How to Choose a Video Card for Your PC

With this article, you'll know whether or not you need a discrete video card, and if you do, what kind to get. Read on to learn how to choose a video card for your PC.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A desktop PC
• An Internet connection

1. Know your needs. If you play a lot of the latest games, you likely need a powerful video card to get the most impressive visuals. If you're sticking with Minesweeper, or if you don't play games, you're probably fine with onboard video.

2. Understand the options. All PCs now come with onboard video. This lets you run Windows, browse the Internet, watch movies and play older games without a discrete video card. Having a separate card dedicated to video allows you to view movies in high definition and play new games. There are two main technologies for video cards, AGP and PCI-E. AGP is the older technology, while PCI-E is a newer one, and your PC will only support one of them. Check your computer's manual to find out which kind of graphics card it supports.

3. Pick a price range. After you've determined that you want to purchase a video card, you should decide how much you're willing to spend and put it as your price ceiling. Like so many things, it can be easy to spend far too much than you intended on video cards.

4. Read reviews. There are dozens of manufacturers of video cards, and they all make a number of cards. The two overarching options are Nvidia and ATI. Nvidia and ATI cards come in endless varieties, and each manufacturer tweaks them to their own specifications. Make sure you pick a good card for your needs.

5. Decide on extras. Some cards come with extra large heatsinks to dissipate all the heat they put out, while others are lined with LEDs programmed to light up in colorful patterns. Some extras add performance, while others are purely for aesthetic purposes. Find a card with the extras you're interested in.

6. Buy it. Order the card online or buy it from a local computer store. Video cards can be trickier to install than other components, and require you to load software as well. Make sure you follow all the steps in the directions that are package with your card, and get to gaming.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to go all out, buy two cards and link them together. Both Nvidia and ATI offer this option, and doing so can provide as much as a 50 percent increase in performance. It's very expensive though, and two older cards will perform slower than one new card, so only double up with the newest generation of video cards.
• Make sure the card fits in your case. If your PC's case is small or poorly ventilated, a large card won't fit. Measure the dimensions of your case and make sure you've got room for an upgrade.