What kind of video card should I get?

Computer technology changes almost daily. To keep up with the technology is a full time job. To advice someone on what type of computer to get, is an impossible task. Everyone's needs are different. Everyone's preferences is different. Therefore, these pages are for your information to make an educated decision. There is so much information that it may confuse you more than help you. However it is important to review all the information. Also as technology changes, some of the information provided here may not apply.

For more information that I don't have included here, see the following

Hardware questions Information on computer parts.

There are two different types of video cards

Integrated
1. Uses low end graphics
2. Not designed for high end games
3. Not designed for Auto-cad
4. Many systems that has integrated video does not have an AGP or a PCI slot for a video card, so can't upgrade it. (Some systems do so if they have one, then you can upgrade later)
Not integrated (card installed)
1. PCI (new version of PCI)
  1. This slot is faster than the AGP video cards
  2. This slot is not to be confused with the older PCI slots
  3. This CI slot is only for video cards
  4. The other PCI slots are for modems, network cards, and other cards. You can also put an older version of PCI video card in these slots (but they may have issues with older style PCI video cards. They also are about obsolete now)
2. AGP
  1. Not as fast as the PCI
  2. Not offered on newer systems.
  3. Comes in 4X and 8X configurations (The motherboard has to be compatible for the 8X to use the 8X)
  4. An motherboard has to have an AGP slot. Newer systems do not have an AGP slot

If you plan on using an integrated video card but feel you may want to upgrade to a better video card down the road, you may want to make sure the motherboard has the AGP or PCI slot for adding a video card down the road. If it doesn't, you will have to buy a new motherboard, or a new system (Some manufactured computers will not take motherboards that are not made by that manufacturer. Dell computers will not accept 3rd party motherboards for example (or they used to not accept 3rd party motherboards). In this situation, you would have to buy a new computer. )

For more information on Video cards, click here.

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