What Is a Graphic Card?

Function

Once a graphic card is installed on a computer, its job is to display images on the computer's monitor. Information is communicated from the computer's Central Processing Unit(CPU) to the graphic card. The information that is transmitted is converted into a picture that the user can understand. A graphic card uses pixels to display images on the computer's monitor. High-end graphic cards that use a higher resolution can display 3-D graphics that a regular graphic card cannot display.

When a computer is purchased, it already has a graphic card built into the motherboard. Graphic cards can also be purchased separately and installed into the PCI slot on the computer. Graphic cards that are placed inside of the computer's PCI slot have a faster transfer rate. There are also dual head cards that have the ability to allow two monitors to be connected and the display to be split between the two monitors.

When the computer's CPU processes information to the graphic card to produce images, this information is relayed using a cable. These functions are completed by the graphics cards using the computer's memory and processor. The process in producing images is completed by the graphics card by adding lightning, texture and color.

A standard graphic card displays 256 colors. These standard cards are known as standard Video Graphic Array (VGA) cards. High performance cards like Quantum Extended Graphics Array (QXGA) can produce colors with a resolution of 2040-by-1536 pixels. These types of cards are preferred by users who wish to display programs that require a higher level of resolution, such as high resolution video or computer games.

Users should take extra caution in altering the clock speed of the graphics card. Many users are unsatisfied with their graphics card clock speed and attempt to increase the speed by setting the clock speed to a higher rate. Altering the clock speed can lead to overheating of the CPU and also voids the computer's original warranty.