used exclusively for office work, surfing the Internet, watching videos, the capabilities and characteristics of the video card built into the processor will be enough. They are also called integrated.
Most processors offered for laptops and PCs have built-in video adapters. But if the user wants to play and run powerful modern games, there is simply no way to do without a discrete card. But you still need to be able to choose the right one.
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What to look for
If you are faced with such a task for the first time and do not know which video card would be better to choose for games, then here it is worth focusing on several main characteristics and parameters.
These include the following items:
- manufacturer;
- guarantee;
- chip;
- connector;
- memory type and frequency;
- volume;
- technical process;
- Energy consumption;
- cooling system;
- interfaces;
- sizes, etc.
Now you should go through all the characteristics in more detail, which will greatly simplify the final decision when choosing a video card for a gaming PC.
Manufacturers
Now there are 2 large manufacturers that support the entire gaming and computer industry. These are AMD and Nvidia.
AMD’s current series of video cards is called Radeon. Their advantage is their lower cost. But at the same time, giving 10-20% less money, the user runs the risk of encountering some glitches and brakes during the gameplay. Whether the cost savings are worth it is up to each buyer to decide.
As for Nvidia, their video cards are called GeForce. The manufacturer is working more closely with video game developers, which is why they are better adapted to all modern game projects. Their minus is the higher cost.
Currently, it is not fundamentally important which of the two companies you choose. They are at about the same level and are actively fighting for leadership. Moreover, the leader in different segments is constantly changing.
Guarantee
If you decide to choose a sufficiently powerful and productive video card for your gaming PC, then look at such characteristics as the warranty period.
The problem with gaming adapters is that they are constantly under high loads and get very hot. Because of this, the level of their reliability is slightly lower in comparison with other PC components.
Therefore, it is better to give preference to those options that are covered by the longest manufacturer’s warranty. Optimally from 2-3 years.
At the same time, there are a number of recommendations on how to choose a video card for a computer, the main task of which will be to launch powerful and modern games.
Connection socket
It is also an interface connector. When figuring out which video card would be better to choose for games, assuming its use for a laptop or PC, immediately look at the available interface connector.
This is the connector that allows you to connect the card to the motherboard.
Yes, now the vast majority of adapter options use a PCI Express slot. But there may be different versions of the connector, including 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0. The difference between them is in the bus bandwidth that connects the board and the video adapter.
If you suddenly buy on the secondary market, you may be offered an inexpensive but supposedly effective game card with an AGP slot. Give up this idea categorically.
Such cards are found only on older computers. They are not able to handle the modern game.
Video chip
All video cards have their own video processor. He’s a video chip.
They differ in the number of universal processors, that is, shader units, and also in frequency. And these characteristics directly affect performance.
Remember the following parameters:
- The weakest gaming adapters have 400 to 500 shader units, and the frequency does not exceed 1100 MHz. They are unlikely to be able to launch modern games.
- The initial class of gaming cards includes devices with 600-800 shader units. And the frequency rises to 1300-1500 MHz. Currently, this is the minimum indicator from which you need to build on.
- The middle tier offers 1200 to 1500 blocks, and their frequency ranges from 1500 to 1700 MHz.
- High-end cards often have the same 1500-1700 MHz, but with 1600-1900 shader units.
Top models offer 2500-3500 units at the same frequency.
Based on these characteristics, a cunning sales assistant will not be able to sell you a stale product, but will give you a really good video card with excellent capabilities for running modern games.
Memory type and frequency
The correct choice of a video card intended for computer games is significantly influenced by such characteristics as the memory of a video card, as well as their clock frequencies.
If we talk about modern video cards, then most of them use GDDR5 memory. For outdated computers, GDDR3 is also suitable, although you will have to forget about modern games with such equipment.
Top-end computers have GDDR5X cards under their conventional hood, while AMD has its own advanced development in the form of HBM memory.
Video adapters have different clock rates. It can be nominal and effective. And most often manufacturers indicate the latter, since it looks more impressive, and exceeds the nominal by 3-4 times.
For comparison, the GeForce GTX 1070 and 1080 cards have nominal frequencies of 2000 and 2500 MHz, respectively, while the effective memory is 8000 and 10000 MHz.
Video memory and its characteristics also depend on the width of the data transmission buses. For gaming models, these parameters generally range from 128 to 384 bits. Even if you take an entry-class card, you should not focus on widths less than 128 bits. The middle class has 192 bits, and the high has 256 bits and above.
In fact, it is not necessary to separately study the type of memory used, the frequency or its bitness. Instead, look at the bandwidth metrics. They can largely characterize the capabilities of the device:
- if it is from 80 to 112 GB / s, then the bandwidth will be low;
- with indicators from 224 to 256 GB / s, we are talking about average indicators;
- and high bandwidth is achieved at 320-512 GB / s.
And here it is not worth chasing the highest rates. If the bandwidth is low, it will limit the capabilities of the video processor, that is, run into memory. But too high parameters will be redundant. Therefore, it is better for gaming PCs to focus on the average.
Volume
The amount of video memory deserves special attention. Not knowing exactly which gaming video card will be better and more correct to choose, take a closer look at the following characteristics.
