Buying Guide - The Graphics Card

The graphics card (a.k.a. video card) is probably the single component that gets upgraded more than any other. The two companies leading the way (nVidia and ATI - now owned by AMD) keep pumping out new graphics processors in fierce competition for top dog. When new video cards come out, they are ridiculously expensive, but as soon as a newer one comes out (usually shortly afterwards), the price cuts dramatically and goes down from there as time goes on. Owning a graphics card that can play the newest games is as inexpensive as $150, but if you want one that will put you inside the game and run seamlessly at the highest detail level, you're looking at a $400 price tag. Video editing has a similar story since the speed and options tend to increase as the price tag goes up. Refer to the 6-month rule for more information on how long to delay your purchase for the best value.

Choose a video card based on what you want to be able to do on your computer. It's a complete waste of money to purchase a $300 graphics card for word processing, surfing the internet, and playing music. At the same time, if you want to play the latest 3D games, don't count on using your onboard video with any desirable results. That said, let's find out how to tell what video cards will meet your needs.

There are several important specs to look at when comparing video cards: Physical Size, Chipset Manufacturer, Interface, GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), Memory, Outputs, and SLI/Crossfire Support.

Physical Size:
Very important, but often overlooked, is the question of whether the card will fit in your case. Cards with big coolers can take up a neighboring PCI slot, and extra-long cards can run into other components in your case. If you have a micro-ATX case, sometimes it requires a low-profile card which sticks out from the motherboard about an inch and a half less than standard cards.

Chipset Manufacturer:
If you purchase a motherboard that has any affiliation to either ATI or nVidia, consider using a graphics card by the same manufacturer to reduce any chance of conflict. For example, if your motherboard has an nForce chipset (made by nVidia), go with a graphics card made by them as well.

Interface:
If you build a computer today, you should get a PCI-E video card. Don't go back in time to snag an AGP card that is collecting dust on a retailer's shelf. At this point PCI-E 2.0 is so mainstream that the prices are no longer prohibitive, so consider these cards as well. The difference with the 2.0 is the theoretical doubling of the bandwidth between the graphics card and motherboard, however in practice, the older PCI-E bandwidth isn't even being filled, so 2.0 does nothing for your performance. On a side note, both PCI-E and PCI-E 2.0 cards can be used in both PCI-E and PCI-E 2.0 ports, so you can mix-and-match to your heart's content.

GPU:
The most vital aspect of the card is it's GPU. It's also one of the most over-complicated markets in the entire computer hardware industry. On one hand you have nVidia's GeForce lineup, with 7, 8, and 9-series cards, each with their own GT, GS, GTX, GTS suffix. It would make sense that there would be some method to the madness, like a higher number always being better than a lower number (i.e. 7800 vs. 7600), but we aren't so lucky. When we cross over to the ATI side of the tracks, their Radeon lines (X1k, HD 2k, and HD 3k series) are no better organized. The best way to compare models is by looking at a 'round-up' like this one on Tom's Hardware. To learn more about a specific model, type it into a search engine and see what people are saying about it. Make sure you're reading up-to-date information, since the churn for this component is particularly quick.

Memory:
For graphics cards there are three memory factors, the capacity (measured in MB), the bus (measured in bits), and the type (distinguished by GDDRx). Arguably, the most important factor is the bus. For example, a 256-bit bus can transfer twice as much information in the same time as a 128-bit bus, so the faster the better. The type and speed of memory are also important for a smooth visual experience. Unless you're running an intense 3D game at a high resolution for a long period of time, I'd go with faster memory over memory capacity any day (i.e. 256MB GDDR3 over 512MB GDDR2).

Outputs:
No matter if you're getting a top-of-the-line card or the el-cheapo special, outputs should be a key deciding factor in your purchase process. Start with the question: 'What am I going to plug into this thing?' If the answer is 'Just a normal monitor,' then find out if your monitor uses DVI (most LCD monitors do) or VGA. If it has both, opt for the DVI for a clearer and crisper image. Then find a card with the appropriate port (most have both, or at least a converter to allow you to connect either type). Additionally, if you want to connect a second monitor, a TV, or another display, make sure your card has the right type of output to support it. Generally, video cards have an s-video out port, which make connecting a TV very simple.

SLI/Crossfire:
So you're serious about gaming performance, eh? SLI and Crossfire technologies connect two to four graphics cards to boost performance during demanding games or applications. Your motherboard will only support one or the other (SLI is owned by nVidia, and Crossfire by ATI), and all your graphics cards must be the same for it to work. This is an overkill setup for anything but the beefiest gaming machines, but if that's your thing, it's a dream come true.

The best source of information on any video card is user reviews. You will find out the worst of what happened, as well as the reassuring, "Everything's great, A+" messages. If you simply need a video card for word processing, don't go to the gaming forums and expect to find something useful, and vice versa. There is no set method for saying which video cards are better than others, but benchmarking is widely accepted as the standard. As with any component (but especially for graphics cards), check the date on which the comments, articles, and reviews were posted before taking them to heart, since technology information is very time-sensitive. Anything older than 3 months is probably not the most reliable information, and I would try to search for something newer.

The way my colleagues and I shop for video cards usually begins with a price range we have in mind. We search Newegg to find out which cards are in that range. Typing the card's information into a search engine reveals many places where that card is the topic of discussion. If it wasn't perceived as a good value, has compatibility issues, or if people seemed to be flocking to a different card, I would cross that one off my list and move on. The final decision is usually a combination of appearance, features that I consider valuable, and slightly on price, since that was my initial criteria. We don't typically shop by features first because it's too easy to get sucked into buying that hot, new card for that one feature that would be nice but we could live without.

There are a few things to know about the industry before you buy any card. ATI (now owned by AMD) and nVidia are the two main graphics processor manufacturers. They put their own processors on their branded video cards, but they also sell their processors to other companies who, in turn, put them on their own branded graphics cards. These companies, such as ASUS, Gainward, Diablo Tek, Diamond, MSI, and XFX add their own features and support to their line of cards and sell them to the public. As I said before, the graphics industry is continuously changing, so it would be impossible to accurately give time-sensitive advice for this topic. Under my Sample Systems page, you can find the most up-to-date recommendations for graphics cards in your desired range of capabilities.

Find your Graphics Card on Newegg (Generally the lowest prices)
Find your Graphics Card on Amazon (Free Shipping on most items!)
Find your Graphics Card on TigerDirect (Outstanding combo deals)

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