Choosing a Video Card

Installation considerations: Buy a card that fits

Installing a video card is very similar to changing a light bulb in an overhead fixture. You can do it yourself, as long as you get the right version and your computer has a place for it (not all computers do). Contemporary graphics cards are made to fit into PCI-Express (PCI-E for short) slots. Manufacturers often offer the same cards for AGP slots, which is an older standard. AGP cards are no longer reviewed, but if you're replacing a dead AGP card, that's your only option. However, if your computer is old enough that you still have an AGP slot, experts say that buying a high-end AGP card makes no sense, because its benefits would be limited by the rest of an older system. A new computer would make more sense.

If your computer has integrated video, its motherboard may or may not have a PCI-E or AGP upgrade slot. You must find out before you consider adding a card. Ultra-compact cases (such as slimlines or all-in-ones) rarely have the physical space to accommodate a video card. They also lack sufficient interior space to dissipate the heat generated by high-end gaming.

If you're in the market for a high-end gaming card, you need a big case. Many high-end cards are oversized. If the case doesn't have enough interior breathing room, fitting the card can amount to trying to put a large rectangular peg into a small rectangular peg hole.

Some high-end motherboards have slots for two video cards. They are engineered for either SLI (Nvidia) or Crossfire (ATI). If you want two video cards for a money-is-no-object gaming experience, look for graphics cards that are compatible with one of those technologies.