Modern games have corresponding requirements for computers and video cards in particular. Basically, for correct operation with good settings, a game project needs 3-4 GB of video memory, or even more.
It can be seen that with the current settings (very high), Battlefield consumes about 5500 MB of video memory.
As a result, the optimal indicator can be considered from 4 GB and above. Yes, there are devices that offer decent performance at a lower volume. After all, the processor power also plays an important role.
If the choice is made for the future, and with a desire to retain the ability to launch fresh games in a couple of years, then it is better to immediately invest and take a 6 GB video card.
If your monitor has a high resolution level of 4K, then you will need a video card with 8 GB or more.
Some people advise choosing devices with 2 GB of memory for budget gaming PCs. This is supposedly enough for a lot of current games. This is not entirely true. Yes, they will be able to launch a number of games. But probably only at medium or low settings. Such savings do not justify themselves.
Technical process
This is the technology on the basis of which video chips are manufactured and manufactured. Modern devices have a thinner process technology.
This characteristic directly affects the parameters of power consumption and heat generation during the operation of the video card. The thinner the process technology, the colder and more economical the device will be.
If we talk about modern video cards, then a technological process of 14 or 28 Nm is used for them. And the less this value is, the better.
With identical performance and cost parameters, it is better to give preference to the card with a thinner process technology.
Energy consumption
As the power of the video card increases, its power consumption also increases, it heats up more. This imposes additional requirements on the power and efficiency of the power supply, good ventilation of the PC case.
The power consumption level of entry-level cards is about 75 W, for the middle class this figure rises to 120 W, and for top-end solutions from 150 to 250 W.
ADVICE! In terms of the ratio of power consumption and performance, the optimal video cards are those with a power of 120-150 watts.
Cooling system
For video cards, an active or passive cooling system is provided.
Passive systems include only a heatsink and no fans. When installing such game adapters, it is required that an effective ventilation system is provided in the PC case itself. Otherwise, overheating will occur and the device will quickly fail.
Active systems have a heatsink and at least one fan that blows the card. Cooling systems above the average class often have so-called heat pipes. They are needed in order to increase the efficiency of heat dissipation.
It is also worth highlighting the turbine systems to provide cooling. Due to the turbine, air flows are captured, which are driven through the radiator and removed from the PC case. If the video card is powerful and very hot under the influence of the load from the game, then the turbine may even begin to hum.
If a really serious gaming machine is going, then it is recommended to choose a video adapter with a forced system, heat pipes and at least 2 powerful fans.
Dimensions (edit)
Video cards can differ significantly from each other depending on their overall dimensions.
If this is an entry-level equipment, then the length will be short. Medium video cards increase in length by about 1.5 times, and the most powerful ones are very long. Specific dimensions can be found in the specifications of the selected model.
The dimensions must be taken into account based on the existing or purchased PC case. If it turns out to be too compact, then large video cards may not physically fit in there, or interfere with the installation of additional elements.
The thickness is determined by the number of slots. The simplest models are single-slot. And the bulk is occupied by 2 slots at once.
Connectors
Depending on the manufacturer and model, video cards may also differ in the available connectors.
Several options are possible here. It’s worth starting with the external connectors. They are designed to connect additional external devices:
- VGA or B-Sub. Allows you to connect old monitors and projectors. Such a connector is very rare on modern cards.
- DVI. Serves for connection with old and some modern monitors, which have a similar connector. At the same time, there is DVI-D for modern video cards and digital signal transmission, as well as outdated DVI-I for analog signal.
- Display Port. It is used to connect to modern monitors. Relevant and necessary if you are using a modern display with refresh rates over 60 Hz.
- HDMI. An indispensable option for connecting to monitors and TVs in high definition. In addition to the picture, it also transmits sound.
It is optimal to choose a video card equipped with all modern connectors.
Mid-range and high-end cards also have 1 or 2 slots used for additional PCI-E power supply. They are 6 and 8-pin. The power supply must also have the same number of these connectors. But you can also replace it with an adapter.
If there are no additional power connectors, this will load the motherboard bus and may negatively affect the stability of the adapter. Therefore, it is better with these connectors than without them.
Price
For many, the question of the price of a video card comes first. Based on the cost, the buyer chooses a suitable option for himself.
Much easier for those who are guided first by characteristics and performance, and only then look at the price tag.
Currently, the cheapest and conditionally gaming video cards will cost the buyer $ 80-100. But this is the minimum, which is hardly worth paying attention to if you are planning to assemble a powerful and productive gaming machine. There are models of video cards with a price tag of $ 1000 and above. These are top-end devices that can stay relevant and run powerful games at top-end settings for another 3-5 years. But their price is also appropriate.
As practice shows and the experience of many gamers who prefer personal computers rather than laptops due to the limited capabilities of the latter, it is better to focus on video cards that cost from $ 250-300 and more.
Just try to manage your available budget wisely. It makes no sense to take the most expensive card for 1000-1500 dollars if there is no money left for high-quality components. It is important to find the perfect balance between processor, motherboard, video card, case. Don’t forget that a gamer will also need a good monitor, a modern mouse, and an easy-to-use keyboard.
Building a powerful, high-performance gaming computer is not easy. And the question is not only in its cost, but also in the correct distribution of resources. In some situations, it is best to seek professional help.
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