Computer Graphics Card

Growing Importance of Selecting the Right Video Card

How do you know about the graphics you are using, I mean its type, capacity, speed, and pretty much everything you do on your laptop from using different models of operating systems — making presentations, designing spreadsheets, browsing the Internet, editing photos and watching movies is becoming increasingly visually intensive. And with proliferation of more small businesses using video to communicate through videoconferencing and video email, such as Dell Video Chat, selecting the right graphics card is becoming more important to your overall mobile experience.

The quality of the graphics you experience is only as good as your video card (also known as a graphics card). Selecting the right graphics solution can make these visually intensive tasks come alive and enable a rich, lifelike and more pleasing experience. Along with the display, the video card affects the number of colors available, contrast, resolution and overall performance of your system.

What is the Difference Between Integrated and Discrete Graphics?

Integrated Graphics: An integrated graphics solution shares the system processor (CPU) and memory resources with other programs. While integrated video cards can process some complex graphics such as 3D images, if the CPU and memory are overloaded or busy processing other information, it can sometimes deliver a less-than-optimal video experience, slowing down the graphics and potentially the overall system.

An integrated graphics solution may be adequate for you if you use your notebook for common business tasks that do not require graphic-intensive applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, basic presentations, email and browsing most Internet sites.

Discrete Graphics: Discrete graphics utilize a graphics processor that is separate (or discrete) from the system processor and a memory unit that is separate from system memory. Because this solution does not burden the CPU and system memory, overall performance is likely to be significantly better when performing tasks that require complex graphics or visually intensive applications.

Typically, discrete solutions are more powerful than integrated solutions and are the preferred type of solution if you use your notebook for visually demanding tasks such as videoconferencing, creating and delivering video/graphics heavy presentations, viewing, creating and editing videos/photos and browsing visually intensive Web sites.