There are two main Video Card Manufacturers: Nvidia and ATI. While ATI Radeon Cards are known for their advanced technologies at low prices, Nvidia Cards are known for their good gaming performances despite their higher prices. Furthermore most new games are optimized for Nvidia Video Cards. Almost all new video cards have an PCI-E slot, but if you have a Motherboard with the old AGP slot you can still find some on the market.
The main ATI Radeon Video Card Series and chipsets:
- Radeon HD4000 Series - Radeon HD4350, Radeon HD4550, Radeon HD4650, Radeon HD4670
and Radeon HD4770
- Radeon HD5000 Series - Radeon HD5450, Radeon HD5550, Radeon HD5570, Radeon HD5670,
Radeon HD5750, Radeon HD5770, Radeon HD5870, Radeon HD5850 and Radeon HD5970
- Radeon HD6000 Series - Radeon HD6850 and Radeon HD6870
The main Nvidia Video Card Series and chipsets:
- GeForce 8000 Series - GeForce 8400GS
- GeForce 9000 Series - GeForce 9300GS, GeForce 9500GT and GeForce 9800GT
- GeForce 200 Series - GeForce 210
- GeForce G Series 200 - GeForce G 210
- GeForce GT 200 Series - GeForce GT 220 and GeForce GT 240
- GeForce GT 400 Series - GeForce GT 430
- GeForce GTS 200 Series - GeForce GTS 250
- GeForce GTS 400 Series - GeForce GTS 450
- GeForce GTX 400 Series - GeForce GTX 460, GeForce GTX 465, GeForce GTX 470 and GeForce GTX 480
- GeForce GTX 500 Series - GeForce GTX 570 and GeForce GTX 580
What you need to look for when choosing a Video Card:
a) Slot: The slot used to connect the Video Card to the Motherboard. The main Slots are: AGP 1, 2, 4 or 8x, PCI-Express 16x, PCI-Express 2.016x and PCI-Express 2.1 16x. Choose a video card to match the PCI-E/AGP slot on your Motherboard. The new PCI-Express 2.0 and 2.1 provide a better transfer rate between the Video Card and Motherboard.
b) Video Processor Frequency: The speed at which the Video Card Processor is running. The faster the Processor, the better performance (also for the Multiple Core Video Cards, the frequency of the Video Processor multiplies by the number of cores) so choose a good performance to price ratio Video Card.
The Frequency of a Video Card can also be increased by Overclocking it.
c) Overclocking: A technology used to increase the clock rate over the limits that it was designed for.
Check your Video Card Manual to learn if Overclocking can be used and to what limits.
d) Memory Frequency: The speed at which the Video Card Memory is running. The more MHz, the better the performance. The fastest Memory so far is the XDR2 that can reach up to 20GB/sec transfer rates exceeding the performances of the DDR5, so choose a good performance to price ratio Video Card.
e) Memory Size: The Size and Type of DDR memory on the Video Card (from DDR1 to DDR5 and XDR1 to XDR2). Most games require between 512 MB and 1 GB, so don’t waste money on choosing a Video Card with more memory than you need as it won’t increase its performance by much.
f) Memory Bandwidth: The bandwidth on which the Video Card is operating measured in bits (ranging from 32 to 768 bits). The higher number of bits the higher the performance.
Instead of choosing a Video Card with a higher amount of memory you should choose a Video Card with a higher Memory Bandwidth as it will increase its performance a lot more. In order to calculate the performance of a video card and choose the best performance to price video for your needs you can use the following formula:
Memory Frequency x Memory Bandwidth : 8 = Video Card’s transfer rate
g) Number Of Cores: Some high-end video cards also have 2 cores in order to double their performance. This technology also comes at a high price so choose such a video card only if you wish to build a high-end gaming station.
h) OpenGL version: A technology developed to hide complexities of interfacing with different 3D accelerators. The newer the technology the better the performance. Ranging from the first OpenGL 1.0 to the latest OpenGL 4.1.
i) DirectX Version Support: The maximum DirectX version the Video Card can support. The newest versions are DirectX 9 (for Windows ME and 2001), 10 and 10.1 (for Windows XP) and 11 (for Windows 7). DirectX is used to increase the quality of the visual effects.
j) Type And Number Of Video Connectors: Most video cards have 2 video connectors: one 15 pin VGA (Video Graphics Array) which is the oldest Video Connector and one DVI (Digital Visual Interface) which provides a very high visual quality. Some new video cards also come with a HDMI or Mini HDMI connector in order to display the video signal in High Definition. So choose a video card that has the number and type of Connectors to suit your needs best.
k) Pixel Shader Version: A shader program used to perform complex per-pixel effects, ranging from the first Pixel Shader 1.0 to the latest Pixel Shader 5.0 used by the latest video card models.
