Reviewers say to consider the following about shopping for a video card:

  • The clock rate and RAM are key specifications. Other specifications, such as the shader clock, memory clock and texture-fill-rate all affect performance. If you want to learn how to understand and compare these specifications, we link to explanations in the Best Research section below. Other specifications are covered above. The higher the clock rate and RAM, the higher the performance and price.
  • Check supported monitor resolutions. If you have or hope to have a big monitor, you'll need a video card that can support its native resolution. To find your current monitor resolution (Windows only), right click on the desktop, select "Properties" and choose the "Settings" tab.
  • Consider power requirements. High-end video cards require considerable power. Experts say that computer power supply wattage ratings are significantly understated. If you want a GeForce 8800 GT card, for example, you need a power supply rated much higher than the minimum 400 watts specified by Nvidia.
  • Motherboard connector must be compatible. You must buy a card that fits into the video card slot on your motherboard. It will be either a PCI-E or AGP (older technology) slot. Be aware that many small or inexpensive computers have no video card slot at all.
  • Decide what output connectors you need. Video cards generally have two monitor connectors. Most commonly, one is an analog (VGA/D-Sub) connector and one is a digital (DVI) connector. Sometimes, both are digital connectors. All CRT (tube) monitors are analog. Most LCD monitors have both analog and digital connectors. The digital connector can work better. Almost all video cards can simultaneously support two monitors. Cards often come with adapters for less common monitor connectors. Many video cards have jacks (and come with cables) for connection to televisions or other video devices. HDMI outputs for high-definition video are rare on video cards at press time, but an HDCP-compliant DVI output can be used to view HD movies, provided you have a Blu-ray or HD DVD player. S-video jacks are common. Component video for better video quality is a specialty feature.
  • Decide whether you want one or two video cards. Some high-end motherboards have two PCI-E slots for video cards. They can be installed in either SLI (Nvidia) or Crossfire (ATI) configurations, whichever the motherboard supports. If you plan to install two graphics cards, make sure they are compatible with SLI or Crossfire. Reviewers say one excellent video card is better than two good ones.
  • Case requirements. If you're in the market for a high-end gaming card, you need a big case. Many high-end cards are oversized and literally won't fit in all cases. Even if the card fits, make sure there's plenty of space for ventilation.
  • Active versus passive cooling. A fan is generally more effective at dissipating heat than just heat sinks or other passive methods. However, a fan adds noise. Also, many enthusiasts prefer to use after-market cooling methods instead of using the hardware on the video card.
  • ATI or Nvidia. Jason Cross of ExtremeTech.com typifies reviewer opinion by saying it doesn't matter. Neither company consistently produces better technology. Nvidia has a big edge at the moment in the higher-end cards, and the company has been quicker to market with technologies and cards in the past couple of years.
  • Overclocking issues. If you plan to overclock a card, you must choose between a factory-overclocked card and doing it yourself. You can overclock a card through a BIOS setting or software made for that purpose. It doesn't require a manual hardware adjustment. The big advantage of a factory overclocked video card is that it is warranted by the manufacturer. Since they cost more, and because you can do it yourself, some experts think factory overclocked cards are a poor value. In addition, you may have more control by doing it yourself.
  • Features. Except for those described above, video cards don't have features. Some have additional capabilities, such as video capture or a TV tuner.
  • Moral and emotional health issues. If you're a parent, you may be concerned about your child playing violent video games. We link to studies of the risks in the Best Research section below.

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