A graphics card controls the graphics output in a computer by converting data calculated by the processor. Modern graphics cards consist of a GPU, graphics memory, RAMDAC and connections for external devices.
They affect the computer's screen display, speed and performance, especially for games and graphics applications. Graphics cards can be integrated (iGPU) or dedicated (dGPU). Although graphics processing is partially moved to the main processor, dedicated graphics cards remain relevant. Buying a graphics card requires attention to GPU performance, graphics memory, interface (PCI Express), memory interface, screen connectors and cooling. A driver acts as an interface between hardware and software.
Graphics cards use pipelines and shaders to process images, converting pixel information and sending it to the screen. Important considerations are heat resistance and the possibility of analog image output via the RAMDAC.
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