How to Choose the Best Video Card for Your Computer’s Needs

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If you’re looking to build a computer for gaming, or if you’re looking to give your computer a technological boost, a video card is a must-buy. Often known as a graphics card or graphics coprocessor, these cards can range in size, price, and capability. For the most part, the size and price will be influenced by its graphical capabilities.

The world of graphics cards is large, to say the least. How do you find the ideal card for your computer? The answer isn’t that simple, but with a little research and rudimentary computer knowledge, you’ll be able to make your search an easy one.

One of the preliminary steps you, as a computer owner/builder will want to take, is to determine whether your system is even compatible with your desired graphics card. You might not have that much luck in installing a newer graphics card on a computer that was considered a “cheap” build several years ago.

An important factor to take into consideration when choosing a video card for your computer is the VRAM of the card you’re looking to buy. The VRAM is measured in GB, just like the system memory of your computer. In order for optimal performance, you’ll want to make sure the graphics card you choose has a VRAM rating that’s twice less than your computer’s RAM. For example, if you’re purchasing a video card with 4 GB of VRAM, your computer should ideally have 8 GB RAM of system memory.

Space is crucial when it comes to matching the perfect graphics card with your computer; if your graphics card is too big, it won’t fit properly in your computer’s case, rendering it unusable. The length of a graphics card can range from 10 inches to 13.5 inches, but the factor that generally distorts their size is the presence of fans on the card.

Ultimately, you’ll want to consider your budget and what it will allow. If you’re looking for moderate graphical performance on a decent computer build, you’re looking at around $150. Higher end models can run more than twice as much as that price. It’s important to know whether or not it’s worth installing a high-end model of a video card onto your computer if you know you’re going to be upgrading it in a couple of years.

Why pay more money for something you’ll keep for only two years?

All in all, finding the right graphics card for your computer may seem complex. Broken down into a step by step process, however, it’s easy to see that paying attention to a few details can really pay off. If you’re stuck looking for the right card after this read, be sure to check out Amazon – it’s the go-to place for custom computer builds and computer parts!