If you plan to build or buy a powerful gaming right, one of the first steps is to pay extra attention to your PC graphic card. Graphic cards are the most critical component in gaming PCs. However, purchasing a GPU can be a quite challenging task since you need to consider a lot of things from the specific type of monitor you are using to your chassis’s size, and so much more.
But, the decision making shouldn’t be that tough. As long as you know your PC requirements, performance goals, and budget, you will be at a step closer in identifying the best graphics card that suits your needs.
Below is a quick guide about PC graphic card to shed light on the most important features you should check before you make a purchasing decision.
Table of Contents
Compatibility
There is nothing more frustrating than being excited to open your case and install the new graphics card only to realize that it is an inch longer. Prior to making any purchase, always do your homework first and determine the physical space available in your case.
You also need to consider the power supply. Cross-reference the information with the specific graphics card you wish to buy. In case your computer cannot handle it, it is best to search for a graphics card that needs lesser power or you can also consider getting a power upgrade.
Finally, check all the ports. There are monitors using DisplayPort, some have HDMI while older units are only using DVI. Make sure the PC graphic card you wish to purchase has the necessary connectors for your monitors. If you purchase a card with ports different from those on your monitor, you will have to shell out an additional cost to purchase an adapter.
Platform
The system you have will dictate the type of graphics card you should purchase. Being familiar with the limitations of your system can help save you from headaches and unnecessary expenses. For instances, if you are running on a much older CPU with dual core such as Celeron or Pentium, it won’t be able to keep up with the higher end graphics cards. For these cases, it is best to opt for midrange cards to save some cash.
Another crucial factor you need to consider is your display. You won’t need high end graphics hardware when using a monitor with an older resolution of 1280 x 1024. On the other hand, if you plan to run 3 monitors of 1080p in surround, you won’t get decent framerates in more modern 3D games with a midrange card.
Bandwidth and Memory
Most people will tell you that you can get a better performance with bigger graphics card memory. Well, this is not the case all the time. Unless you use it with ultra high resolutions such as 4K or with several monitors in surround, the RAM quality will not make much of a difference. Bandwidth is the one that you should be paying more attention to. Data prepared for processing by the GPU is often stored on the own dedicated memory of a PC graphic card known as GDDR5 and GDDR3.
