What is a graphics card?

Graphics Card | welcome2protec

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Graphics Card:

A graphics card, also called a video card or a display card. It is a piece of computer hardware which produces the image you see on your monitor. The Graphics Card is responsible for rendering an image to your monitor, and it does this by converting data into a signal your monitor can understand. The better your graphics card the better and smoother an image can be produced.

There are two types of graphics card:

1. Integrated: Integrated graphics is a GPU (Graphics processing unit) built into the processor. Integrated graphics card doesn't use a separate memory foe graphics or video. Instead, the GPU uses system's main memory (i.e. RAM) that is shared with the CPU. Since integrated graphics is built into the processor, it typically uses less power and as a result creates less heat, which can result in a longer battery life.


2. Dedicated: Dedicated graphics is a GPU (Graphics processing unit) that is separate from the processor. Dedicated graphics has dedicated has a separate set of chips and their own video memory (VRAM) that is not shared with the CPU. Since dedicated graphics separate from the CPU it consume more power and generates significant amount of heat. Since dedicated graphics has it's own GPU (Graphics processing unit), memory, and power source, it provides higher performance than integrated graphics.

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Components of Graphics Card:

The modern PC's graphics card consists the following major components:

1. Graphics processing Unit (GPU)
2. Video RAM (VRAM)
3. Digital-to-analogue converter (RAMDAC)
4. DVI, HDMI and VGA Ports
5. Heat Sink and GPU Fan
6. Power Connectors
7. Internal Interface

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Graphics processing Unit (GPU):

The graphics card is the hardware as a whole, while the GPU is a programmable chip installed on the graphics card (also known as graphics processor), to process an image a lot of mathematical and geometrical calculations are required, and a GPU is a specialized programmable chip which is designed to perform graphics operation and display output on the screen. In other words you can say, GPU is a graphics processor which perform the graphics operation.

GPU (Graphical processing unit)

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Video RAM (VRAM):

Video RAM (VRAM) this is the memory chip installed on the graphics card (See the above diagram) used to store image data that the computer displays, it acts as a buffer between the CPU and the video card until the worke is finished and when a picture is to be displayed.

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RAMDAC:

RAMDC stands for "Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analogue Converter." A RAMDAC microchip is built into the video adapter in a computer. It combines a small static RAM (SRAM) containing a color table with three digital-to-analog converters (DAC) that change digital image data into analog signals that are sent to the display's color generators, one for each primary color - red, green, and blue. See the below diagram how the digital signal to Analog signals are converted.

RAMDAC (Digital signal to Analog converter)

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GPU's FAN and Heat Shink

GPU FAN - a fan on top of a computer processor. It helps pull and blow hot air off the processor, helping keep it cooler.

Heatsink - is a piece of metal that sits on top of a computer chip such as a CPU and draws power away from components by letting it rise through a set of fins. By themselves, A heatsink needs to make strong contact with the source of heat in order to maximize cooling.

GPU's Heat Sink and FAN

More on this to be updated soon...

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