Graphics Card Buying Guide for Newbies

In this article I'm giving you some important tips, points to buy a new graphics card. So, lets start. 

• What is Graphics Card?

Ans: In simple words a graphics card also called as video card, video adapter, etc. is an expansion card which help in rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 video decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors.

A Graphic Card

• What is Gaming?

Ans: Video gaming is a today's popular media culture that has influenced by video games. It is very popular in today's generation. Everyone has dream to play hardcore games like Grand Theft Auto (GTA), Battlefield, Call of Duty, assassin's creed, etc series games. To play these games we need to buy a dedicated video card which can fulfill our gaming habits.

• Why should we have to buy a dedicated graphics card?

Ans: Today's motherboards and processors provides inbuilt graphics capability. The best example of inbuilt graphics adapter is Intel's HD Graphics. These build in graphics processors are designed for watching HD movies, video editing, casual gaming but when we it comes to the hardcore gaming, blue ray movies these graphics adapters fail to handle them or they becomes useless or insufficient to handle them. So we require to buy an external or dedicated graphics card that can fulfill our needs and demands. A dedicated graphics card will not only fulfill your gaming needs but they helps you to boost your computer performance to maximum level.

• What are your needs to buy a new graphics card?

Ans: There are ton's of graphics card available in today's market. They are available in various ranges from Rs. 2,000 (32$) to Rs. 80,000 (1300$). So you should have to pick one of them as per your needs. You should have to remember one thing that graphics card which is available for Rs.2,000 (32$) not even stands in front of the graphics card which available for Rs.80,000 (1300$) so forget to compare both of them. Selecting a video card upgrade can be an intimidating task. So fix your criteria before buying a new graphics card. The criteria for your requirement should contain following factors:

1. Perfect budget: Spending lot of money on one component like graphics card is not recommended unless you have lot of money, you already have high end system, you are hard core gamer, you are professional, etc. So pick some budget to buy a decent video card that can fulfill your current and future requirements.
2. Memory: Memory is one of the important term when it comes to graphics card. Today graphics card available in memory like 512MB to 4GB and even more. Today's games are required lot of memory to enhance performance and boost the frames per seconds. Remember more FPS while playing games means less lag. These graphics memory are available in terms of BUS type like DDR2, DDR3 and DDR5. You have to buy at least DDR3 graphics card to perform better but DDR5 is always recommended for future upgrade.
3. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Memory is important, but the real heart of the video card is the graphics processing unit (GPU). Keep in mind that better GPU means enhance in 3D-2D performance while playing hardcore games, watching high definition and blue ray movies, etc. Today's best GPUs are come from graphic card developing companies "Nvidia and AMD", but it's not enough just to buy a video card with a "Nvidia GeForce" or "AMD Radeon" GPU. Choose the better GPU which having latest Shader Model Version, Texture Mapping Units, Render Output Unit, Bus Widt, Bus type, etc.
4. Power Supply Unit (PSU): Graphics cards are very hungry when it comes to power. Higher end graphics card requires lot of power to run on system without any issues like blackout. If you have weak PSU then it will not able to handle your graphic card and then it may cause of failure of your current system. So buy better PSU before buying a graphics card. Check the vendor company's web site for recommended PSU for their graphics card.
5. DirectX version: Microsoft today's operating system supports new feature called DirectX11. So if you buy graphics card which having DirectX10 then it will support MS latest OS but will not able to take advantages of DirectX11. So if you don't want to compromise in performance then it is better to buy graphics card which support DirectX11.
6. PCI express slot: Today's all of the graphics card supports PCIe slots. Before buying a graphics card check that your motherboard having latest PCIe slot to install that graphics card. If your old motherboard having old AGP slot then it is time to buy a new motherboard as well.
7. Other important factors: The factors like Fab process, Core speed, Unified Shader, OpenGL Version, Bandwidth, Texel Rate, Pixel Rate, etc are very important. Choose a graphics card which provide high Bandwidth, Texel Rate, Pixel Rate, core speed, fab speed, etc.

• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:

(1) Which companies provides graphics cards? 
Ans: AMD (Before ATI) and Nvidia.

(2) Why graphics card comes from Asus, Sapphire, XFX, Powercolor, MSI, etc while they are made by AMD and Nvidia?
Ans: Asus, Sapphire, XFX, Powercolor, MSI, etc manufacturers uses GPU which manufactured by Nvidia, AMD on their own board. Eg., In Sapphire AMD Radeon HD7770 graphic card Sapphire used AMD's Radeon HD7770 GPU to their own board.

(3) My motherboard having PCIe 1.0 slot, so then PCIe 2.0 supported graphics card will support my motherboard?
Ans: Yes, All of the graphics cards which available today are backward and also forward compatible.

(4) My Motherboard has AGP slot?
Ans: Sorry, today's latest graphics card supports PCIe slots so it should not support AGP slot. So, as I said earlier its time to buys new Motherboard.

(5) My motherboard having DDR2 RAM slot. Will DDR3, DDR5 graphics card work on my motherboard?
Ans: Yes, why not. RAM slot are nothing to do with PCIe slots. They both are different.

(6) What is AMD Radeon 5450, 5770, 6670, 7870, 7950, etc?
Ans: These are different graphics card from Radeon 5000, 6000, 7000 series. Eg., in HD7950 last first 7 stand for 7th series and 950 stand for range of graphics card. 950 should be at high range card in that series. In case of HD5450 first 5 stand for 5th series card and 450 stands for entry level card.

(7) Will AMD Radeon HD6750 DDR3 1GB will perform better than HD6750 DDR5?
Ans: Not at all, because DDR5 is way almost 2 times faster than DDR3.

(8) My graphics card require extra 6 pin power connector so it will work with my regular power supply?
Ans: It depends on your PSU. If your PSU do not have 6 pin power connector then graphic card will not work on your system. Otherwise you have to buy new PSU or need 4 pin MOLEX to 6-pin PCIe converter.

(9) "Can I Run It" web site says my graphics card will run this game but actually it lags OR "Can I Run It" web site mentioned HD6670 is better than 4870 while checking result?
Ans: "Can I Run It" is not benchmarking site. Do not trust on them. It actually check your system specifications and compare with minimum or recommended system requirements for games specified by game developing company. Try to use trusted sites like Youtube, Google, Tomshardware, etc. HD6670 is new gpu but it is not comparable with old HD4870. HD4870 will perform way better than HD6670.

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