How to choose a GPU? Is it even a consideration in the first place? Well, it sure is and quite an important one, too, especially if you are into some heavy-duty gaming. But what is a GPU, and why must you be well-informed about how to choose the right one?
The GPU is also known as the Graphics Processing Unit. It is the next most important part of a computer after the CPU or the Central Processing Unit. To be precise, the GPU is essential for improving the overall experience of gaming. The GPU consists of an additional processor responsible for transferring the data from the CPU and converting it into the relevant images. So, when it comes to the process of gaming, it is the GPU that is responsible for the overall performance and experience one enjoys.
During the Pre-GPU era, this task was performed by the CPU itself. This involved maintaining or containing the data in special spaces in the memory known as the ‘frame buffer,’ which was later transferred to the display. However, the problem was that most CPUs were not equipped to perform the task efficiently. Hence, the concept of the graphics Accelerators came into the picture. These were hence, meant to handle some of the heavy work that the CPU had to endure to make the image processing easier. Not just that, but one needs to know how to choose a graphics card for your PC because it is completely responsible for processing the more complex 3D graphics that are responsible for the ultimate gaming experience. Also, it is the GPU, or rather the kind of GPU, that is required for processing huge amounts of data that have very precise applications in various fields other than just gaming.
How To Choose Which Graphics Card To Use?: A Quick Guide
Before we get into the meat of the matter, let us understand why it is required to upgrade your existing GPU card at all:
1. The Age Factor
To start with, your GPU card does not ‘ages like fine wine.’ On the contrary, the existing GPU card will wear off with time. Hence this can result in not being able to keep up with the streaming, games, and other software. Therefore do not expect a 5-year old GPU card to be able to stream the latest 4K video as smoothly as it used to.
2. The Application
To know about how to select a graphics card for pc, you must also know about what your exact requirement is. For instance, if you are a regular gamer and are constantly pursuing the latest in excitement, you will discover that the new games will not be able to run at 60 frames per second frame, which indicates that it is time for an upgrade.
3. A Possible 'Bottleneck' of a Problem
A bottleneck of a problem can occur when your CPU can rank more (fps) as compared to the GPU. This is often indicated by the stuttering on the display that occurs repeatedly. This can directly affect the performance of the PC and clear notification of the fact that your GPU needs an upgrade.
Also Read: 10 Best Wireless Mouse Under Rs.1000
4. How To Select Which Graphics Card To Use: The Final Selection
So, now that you have understood a bit about what a GPU is all about and how it can impact your overall experience, which one do you opt for? We at ATB bring to you some of the key takeaways on how to select the right kind of GPU for yourself:
1. Integrated VS Discrete Graphics
Integrated Graphics
The Budget-brother of the Discrete Graphics, the integrated graphics fit well into your pockets, literally. These are more compact small and are a usual feature in most laptops. However, these fit perfectly into the desktops and are not that ‘power-hungry’ as the latter version. The Integrated Graphics are known to be ‘cooler’ as they do not generate as much heat or sick-up the battery life quickly. But, the catch is that these are not preferred or recommended for gaming-intense applications.
The Discrete Graphics
This is best suited for some hard-core gaming, video editing, photo editing, and other functions like 3D rendering. These are among the best foremost choices for people who have the required expectations with their RAM. But, be sure to have a CPU that can keep up with your GPU and also cooling down feature that can protect your system from the damages caused due to overheating. Overall, this will require you a system that is powerful enough to keep both the processing units running smoothly.
2. Desktop Vs. Laptop
When wondering about how to choose a graphics card for a PC or laptop, you need to get into the details of each of them:
The Desktop Graphics Card
The form factor: This type offers the ability to accommodate powerful and also larger components by using the PC tower. Also, the space tower accompanies the cooling and the space required for the right operation.
The Performance: more specs offered as compared to the one in the laptop graphics card. With more memory bandwidth, textured mapping, and a higher pixel rate, this one is better as compared to the one on the laptop.
The Cost: these are more affordable as the features, and the engineering is fairly simple and cost less to manufacture.
The Laptop Graphics Card
Form factor: This comprises smaller features as they need to be accommodated within the thin laptop frames. Hence, these are more sophisticated with electrical and thermal technology. Also, these are the silent types.
The Performance: these are not as competent as their desktop counterparts
The Cost: these are more powerful and portable, hence having a higher price tag.
3. The Ray-Racing
This is one of the latest offerings in GPUs. The ray-racing refers to the realistic lighting effects in gaming, and here Algorithm is applied that successfully traces the lighting path and stimulates how it would behave in real life. Though not yet ‘there,’ this technology has been well-received by serious gamers. This is the same technology that drives us to the edge of our seats as we watch some of the big-budgeted action-powered films.
4. The Card Memory
GPU requires the video RAM or the VRAM. This is because the GPU needs to perform innumerable calculations per second for a small action as moving the mouse about. In the case of the integrated graphics card, the memory is shared with the CPU as well, and a part of the total remaining memory is used for the graphic tasks. But, in the case of the Discrete card, it has its memory that makes the overall performance a breeze.
Generally, a GPU of 2 GB is sufficient for the basic tasks, whereas the gamers might want to opt for something as high as 4GB.
5. Reading the Model Numbers
It was NVIDIA that launched the term GPU way back in the year 1999. Today AMD and NVIDIA are the two leading manufacturers of the GPU worldwide.
AMD Card
The two new series of the AMD processors are:
RX Vega: Higher-Tier GPU
RX: Entry Level and Mid-tier GPU
In the case of the AMD GPUs, the higher the RX number, the latest is the date of release.
NVIDIA Card
In the case of the NVIDIA card, the categorization is done with the letter designation. Here, the NVIDIA GT card is used for the standard requirements, and the GTX is used for high-end gaming purposes.
Likewise, the Numbered series depicts how recent the series is, as the 30 series is much more recent as compared to the 20s series.
When one needs to know how to select GPU on a laptop, it is necessary to know that both AMD and NVIDIA make GPUs for both desktops and laptops. You will notice the laptop GPU to be labelled with the letter ‘M’ depicting mobile or the ability to be portable.
6. The Price Tag and the Preferences
For a more basic requirement, one can use the AMD Radeon™ RX 5600 XT and the NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti. However, for a more sophisticated application, one can upgrade to AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and NVIDIAs 20 series GeForce RTX card.
Both the brands are well known to be able to offer GPUs in both the budget range and a higher-end range.
How To Choose A GPU? : The Conclusion
Now that you know how to choose a graphics card on a laptop, it is time to get some serious decisions made. However, be sure to go through all the pros, cons, and features to be able to derive a conclusion that offers you the required results. It is recommended to upgrade every five years and also to consider the performance. While the price might be a concern for most buyers, nevertheless it also offers the surety of performance and the memory one needs for some serious data handling.