Display Adapters PDF

Display Adapters Video Cards/Graphics Adapters/Graphics Processing Units Video Cards  The video card controls the quality of the images that are outputted to the display including: The resolution The colour depth (number of colours that can be rendered)...

Display Adapters Video Cards/Graphics Adapters/Graphics Processing Units Video Cards  The video card controls the quality of the images that are outputted to the display including: The resolution The colour depth (number of colours that can be rendered) The refresh rate The speed at which complex graphics can be rendered Video Adapter Types  Discrete Video Add-on video cards. Usually PCIe (PCI Express) cards  Integrated Video GPU/video chipset on motherboard Integrated into the motherboard chipset or in the CPU  You can usually upgrade the video of a system with a motherboard video chipset or an integrated chipset solution by adding a video card to the system Graphics Processing Unit  The graphics processing unit (GPU) is the defining factor of the quality, compatibility and capabilities of a video adapter  Some common video card/GPU manufacturers: NVIDIA (such as GeForce series) AMD - former ATI (such as Radeon series) Intel (usually integrated solutions) Video Cards  Video cards tend to evolve very quickly. While a card doesn’t become obsolete immediately after a newer one is released, software (particularly games) tend to require recent GPUs to play with high graphics settings  It’s sometimes worthwhile to get an older version of a component (older model of NIC, sound card, etc.) but since video card advancement happens so rapidly, you should consider getting what’s current at that time (not necessarily the best, just current.) Video Card Connectors  DVI – Digital Visual Interface Used with many LCD monitors. There are a number of types, but most use DVI-I which handles both analog and digital video signals  HDMI – High Definition Multimedia Interface Same video capabilities as digital DVI, but uses a simplified connector. Carries only digital signals Can also carry digital audio Video Card Connectors  VGA -Video Graphics Array sometimes labeled RGB Analog 15-pin adapter used with CRTs and some LCD monitors. Sometimes labeled RGB  DisplayPort Digital interface similar to HDMI – capable of very fast data transfer resulting in high resolutions and has the ability to carry digital audio PCIe Power Connectors  Many PCI Express (PCIe) video cards require much more power than can be provided from the PCIe slot, so they use extra power connectors from the power supply. PCIe 8-pin and 6-pin power connectors:  Installing Video Cards  Enter safe mode and uninstall the video driver or change to “Standard VGA”  Remove the old card. Insert and secure the new one in expansion slot  Load the proper drivers (in some cases you’re better off getting the drivers from the chipset manufacture’s site rather than the card manufacturers)  Customize the resolution, colour depth and refresh rate as needed. Installing Video Cards (con’t)  To optimize, ensure that the most recent Direct X software is installed as well as any optimization software included with the card.  Today’s video cards do an enormous amount of processing, so make sure it’s properly cooled and ventilated.  While it is possible to overclock some video cards, it’s not recommended.  The motherboard may require driver installation or a BIOS flash to have full compatibility with the video card Multiple Display Adapters  SLI – Scalable Link Interface NVIDIA's multi video card solution Usually 2 video cards bridged to work as one very powerful card Also available 3-way SLI (3 cards bridged together) and Quad SLI (2 dual-GPU cards)  Crossfire (and CrossfireX) AMD/ATI’s multi video card solution (up to 4) Early versions used external cable to connect the two cards, but more recent ones use an internal bridge  Both require cards and motherboards that support them Multi-Monitor  The use of multiple monitors connected to a single system. Clone mode allows it to show the same image on multiple monitors Span mode allows it to extend the desktop across multiple monitors  Can be done with a single card with multiple individual outputs (known as dual or triple head cards)  Can also be accomplished with multiple cards (or on- board and card) Video Memory  The type and amount of memory used by your video card has a large impact on the speed of the card. Today’s models range from lower end cards using 128 MB to high end models with 8GB or more.  Extremely fast and expensive VRAM has been replaced with slightly slower but significantly cheaper DDR variants. (GDDR4, GDDR5, etc) Extra Stuff  Some software and games are designed specifically for a particular manufacturer or GPU version and may have features that can be turned on if you have a card that supports it.  Video manufacturers will update the drivers of a video card numerous times in a card’s lifetime (often a few times a year) so it’s worth checking for updated drivers from time to time.  Extra Stuff (The other type of Display Adapters)  Video Dongles (funny word) and other display adapters are used when a device doesn’t have the necessary display port already installed. Dongles convert or adapt one connection type to another  They are most commonly used today with laptops or mobile devices. They can also be found on desktop PC’s, usually allowing an older video card to connect to a newer monitor or an older monitor to connect to a newer video card.  Extra Stuff (The other type of Display Adapters)  They can convert Analog to Digital, Digital to Digital and Digital to Analog.  Examples include (but not limited to):  VGA to DVI  DVI to HDMI  Display Port to HDMI  Thunderbolt to VGA  USB to VGA  USB-C to HDMI  And many, many more!