do all computers come with a graphics card how do i tell if i have one or not?

Question

i need to know

its a laptop and i mean a 3d graphics card for playing games

Answer 1

Is it a desktop or a laptop? if it's a desktop.... there are slots for cards at the bottom of the tower on the back, if your monitor is plugged in there, then you have a graphics card. if it's a laptop, right click your my computer icon, hit manage, go to device manager, and display adapter... that'll show you what it's using.

you can do the same thing for a desktop also.

Answer 2

Short answer, no, not all PCs come with a graphics "card". Some, especially lower-end or basic systems, come with what's called an integrated graphics processor, which is basically a graphics chip built onto your motherboard. A graphics card is a dedicated (ie: it only does graphics) hardware add-on which plugs into one of the slots on your motherboard.

There are 2 ways to tell what you have. First, if you connect your monitor into a plug that is by itself on a slim, horizontal metal rectangle (an expansion slot), then chances are it's a card. If you connect it to a plug that is next to other plugs near the exhaust fan (USB connectors, etc), then chances are it's an integrated chip.

The best way is to go to Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information and look under "components" to see what it says for display adapter.

Answer 3

All these answers are right, but I'd like to add a little chunk of advice.

First off, if you still have issues finding out what kind of video card you have, you can always go to the manufacturer's website and find the specifications of your computer.

Second, since you have a laptop and you're thinking of swapping out the card, my recommendation is to not do so. Most to all laptops have graphics cards integrated into the motherboard, or they're attached in a way that is difficult to be released. If you're considering replacing the video card in a laptop, I highly recommend sending it back to the manufacturer. It's covered by a warranty, and they have experienced technicians who know what they're doing.

Answer 4

No, most budget PC have onboard graphics which is integrated into the motherboard, since it is integrated it shares the computers ram and processor, so for the most part integrated graphics are fine for Internet and word processing but if you want to game you need to buy a graphics card, and easy way to check to see if you have one is to open up your case and look at either your AGP or PCIEx16 slot(it is usually the top most slot above the standard PCI slots) if there is a card in that slot then you have a video card and your computer monitor should be connected in to that card either buy VGA or DVI or something.

Answer 5

Yes all computers come with graphics cards.
Now think for a minute OK?
If you follow the cords on the back of the computer, you'll see that one is a power cord and one is the video cord. The power cord goes to the power source and the video cord goes to the back of the monitor, it is connected to the video card inside the computer, what else???
The video card is required to interpret the instructions from the CPU to show various graphics and text etc, on the screen.
We won't go into detail with that right?
Summary: Yes, all computers come with a graphics card, some crappy, some great, depending on the amount of cash invested in it.
How do you know you have one?
Follow the cord from the back of the comp to the back of the monitor, it is connected to the internal card inside the comp.

Answer 6

pretty much all desktops under $1K don't come with a graphics card it comes with a intergrated graphics chips that in the motherboard. Im not sure if you laptop has a graphics card or not but it doesn't really matter considering that very very few laptops give you the abillity to upgrade graphics cards

Answer 7

Most come with an onboard graphics card. Those aren't very good if you plan on gaming. If that's the case, then you'll need to buy one. To see which graphics card you have. Right click on the desktop - Properties - settings (tab) - advanced - adapter (tab).

Answer 8

All current day computers (at least PCs) come with some level of graphics card. If you have a place to plug in your monitor, you have a graphics card.

Answer 9

Most of the motherboards have a built in graphics adapter........if u want to know whether your computer have a graphic card and find its size, then just do the following steps..........
1.right click on desktop->select properties.
2.now 'display properties' window appears , in that select the tab 'settings'
3.In settings tab select 'advanced ' option.another window opens .
4.In this window select the tab 'Adapters', under this tab you'll find all the informations regarding your graphic card.

Answer 10

If Windows XP, right click on My Computer, go to Properties, in the Hardware tab click on Device Manager and you will see your graphic card under Display Adapters.