Graphic card

The  graphics card  is an internal part of a computer that is responsible for processing and reinforcing everything that has to do with the video processing area. It is not only found inside the  CPU , but also in medical equipment or video game consoles; This item is a must have for developers or graphic designers.

Characteristics

The main features of the graphics card are:

• It is known by several names: display adapter , video card , graphics accelerator, or video card.
• Some cards have added functions such as television tuning or allow the user to capture video, they even include spice connectors for mouse or joystick .
• Currently there are a wide variety of companies that are dedicated to the manufacture of this card seeking to be the market leaders.

History

At the beginning of the 80s, IBM, being inspired by the  Apple II,  managed to develop the first video card, which was interchangeable which allowed it to become popular fast enough, it only allowed the characters to be displayed on the screen.

This first model was only  4kb   and connected to a monochrome monitor , however, improvements were not long in coming. It was IBM who would standardize the term VGA, which translates as the definition capacity of 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high.

Parts of a graphics card

GPU

It is the graphic processing unit that is responsible for reducing the workload of the central processor to which it is connected, which is why it is responsible for calculating floating point 3D functions . This is the most important part of a graphics card that is why what is most described in a presentation of it.

GRAM

Translated is Random Access Graphics Memory and buy from GDDR to GDDR5 . These chips are responsible for storing and transporting information between the other memory chips. These do not interfere with the continued performance of the card.

RAMDAC.

They are the digital-analog converter piece of memory to random access, as its name implies it converts the signal from digital to analog of the RAM memory . It converts the digital signals sent by the main processor and converts them into an analog signal allowing the monitor to interpret it.

Departures

• VGA: It is the basic connector found in all graphic cards and devices that have cathode ray tubes are placed on it.
• DVI : It is the one that is following the previous one named, it is created in order to achieve the maximum resolution that the monitor allows to reproduce.
• HDMI : It is the port that was recently developed and translates high definition multimedia interface . Developed in order to get the maximum potential from televisions.
• Display Portn: It is the competitor of HDMI and its greatest advantage is that it does not depend on patents so it is less tedious in terms of administrative paperwork, it also has a drag hook so that it does not come out accidentally
• Cooling devices: Due to their constant activity, the cards have a heat sink added to the card . Depending on the specifications and the power of each card, these are incorporated with one, two or three fans as necessary.
• Power supply : These cards, like all parts of the CPU, need a power supply, depending on each model, their electricity use increases and can reach 75W, that is why they have a chip- type membranethat connects directly to the motherboard which is supplies the energy.

What is a graphics card for?

The graphics card has two main functions:

• Interpret the data sent by the CPU, order it and calculate the value of each pixel, and after that, store it in its memory to be able to present it at the time indicated on the screen.
•  It processes the previous data that is in the memory and transform it into the analog signal for the monitor to analyze it since the signal sent by the processor before reaching the card comes in a digital format.

How does it work

• It receives all the information sent by the main processor regarding digital processes , it relieves it in that part to improve its general performance .
• It stores the information in its memory parts to be sent later to the next part of the process.
• All the information stored goes through a piece that is responsible for converting all the information that is in digital format to transform it into analog.
• After the information is converted and ready to be decoded, it is sent through the optical cable that is connected to a monitor , in order to be projected on it.

Types

Currently there is no major difference between cards except for the powers that represent each one, but their predecessors did come for models :

• CGA card (Color Graphics Adapter9
• HGC card (Hercules Graphic card)
• MDA card (Monochrome display adapter)

Currently:

• Corsair revenge
• Nvidia GTX and G-Force
• Asus ROG

Featured Manufacturers

Between 2000 and 2006, competitiveness was based between two companies ATI and NViDIA, however, to date there are a large number of large companies that seek to highlight:

• CORSAIR
• HYPER X
• NVIDIA
• AMD
• RAZER
• ASUS
• GYGABITE
• M: YES
• EVGA

Although for many experts who leads the global market is NVIDIA , it cannot be placed at the head since there are many competitors who from time to time seek to innovate and position themselves within the market as the best.

How it differs from a GPU

Although it is a common misconception that the GPU is the same as the graphics card , yet it is not. The GPU is responsible only for the processing and collection of sent data , while the graphics card is the compendium of parts that make it up.

Importance of the graphics card

The graphics cards today play an important role in all quipos where you can place as it facilitates the processes of a PC allowing better performance and in turn providing a great advantage to designers or people living a computer for example professional category ” Gamers “, however, due to their high costs, not all people can afford them.