Graphics card buyers guide

Introduction

Nowadays, graphics cards are available in all price categories, and new cards are being introduced on a very regular basis. The progress in speed, power, etc can make it very difficult to choose the best card for your new system. This guide can aid in helping you make a decision on which card to buy.

For gamers the graphics card is probably the single most important component in a computer, as all new 3D games can produce images that almost resemble real life. To play these complex games at acceptable speed and image quality you will need the best card available. It is not strange that manufacturers keep releasing cards very regularly; at least once a year a new generation of 3D chips enters the market, something that "normal" processor manufacturers simply cannot do. The constant development of GPU's (Graphics Processing Unit) has led to the point that a GPU is now more complex and contains more transistors than a CPU, which makes it the most advanced piece of hardware in a PC.

As stated before, graphics card come in all different sizes and price categories, but the chance that you will need the most expensive one is very slim. However it is always wise to check what you actually need and what card will fit best to your specific needs, not only when buying a completely new PC, but also when you are thinking about upgrading the one you have.