Other technologies that affect the Video Card’s Performance:
- Nvidia 3D VISION Surround Technology – a technology that expands your gaming across three monitors in Full HD 3D for a completely immersive gaming experience.
- Nvidia CUDA Architecture - a technology that allows the cores in a graphics processor to achieve dramatic speedups in computing performance by performing general-purpose mathematical calculations
- Nvidia GPUDirect - a technology that can achieve up to 30% performance improvement in data transfer times by eliminating unnecessary system memory copies and CPU overhead
- Nvidia Optimus – a technology designed to optimize your notebook PC, providing the higher graphic performance and extending battery life
- Nvidia PhysX - a technology that enables real-time physics in leading edge PC and console games.
- Nvidia PowerMizer – a technology designed to extend the battery life of notebook PCs.
- Nvidia PureVideo – a technology designed to deliver unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling
- ATI Radeon VISION Engine – a technology that enables vivid HD entertainment, blazing fast Internet browsing and accelerated applications
- ATI Radeon Eyefinity Technology – a technology designed to support multiple independent display outputs simultaneously
- ATI Radeon EyeSpeed Technology – a technology designed for enhanced speed and performance beyond traditional graphics and video processing
- ATI Radeon HD3D Technology - a technology that enables 3D display capabilities for many PC applications and experiences
- ATI Radeon PowerPlay Technology - a technology designed to improve the energy efficiency of the video card
- ATI Radeon HyperMemory Technology – a technology that enables reduced on-board memory for the graphics cards
If you can’t afford a new and expensive video card, you can buy one or more of the same model as your old video card and use the SLI/CrossFire technology in order to increase performance. The video cards don’t need to be the same brand they just need to have the same memory and same clocks.
- SLI - A technology that allows you to increase graphics performance by combining multiple NVIDIA graphic cards.
- CrossFire - A technology that enables multiple ATI Radeon graphics cards in order to increase graphics quality and performance
- None of these technologies double the memory of the video cards.
- There are some games that don’t take advantage of SLI or CrossFire so choose carefully.
- Make sure your Motherboard supports SLI/Crossfire technology.
Important: If the Video Card doesn’t have a cooler make sure you buy one in order to increase its performance and lifetime.
The main Nvidia Video Card Series and chipsets:
- GeForce 8000 Series - GeForce 8400GS
- GeForce 9000 Series - GeForce 9300GS, GeForce 9500GT and GeForce 9800GT
- GeForce 200 Series - GeForce 210
- GeForce G Series 200 - GeForce G 210
- GeForce GT 200 Series - GeForce GT 220 and GeForce GT 240
- GeForce GT 400 Series - GeForce GT 430
- GeForce GTS 200 Series - GeForce GTS 250
- GeForce GTS 400 Series - GeForce GTS 450
- GeForce GTX 400 Series - GeForce GTX 460, GeForce GTX 465, GeForce GTX 470 and GeForce GTX 480
- GeForce GTX 500 Series - GeForce GTX 570 and GeForce GTX 580
What you need to look for when choosing a Video Card:
a) Slot: The slot used to connect the Video Card to the Motherboard. The main Slots are: AGP 1, 2, 4 or 8x, PCI-Express 16x, PCI-Express 2.016x and PCI-Express 2.1 16x. Choose a video card to match the PCI-E/AGP slot on your Motherboard. The new PCI-Express 2.0 and 2.1 provide a better transfer rate between the Video Card and Motherboard.
b) Video Processor Frequency: The speed at which the Video Card Processor is running. The faster the Processor, the better performance (also for the Multiple Core Video Cards, the frequency of the Video Processor multiplies by the number of cores) so choose a good performance to price ratio Video Card.
The Frequency of a Video Card can also be increased by Overclocking it.
c) Overclocking: A technology used to increase the clock rate over the limits that it was designed for.
