Simply explained: what is a dedicated graphic card?

With desktop and notebook pc you have the Choice between two types of graphic cards: While the integrated graphics card borrowed resources from the rest of the system, Use dedicated graphics cards exclusively your hardware. Although this has a primary impact on performance, but a graphic memory assigned permanently still offers a series of other advantages. Which they are and if there are A purchase is basically useful for youLearn in this article.

1. Dedicated graphics card: explanation and difference for the internal graphics card

A dedicated graphic card It is not at the expense of your PC when playing or streaming. Contrary to an internal graphics card (IGP), which is integrated directly on the motherboard (in the chipset Northbridge) or in the computer CPU, ha that is to say one Own Video Memory (VRAM) and your graphic processorThe GPU so called («graphic processing unit»). The connection to the main card usually takes place via a PCI, PCIe or AGP slot.

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In everyday life, the term «dedicated graphic card» appears in addition to gaming PCs, in particular in relation to notebooks. This should be one Cancel the demarcation to conventional solutions on board or shared memory And greater power resistance is shown by the wider graphic memory.

Good to know: Apple also offers laptops with dedicated graphic cards. Their pure performance does not reach that of a conventional PC. However, by optimizing its software, Apple extracts the full potential of the GPU, which means that systems easily for demanding activities (for example video editing). Obviously, you use macOS.

2. The advantages and disadvantages of the graphic cards dedicated at a glance

2.1. More power = higher calculation speed

It The largest advantage has dedicated graphics cards in terms of performance. On the one hand you need Do not share graphic memory with other applications. At the same time, this is also faster than a conventional RAM and therefore automatically more powerful.

In demanding areas of application, such as CAD, graphic editing and modeling or 3D games, the GPU shows its true potential for the first time. Among other things, different monitors may also be controlled, which is usually not possible in IGP due to the limited number of connections.

Good to know: If the memory installed on the graphics card is not enough for certain purposes, you can also use the PC RAM (RAM).

2.2. Interchangeable at any time

As almost any hardware component, a graphic card can break at a certain point or simply not meet the requirements in constant increase. While in these cases you have to look for a new main tab in these cases, you can simply exchange a dedicated graphic card, If it is obsolete or defective.

2.3. Higher energy consumption = more space requirements

The enormous performance of dedicated graphic cards always accompanies one Higher electrical consumption and heat development. While an integrated graphic card usually shares a cooling system with the CPU, it is usually installed directly on the dedicated hardware map.

But also your memory and additional occupation of the circuit area lead to a dedicated graphic card More space in housing claims As an integrated counterpartyWhich is a factor that is not insignificant enough in laptops.

Good to know: Due to the increase in energy consumption in dedicated graphics, some producers thus rely on exchange Hybrid graphic solutionsin which the external graphics and the on -board chipset are shared. In AMD / ATI, the technology is called Powerexpress or Dynamic Switchiclable Graphics (you can find corresponding instructions here) and it is offered using a free driver Radeon. To the Nvidia competitor, it works with the name Optimus and is based on a free Nouveau driver. However, an operating system for use that supports the use of different graphic cards (for example Windows 7) is necessary.

2.4. More expensive to buy

Almost no component has such a great impact on the total cost of the computer, such as graphic hardware. Therefore, the purchase of a dedicated graphic card is always a question about prices in the end. Solid cards are already available for about 100 euros, but obviously the specific choice depends on your goal.

Especially with games mainly concerns frequency and resolution. This means in simple language: More pixels can process the GPUThe image is all the more detailed and more clear. For A higher class graphics cardWith which 2K and 4K games are also possible, it is therefore possible to count on an amount of four digits.

3. Is it worth a graphic card dedicated to me?

You want to go to the world of Gamings and the virtual reality immerse or in the future your luck Allotovalte allocation attempt? So you are a perfect candidate for a dedicated graphic card. But joke aside: Which solution is most suitable for your needs, as already mentioned, in the end it depends on what you are doing with your computer.

For the Work with professional graphic software (for example CAD, video editing programs or Adobe Photoshop) come around Do not buy a dedicated cardBecause it can be accelerated, for example 3D modeling and editing raw images.

For many other (normal) activities on the screen, however, the IGP is completely sufficient. If your computer It has a reasonably modern CPU, it is also able to do it To process 4K video. For example, nothing hinders the simplest games or the typical office applications.

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