Graphics card

A graphics card, also known as a video card, is a special part inside or connected to a computer that helps create images on a screen. It sends pictures to a display device like a monitor. This part is very important for making games and videos look smooth and clear.

Most graphics cards do more than just show pictures. They can help the computer do other kinds of work, taking some of the load off the main brain of the computer, called the central processing unit or CPU. With special tools like OpenCL and CUDA, graphics cards can even help with jobs like learning from data, creating digital money, or studying tiny parts of nature.

Usually, a graphics card looks like a small board that fits into a special slot inside a computer. Some cards come in their own small case and connect to the computer with a cord. These are called external GPUs. Having a strong graphics card means the computer can show more pictures every second, making everything look faster and smoother.

History

Graphics cards, also called video cards or graphics processing units (GPUs), have changed over time along with how we show pictures on computers. In the beginning, computers used simple ways to show images, like the Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA), Color Graphics Adapter (CGA), Hercules Graphics Card, Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA), and Video Graphics Array (VGA). Each new way made it possible to show more colors and clearer pictures.

Later, special cards made for Apple Macintosh II computers helped make graphics faster. In the 1990s, new cards like the Voodoo series made games look much better by handling complex 3D pictures. Then came cards like the NVIDIA RIVA 128, which could do both simple and complex graphics on one chip.

Today, most graphics cards come from companies like AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. These cards can do many things, like showing videos, connecting to many screens, and even sending sound to your TV or monitor. They have become very important for making computers show great pictures and videos.

Discrete vs integrated graphics

Some computers have graphics hardware built into the motherboard, CPU, or a single chip called a system-on-chip. This is called integrated graphics. It is cheaper, smaller, and uses less power. However, it usually works slower than a special graphics card because it shares resources with the rest of the computer.

A graphics card has its own memory, cooling, and power supply. This helps it work better, especially for tasks like video gaming, 3D animation, and video editing. Companies like AMD and Intel make CPUs that can include graphics hardware right on the same chip. AMD calls these Accelerated Processing Unit (APU), and Intel uses the name Intel Graphics Technology.

Power demand

As graphics cards get better at processing, they also need more power to work. Today’s strong graphics cards can use a lot of electricity. For example, one powerful card uses about 280 watts, and when playing games, it can use up to 300 watts. Even though computer parts like the brain of the computer and the power supply are getting better at saving energy, graphics cards still need more and more power.

Most modern graphics cards that use more than 75 watts have special connectors that link directly to the computer’s power supply. Keeping these cards cool is important, especially if a computer has more than one graphics card, which might need a power supply of over 750 watts. Designers have to work hard to make sure the computer stays cool.

Size

Graphics cards come in different sizes to fit into smaller computers. Some cards are called "low profile" because they are shorter than usual. The height of a card matters most, but length and thickness can also vary. Big, powerful cards can be very long and might need extra support to keep them in place. Using a larger computer case can help fit bigger cards and avoid problems with other parts inside the computer.

GPU sag

In recent years, some very heavy graphics cards can sag downward if not supported properly. This is why many cards come with extra brackets to keep them stable and prevent damage over time.

Multicard scaling

Some graphics cards can be connected together to share the work of creating graphics. This helps make images look better and faster. There are special ways to connect them, like using a data bridge. Usually, the cards need to be the same model to work together. Companies like AMD and Nvidia have their own methods for this, called CrossFireX and SLI.

Using more than one card needs a big motherboard and enough power. For four cards, you need a power supply of at least 1000 watts. It's also important to keep the cards cool, so they need good airflow or special cooling systems. While many games don't need more than one card, multiple cards are still used in big computers and for special tasks like creating videos or training computers to learn.

3D graphics APIs

A graphics driver helps one or more graphics cards work with a computer’s operating system. The operating system or special software can also give programs special tools, called APIs, to create 3D images.

GPUs are made for different purposes, such as:

1. Gaming
   • GeForce GTX
   • GeForce RTX
   • Nvidia Titan
   • Radeon HD
   • Radeon RX
   • Intel Arc
2. Cloud gaming
   • Nvidia Grid
   • Radeon Sky
3. Workstation
   • Nvidia Quadro
   • AMD FirePro
   • Radeon Pro
   • Intel Arc Pro
4. Cloud Workstation
   • Nvidia Tesla
   • AMD FireStream
5. Artificial Intelligence Cloud
   • Nvidia Tesla
   • Radeon Instinct
6. Automated/Driverless car
   • Nvidia Drive PX

Industry

Main article: List of graphics chips and card companies

Today, the main companies that make the important parts for graphics cards are AMD and Nvidia. In 2013, AMD had about 35% of the market, and Nvidia had around 65%. These two companies are the big players in this area, and they also make and sell graphics cards themselves. Besides selling their own cards, AMD and Nvidia also sell the important parts to other companies who then make and sell their own graphics cards. This creates some interesting competition in the industry. Some companies make cards for both AMD and Nvidia, while others focus on just one. Many of these companies are based in Taiwan, with a few also located in Hong Kong.

Market

Graphics cards were very popular in 1999, with over 114 million sold that year. But by 2013, sales dropped to just 14.5 million because computers started including graphics built right into their main parts. Still, some people still buy high-end graphics cards for gaming.

Besides gaming, graphics cards are also used for processing big data and for creating cryptocurrencies. In 2018, the price of graphics cards shot up because many people wanted them for mining cryptocurrencies. This caused shortages in stores. Later, the industry faced problems because of a shortage of computer chips in 2020–2021.

Parts

A modern graphics card has a special board called a printed circuit board where all its parts are placed. These parts include:

Graphics processing unit

Main article: graphics processing unit

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is a special electronic circuit that quickly works with information to help create images for a screen. It makes building pictures faster and easier.

Heat sink

Most graphics cards have a heat sink, which helps keep the GPU cool. It spreads out the heat and often has a small fan to blow air over it. Some cards use water instead of air to stay cool.

Video BIOS

The video BIOS or firmware is a small program that helps set up the graphics card when you first turn on your computer. It gives basic instructions to get the screen working.

Video memory

Graphics cards have special fast memory, usually between 2 and 24 GB, that the GPU uses to store pictures and other data while working.

RAMDAC

The RAMDAC helps change digital signals into analog signals for older screens. It is not needed for most modern digital screens.

Output interfaces

Graphics cards connect to screens in several ways:

Video Graphics Array (VGA) (DE-15)

Main article: Video Graphics Array

VGA is an older way to connect to screens. It works with many types of displays but can sometimes cause blurry pictures.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Main article: Digital Visual Interface

DVI is a better way to connect to flat screens like LCDs. It gives clearer pictures without the blur that VGA can cause.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

Main article: HDMI

HDMI is a modern way to send pictures and sound to screens. It works well with most new TVs and monitors.

DisplayPort

Main article: DisplayPort

DisplayPort is another modern way to connect to screens. It can also send sound and other data.

USB-C

Main article: USB-C

USB-C is a flexible connector that can also be used for connecting to screens on some newer graphics cards.

Motherboard interfaces

Main articles: Bus (computing) and Expansion card

Graphics cards connect to the computer in different ways, such as through PCI Express, which is common today.

See also: List of device bandwidths § Computer buses