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<title>Graphics hardware</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphics hardware</span></span>

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<p><b>Graphics hardware</b> is computer hardware that generates <a href="Computer_graphics" title="Computer graphics">computer graphics</a> and allows them to be shown on a display, usually using a graphics card (<a href="Video_card" class="mw-redirect" title="Video card">video card</a>) in combination with a <a href="Device_driver" title="Device driver">device driver</a> to create the images on the screen.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Types">Types</h2></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Graphics_cards">Graphics cards</h3></div>

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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Graphics_card" title="Graphics card">Graphics card</a></div>

<p>The most important piece of graphics hardware is the <a href="Graphics_card" title="Graphics card">graphics card</a>, which is the piece of equipment that renders out all images and sends them to a display. There are two types of graphics cards:<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> integrated and dedicated.

An integrated graphics card, usually by <a href="Intel" title="Intel">Intel</a> to use in their computers, is bound to the motherboard and shares <a href="RAM" class="mw-redirect" title="RAM">RAM</a> (Random Access Memory) with the <a href="CPU" class="mw-redirect" title="CPU">CPU</a>, reducing the total amount of RAM available. This is undesirable for running programs and applications that use a large amount of video memory.

A dedicated graphics card has its own RAM and Processor for generating its images and does not slow down the computer. Dedicated graphics cards also have higher performance than integrated graphics cards. It is possible to have both<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> dedicated and integrated graphics, however once a dedicated graphics card is installed, the integrated card will no longer function until the dedicated card is removed.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Parts_of_a_graphics_card">Parts of a graphics card</h4></div>

<p>The <a href="GPU" class="mw-redirect" title="GPU">GPU</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> or graphics processing unit, is the unit that allows the graphics card to function. It performs a large amount of the work given to the card. The majority of video playback on a computer is controlled by the GPU. Once again, a GPU can be either integrated or dedicated.

</p><p>Video Memory is built-in RAM on the graphics card, which provides it with its own memory, allowing it to run smoothly without taking resources intended for general use by the rest of the computer. The term "Video" here is an informal designation and is not intended in a narrow sense. In particular, it does not imply exclusively video data. The data in this form of memory comprises all manner of graphical data including those for still images, icons, fonts, and generally anything that is displayed on the screen. In Integrated graphics cards, which lack this built-in memory, the main memory available for general computation is used instead, which means less memory for other functions of the system.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Display_drivers">Display drivers</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Display_driver" title="Display driver">Display driver</a></div>

<p>A <a href="Display_driver" title="Display driver">display driver</a> is a piece of software which allows your graphics hardware to communicate with your <a href="Operating_system" title="Operating system">operating system</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Drivers in general allow your computer to utilize parts of itself, and without them, the machine would not function. This is because a graphics device usually communicates in its own language, which is more sophisticated, and a computer communicates in its own language, which largely deals with general commands. Therefore, a driver is required to translate between the two, and convert general commands into specific commands, and vice versa, so that each of the devices can understand the instructions and results. Every card needs its own driver, although some drivers include the driver for several cards. Ex. a GTX1060 driver will not work in a Radeon card.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Installation">Installation</h2></div>

<p>Dedicated graphics cards are not bound to the <a href="Motherboard" title="Motherboard">motherboard</a>, and therefore most are removable, replaceable, or upgradable. They are installed in an expansion slot and connected to the motherboard.

On the other hand, an integrated graphics card cannot be changed without buying a new motherboard with a better chip, as they are bound to the motherboard.

</p><p>Also, if an integrated graphics card gets damaged or ceases to function, a new motherboard must be purchased to replace it, as it is bound to the motherboard and cannot be removed or replaced. On the other hand, if there is a problem with a dedicated graphics card, it can be replaced by installing another.

</p><p>Drivers<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> for the hardware are installed through software downloaded or provided by the manufacturer. Each brand of graphics hardware has its own drivers that are required for the hardware to run appropriately.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Brands">Brands</h2></div>

<p>The major competing brands in graphics hardware are <a href="NVidia" class="mw-redirect" title="NVidia">NVidia</a> and <a href="AMD" title="AMD">AMD</a>. NVidia is known largely in the computer graphics department due to its <a href="GeForce" title="GeForce">GeForce</a> brand, whereas <a href="AMD" title="AMD">AMD</a> is known due to its <a href="Radeon" title="Radeon">Radeon</a> brand. These two brands account for largely 100 percent of the graphics hardware market, with NVidia making 4 billion dollars<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> in revenue and <a href="AMD" title="AMD">AMD</a> generating 6.5 billion in revenue (through all sales, not specifically graphics cards).

</p><p><a href="Radeon" title="Radeon">Radeon</a> used to be <a href="ATI_Technologies" title="ATI Technologies">ATI</a>, until <a href="AMD" title="AMD">AMD</a> bought <a href="ATI_Technologies" title="ATI Technologies">ATI</a> for $5.4 billion in 2006. <a href="ATI_Technologies" title="ATI Technologies">ATI</a> cards are no longer produced, and <a href="Radeon" title="Radeon">Radeon</a> is now part of <a href="AMD" title="AMD">AMD</a>

</p><p>More recently, <a href="Intel" title="Intel">Intel</a> has released its <a href="Intel_Graphics_Technology" title="Intel Graphics Technology">Iris</a> graphics, adding a 3rd competitor to the market.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Costs">Costs</h2></div>

<p>The price of graphics hardware varies with its power and speed. Most high-end gaming hardware are dedicated graphics cards that cost from $200 up to the price of a new computer. In the graphics cards department, using integrated chips is much cheaper than buying a dedicated card, however the performance conforms to the price.

</p><p>Also, computer graphics hardware usually generates a larger amount of heat, especially high end gaming pieces, and requires additional cooling systems to prevent overheating.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This may further raise the cost, although some dedicated graphics cards come with built-in fans.

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<ul><li><a href="Graphics_hardware_and_FOSS" class="mw-redirect" title="Graphics hardware and FOSS">Graphics hardware and FOSS</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFArthur2018" class="citation web cs1">Arthur (2018-12-22). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bestsevenreviews.com/best-linux-distros/">"6 Best Linux Distros of 2018 - Your Ultimate Choosing Guide"</a>. <i>Best 7 Reviews</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-08-16</span></span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130130033638/http://pressroom.nvidia.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=A0D622CE9F579F09&version=live&prid=852383&releasejsp=release_157&xhtml=true">"NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Annual and Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2012 - NVIDIA Newsroom"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://pressroom.nvidia.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=A0D622CE9F579F09&version=live&prid=852383&releasejsp=release_157&xhtml=true">the original</a> on 2013-01-30<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-11-18</span></span>.</cite></span>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"></span> Media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Graphics_hardware" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Graphics hardware">Graphics hardware</a> at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

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