Check your Video Card Manual to learn if Overclocking can be used and to what limits.
d) Memory Frequency: The speed at which the Video Card Memory is running. The more MHz, the better the performance. The fastest Memory so far is the XDR2 that can reach up to 20GB/sec transfer rates exceeding the performances of the DDR5, so choose a good performance to price ratio Video Card.
e) Memory Size: The Size and Type of DDR memory on the Video Card (from DDR1 to DDR5 and XDR1 to XDR2). Most games require between 512 MB and 1 GB, so don’t waste money on choosing a Video Card with more memory than you need as it won’t increase its performance by much.
f) Memory Bandwidth: The bandwidth on which the Video Card is operating measured in bits (ranging from 32 to 768 bits). The higher number of bits the higher the performance.
Instead of choosing a Video Card with a higher amount of memory you should choose a Video Card with a higher Memory Bandwidth as it will increase its performance a lot more. In order to calculate the performance of a video card and choose the best performance to price video for your needs you can use the following formula:
Memory Frequency x Memory Bandwidth : 8 = Video Card’s transfer rate
g) Number Of Cores: Some high-end video cards also have 2 cores in order to double their performance. This technology also comes at a high price so choose such a video card only if you wish to build a high-end gaming station.
h) OpenGL version: A technology developed to hide complexities of interfacing with different 3D accelerators. The newer the technology the better the performance. Ranging from the first OpenGL 1.0 to the latest OpenGL 4.1.
i) DirectX Version Support: The maximum DirectX version the Video Card can support. The newest versions are DirectX 9 (for Windows ME and 2001), 10 and 10.1 (for Windows XP) and 11 (for Windows 7). DirectX is used to increase the quality of the visual effects.
j) Type And Number Of Video Connectors: Most video cards have 2 video connectors: one 15 pin VGA (Video Graphics Array) which is the oldest Video Connector and one DVI (Digital Visual Interface) which provides a very high visual quality. Some new video cards also come with a HDMI or Mini HDMI connector in order to display the video signal in High Definition. So choose a video card that has the number and type of Connectors to suit your needs best.
k) Pixel Shader Version: A shader program used to perform complex per-pixel effects, ranging from the first Pixel Shader 1.0 to the latest Pixel Shader 5.0 used by the latest video card models.
Other technologies that affect the Video Card’s Performance:
- Nvidia 3D VISION Surround Technology – a technology that expands your gaming across three monitors in Full HD 3D for a completely immersive gaming experience.
- Nvidia CUDA Architecture - a technology that allows the cores in a graphics processor to achieve dramatic speedups in computing performance by performing general-purpose mathematical calculations
- Nvidia GPUDirect - a technology that can achieve up to 30% performance improvement in data transfer times by eliminating unnecessary system memory copies and CPU overhead
- Nvidia Optimus – a technology designed to optimize your notebook PC, providing the higher graphic performance and extending battery life
- Nvidia PhysX - a technology that enables real-time physics in leading edge PC and console games.
- Nvidia PowerMizer – a technology designed to extend the battery life of notebook PCs.
- Nvidia PureVideo – a technology designed to deliver unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling
- ATI Radeon VISION Engine – a technology that enables vivid HD entertainment, blazing fast Internet browsing and accelerated applications
- ATI Radeon Eyefinity Technology – a technology designed to support multiple independent display outputs simultaneously
- ATI Radeon EyeSpeed Technology – a technology designed for enhanced speed and performance beyond traditional graphics and video processing
- ATI Radeon HD3D Technology - a technology that enables 3D display capabilities for many PC applications and experiences
- ATI Radeon PowerPlay Technology - a technology designed to improve the energy efficiency of the video card
- ATI Radeon HyperMemory Technology – a technology that enables reduced on-board memory for the graphics cards
If you can’t afford a new and expensive video card, you can buy one or more of the same model as your old video card and use the SLI/CrossFire technology in order to increase performance. The video cards don’t need to be the same brand they just need to have the same memory and same clocks.
- SLI - A technology that allows you to increase graphics performance by combining multiple NVIDIA graphic cards.
- CrossFire - A technology that enables multiple ATI Radeon graphics cards in order to increase graphics quality and performance
- None of these technologies double the memory of the video cards.
- There are some games that don’t take advantage of SLI or CrossFire so choose carefully.
- Make sure your Motherboard supports SLI/Crossfire technology.
Important: If the Video Card doesn’t have a cooler make sure you buy one in order to increase its performance and lifetime.
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How to choose a Video card
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