What is a Graphics Card and How Do You Choose the Right One?

Many components come together to make up a PC and they all have different roles that are incredibly important. Between the motherboard, RAM, cooling components, and more, building a PC can come with a lot of decision-making. In many cases, people are building a computer for gaming or graphic design reasons. For this, there is one very important part to consider - the graphics card.

Of course, there are likely many people out there wondering what a graphics card does and how to pick one. This is why we put together an easy guide to understanding and choosing graphics processing units, GPU for short.

What Exactly Do Graphics Cards Do?

Some people may hear the name and assume that it is pretty obvious what graphics cards do. Of course, the full explanation is much more than “they help make the graphics.”

Basically, a graphics card is an expansion to a PC that is in charge of properly rendering graphics to the display. A graphics card resembles a smaller version of the computer motherboard, as it has its own processor, RAM, and several other components.

There are two primary versions of graphics cards to know about.

The first of these is integrated into the CPU and the other is what is known as a discrete GPU. A discrete GPU is mounted into an expansion slot on the motherboard. This allows people to replace their GPU if it stops working or they want an upgrade.

Again, there is much more to a graphics card than just sending images to the display. In fact, modern GPUs are essentially miniature computers in themselves. Modern cards can render 2D graphics like documents, windows, and more. Additionally, they can also draw and render in 3D without needing pre-rendering.

Choosing the Right Graphics Card for PC

Looking through and choosing the right graphics card for your PC can be a difficult decision. Many people might gravitate towards the most recent generation of cards, but expensive and new doesn’t always mean better.

Additionally, rush to upgrade your build every time a new graphics card comes out. GPUs can typically display and perform for several generations before needing a replacement.

What is the Best Graphics Card?

When it comes to asking what is the best graphics card, there is no one answer to this question. The first question to answer in this debate is what framework people are working with.

When building a PC, the primary two choices have been AMD and Nvidia, but Intel has also launched their own GPU recently. All three of these brands are reputable and the choice comes down to what you want out of your card.

Realistically, the important factors to look for are the speeds, resolution ability, and, for gamers, whether the card can handle their favorite games. It is always important to review the specifications and make sure a card will meet specific needs before purchasing.

Searching for High-Quality PC Parts?

If you are looking for high-quality graphics cards for your work or home PC, then Rackfinity can help. We offer a wide array of parts from different well-known manufacturers to find whatever your needs may be.

If you have any questions about our cards or other parts, please contact us at 1 (800) 944-0338. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you put together the perfect PC for whatever you are looking to do.