How and for what purposes video cards are used

What are graphics cards used for?

The video card is an important part of every computer. It's a familiar part to those who like to play computer games, but still many people don't fully understand what it is and why they need it.
In this article, we'll tell you what a graphics card is, what it looks like, and why you need it, as well as what varieties there are and how to choose one for your computer.

We'll tell you what a graphics card is, what it looks like and why you need it, and how to choose one for your computer.

What is a video card?

The graphics card is the part responsible for displaying images on your device's monitor. It converts code into human-readable images, controls the pixels we see on the screen, and even performs certain graphics-related calculations.

The graphics card is the part responsible for displaying images on your device's monitor.

Experienced computer users try to choose the best graphics card for their device, because they realise that the quality of the picture they can see directly depends on it. Gamers are especially concerned about the quality of their graphics cards because a quality graphics card allows them to process various volumetric models in games.

What does it look like?

The graphics card is a board that is usually located at the bottom of the system unit. However, it's worth bearing in mind that the location may vary slightly depending on the model.

She consists of:

• Sockets for connecting a monitor to it;
• Cooling systems to prevent heat buildup and ensure continuous, trouble-free operation;</li
• Graphics processor designed for computational processes;
• A connector suitable for connection to the motherboard
• Operative memory designed to store graphics data and remember data to be transferred to your computer monitor

It's worth realising that there is no single standard for the look of a graphics card, so manufacturers are trying to make their products look more interesting and modern to attract the attention of consumers.

Why is this part needed?

Based on the above definition, we can say that the graphics card is designed to translate machine code into an image and then translate it on your computer monitor. It also allows you to render 3D images so you can see three-dimensional elements.

This component gets a lot of attention in areas where picture quality is very important, such as:

• In graphic design: A good graphics card helps speed up the designer's image processing.
• In computer games: Gamers and cyber-sportsmen always pay special attention to this component because, thanks to a good graphics card, the game process, due to good graphics, will bring only positive emotions.

Video cards are even used to build server hardware. But why are they there? It's very simple! Video cards make it possible to process graphics and 3D images faster, as well as some other complex tasks, which is why a server with a video card is much more efficient than one without.

On the website of our company, in the «Choose Server» section, you can see many offers for renting servers, among which there are those equipped with a video card. Rest assured, you will definitely find a suitable offer!

What kind of video cards are there?

The following types are generally distinguished:

• Integrated: is not a separate component, but part of your device's processor. In this case, the graphics card does not have its own memory, so it uses system memory. Such video cards are usually used in computers that are great for office work or for use at home (for example, for watching films, videos, photos and documents). Of course, you can try to download some «heavy» game on a PC with such a graphics card, but most likely the gameplay will disappoint you.
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• Discrete: is characterised by higher performance and is a separate element, not an integral part of something. As a rule, this variety is used in order to play or comfortably work with graphic editors.
  Of course, the choice of device should directly depend on your goals. That is why, if you need a device for working with documents and watching films, then you should pay attention to a PC with an integrated graphics card, but if you like to play, then you should give preference to a PC with a discrete graphics card.

How to choose a video card

To get a really good picture on your monitor, you should pay attention to the following features when choosing a graphics card:

• Video memory capacity: if you own a monitor with a large resolution and plan to play complex games, it is worth favoring options that have at least 12 GB of memory.
• The amount of space in the system unit: very often, these accessories vary in size. Sometimes, because the fixture is too large, it may simply not fit in the device. That is why, even if you are the owner of a high-tech device, you should clearly understand whether the size of this part is suitable for your system unit or not, otherwise you will waste your money.
• Necessary connectors: in order for the graphics card to be able to connect to the monitor and ensure smooth picture output, you need to check if there is a connector that will enable this process to take place.
• Power supply capacity: modern graphics cards mostly consume a lot of power because they are aimed at meeting the needs of modern designers, cyberathletes, and fans of complex games with interesting graphics. That's why, in order to understand whether this or that mechanism will be able to function properly in your system unit, you should pay attention to the power supply capacity.

It's worth understanding that when choosing a graphics card, you should prioritise the options that are right for your purposes. If you're looking for a graphics card that you'll install in a device designed for everyday tasks, you'll want to go for simpler models without a serious cooling system and a large amount of video memory, but if you're looking for a graphics card for a device that will be used for graphic design or complex games, you'll want to go for more powerful models.

Conclusion

A graphics card is therefore designed to translate machine code into an image and translate it to the screen. They come in several varieties and are chosen based on a number of characteristics, including the amount of video memory, the size of the part, and the power supply power required. Remember to consider your goals for the device, and you'll be sure to make the right choice.

And, if you need a server equipped with a video card, you can go to «Select Server» and consider our rental offers. We look forward to having you as one of our customers!