A video graphics card receives data from the CPU and converts it into images for the monitor. It can be built-in or separate, with newer technology providing better graphics and faster speeds. A graphics driver is required for communication with the operating system.
A video graphics card is a computer hardware device. Also called a computer graphics card or video adapter, the video graphics card handles the many graphical tasks on your computer. In its most basic form, the video graphics card receives data from the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and converts the data into images, which it then transmits to the computer monitor via the monitor cable. Your computer’s CPU is certainly capable of rendering graphics, but the video graphics card takes some of the load off and provides better graphics images and video playback for today’s high-definition software applications and games.
Depending on your computer and motherboard, your computer’s graphics card might be built-in or it might be a separate card. Most low-end computers and laptops come with an integrated video card to save space or provide only basic video rendering capabilities. High-end computers sport a separate removable video graphics card that plugs into a slot on the motherboard, the main “brain” of the computer that connects all of the computer’s parts together. Separate video graphics cards require a compatible motherboard with a graphics card slot.
Video graphics card technology has changed, becoming more sophisticated as the demand for faster, clearer graphics has increased. Older computers may have a set of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slots that accept a variety of PCI cards for modems, a sound video card, and the now-obsolete graphics card. The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) technology is faster, but it is overshadowed by the even faster PCI Express card that supports vivid high-definition games and video playback. Extreme graphics acceleration for high-end games uses a graphics processing unit (GPU) engine that provides realistic visuals and playback in real time.
Your video graphics card requires special software to enable the card to communicate the data it receives and sends to your computer’s operating system. This software, called a graphics driver, is usually built into the graphics card processor. Additional software applications installed on the computer may improve performance and allow the computer user to make customized settings for better performance.
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