What is a graphics card? I looking at a game to buy and it says as part of the memory requirements that a graphics card is needed. What are they, and how/where can I purchase one?
2006-12-21 12:56:21 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
The game I want to buy is pretty detailed (it's Age of Empires 3), so I was thinking that I may nned to purchase a better graphics card for the computer. What do you think?
2006-12-21 13:08:41 · update #1
The reason I awarded a thumbs down here is that they were saying you already have a graphics card ... but you could be running with integrated graphics which means you don't have an actual card ....
You need to determine whether you have an older AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) or a newer PCI-E (Peripheral Components Interconnect - Express) slot as these are the two Graphics card formats available and they are not interchangable ... the format will depend on the age of your PC
The thing they were right on is the cost ... expect to pay about $120 for something half decent ... and about $300 for a reasonable card ... seek your local PC Shops advice on what it is you need
Good Luck
2006-12-21 13:26:04 · answer #1 · answered by deadkelly_1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A graphics card is what your computer uses in displaying graphics (meaning most of the things you see in your operating system as well.) On your machine.
Chances are,if you have a computer built anywhere between now and 15 or so years ago, you already have one, though it may not be the best of quality. Check and see if it suggests a certain type of graphics card. Without the minimum, you might receive rather sub-par performance. Another important thing is to check the amount of RAM is suggested, as well as the minimum processor suggested. Again, it would run without it, but it might be very slow and sometimes unplayable.
EDIT:
Here's the deal with integrated graphics that someone described below. It is more than likely possible to play the game that you are trying to play, even with integrated graphics. No, it's not a physical card, but it functions as one, thus I found no real reason to confuse you with a bunch of technical mumbo jumbo. Take a look at this article:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/15/are_intel/
EDIT 2:
As for your addition, it's really up to you. You are going to be able to play the game without it, so I suggest that you get it and try it out. You can always buy the card later if you think you need it.
2006-12-21 13:02:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A graphics card is just an upgrade to your computers visual display. You can buy it anywhere, Wal-Mart, Radio Shaq, Best Buy, etc.. They range anywhere from about $50-$500. You can probably find a cheap one that will be compatible with that game for about $50-$70. Or you can go with better quality if you want to spend more. It is a self install, so you will need to open your computer and install it in the right slot and connect all wires and you will be good to go after installing a bit of software.
2006-12-21 13:03:43 · answer #3 · answered by Michael N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol! you will already have a graphics card! Its what the monitor is hooked up to in your pc. Newer games require better graphics cards to run - graphics cards have a cpu on it called a gpu the higher the number the faster it runs, the cards also have embedded memory, again the more memory it has the better it runs. some games may specify the series of graphics card it will run on so try and find out the model of your grpahics card (in device manager if your running windows 98/me/2000/xp) and you can google the spec of it.
2006-12-21 13:02:27 · answer #4 · answered by redbaron101 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well a graphics card is a chip in your computer that renders your computers graphics to their best ability. The type of 3d graphics you get and what not. you can probably get a good chip at pc world or even possibly best buy
2006-12-21 13:00:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of today's computers come with a graphics card, without it you couldn't see anything on the screen
The question is what type of specifics must that graphics card have.
2006-12-21 13:03:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you have a computer you have a graphics card. Its what kind of graphics card that is required that you should be concerned about.
2006-12-21 13:07:53 · answer #7 · answered by Big D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a graphics card is the card you have your monitor hooked to
you can buy a decent one at walmart for about 60 dollars
2006-12-21 13:02:26 · answer #8 · answered by rich19761 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a Mac, shift/administration/3 takes a image of the show. in case you press shift/administration/4, you could click and drag over the section you %; the image is taken once you launch the mouse button.
2016-12-11 14:01:03 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