G is for Graphics
Different people require different things from their computers, which means some people require more effort from their computers than others when it comes to the graphical front. The person who wants to play “Starblasters 3D” in all its glory online has a different requirement than the person who simply wants to upload and edit family videos. No matter what, though, every computer needs some sort of graphics card.However, your motherboard may come with a processor sufficient for your needs. Many modern motherboards include a graphics chipset developed by the same company responsible for the northbridge (one of the two chips in a motherboard’s core logic chipset). This integrated graphics chip generally has a limited amount of embedded memory and contributes to the total RAM usage of the system. While these chips falter when it comes to running 3D applications, they can work for those who are simply using their computer for data processing.You can add to your computer’s graphics capabilities by adding a dedicated Graphics card, which comes with its own RAM and Processor. This has two advantages: it removes the load on the system’s main memory, and it adds dedicated RAM to produce stellar video images. These cards can be added into the AGP, PCI, or PCI Express Slot after disabling the integrated graphics chip.Nvidia is one of the best-known graphics processing unit (GPU) developers and has a number of industry-recognized product lines designed for different use. The GeForce series of GPUS is designed for computer gamers, while the Quadro series accelerates Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and digital content creation (DCC) workstations. The nForce series is the company’s brand of integrated motherboard chipsets (shipped with the nForce motherboard) and the Tegra is designed for mobile units. Other well-known GPU developers include AMD Graphics Product Group (developer of the Radeon series and formally known as ATI Technologies) and Matrox (which targets niche markets such as industrial and government applications). Beware, though: the better your video card is, the more electricity it will require. At the same time, modern CPUS are becoming more efficient, so your GPU may use the most electricity out of any computer component. The electricity used by the processor may also cause overheating. To combat this, most cards are equipped with one (or more) of three cooling devices: a heat sink, a computer fan, and/or a water block.