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How to Choose a Video Card?

By Dr. Michael

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Are you wanting to compare the performance of one card with the performance of another card? The performance of a video card is highly related to the graphic chipset (GPU) of the card. Cards with the same GPU are going to have almost the same performance level in *most* situations. For a performance ranking / comparison between the various GPUs / graphics chipsets please visit 3D Chipset Specs or GPU Review. Towards the bottom of the page for 3D Chipset Specs, you will find a rough performance ranking going all the way from the early 90's to present day.
These are the major factors in choosing a video card: video speed, resolution, and price. We offer the following advice for visitors to weigh these factors according to four types of PC users: average, above average, graphic workers, and gamers.
For average users who use computers only for word processing, spread sheet, and e-mail, an inexpensive 4-8MB video card would do just fine. For them price may be the most important factor.
For above average users who surf the web on a daily basis in addition to other common PC tasks, an 8MB video is a must and 16MB may be optimal. Modest speed and price should be the main factors for consideration.
For graphic designers and CAD workers, resolution is the most critical factor. Higher resolution typically means slower speed. Therefore a video card with a combination of high-resolution chipset and a large amount of memory is recommended. Keep in mind that the highest resolution one can achieve is also determined by the maximum monitor resolution. That's why graphic designers often use high-resolution, low-dot-pitch professional monitors.
By definition, gamers love high speed, especially raw 3D processing speed. They often choose the most advanced chipset with the highest amount of memory. The most advanced and often most expensive video cards are designed for gamers.
Video card speed is determined mainly by three factors: chipset speed, amount of memory, and the type of onboard memory. SGRAM is faster than SDRAM. If you care about speed, make sure you get the faster memory chips on the video card.
If you have an old computer and want to upgrade it for faster video, first determine if you have an AGP slot or not. If not, your choice would be limited to PCI video cards, which are slower and being phased out. High-end PCI video cards are hard to find. Also, a new standard of video cards are being produced, PCI-E (AKA PCI Express). AGP is now being phased out as well, you can read more about the process here.
If you have a really old monitor that may not catch up with the latest video technology, you may want to upgrade your monitor first.