The amount of video memory. Overview of video cards: the leaders in performance

In an age when information technology has penetrated almost all spheres of life, computer games are gaining immense popularity. The average user does not really think much about the details of his PC, but gamers are always searching for as powerful components as possible. One of the main parts is a video card, and computer game lovers are constantly looking for ways to increase the amount of video memory.

Basic parameters of video cards

What, in fact, is the video card in modern PCs so important? First, it determines the speed of movement of the picture on the screen. For this function is the power of the graphics processor. Secondly, the detail is able to support the most modern games. The shader version, or, more simply, the firmware says about the novelty and modernity of the map.

Also, performance and read speed are quite important parameters. These factors are affected by the amount of video memory used. Here there is a nuance: very often unscrupulous manufacturers indicate in the parameters of the card quite a large amount of memory, thereby luring customers. But in fact, these numbers indicate the amount of local memory, which is responsible for the amount of data processed at the same time. However, at a low frame rate, this value is absolutely irrelevant.

The ability to transmit information in the shortest amount of time characterizes the data transmission bus. Its parameters range from 32 to 512 bits.

In order to increase the number of inputs for the monitor and increase the performance, the technology of establishing two video cards is used simultaneously. This system is called SLI and CrossFire. Connectors (VGA, DVI or HDMI) in no way affect the performance of games.

The more powerful the video card, the more heat and energy it releases. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the cooling system of the part. If the card systematically overheats, the image on the screen will be deformed, and the part itself will quickly fail.

What is the minimum amount of video memory needed and how to be with other parameters? In general, experts recommend choosing a video card that matches the computer in terms of power.

The amount of video memory "for teapots"

Careful selection of a video card is necessary for gamers or a certain type of specialists. But how to increase the amount of video memory to the average user, so as not to delve too deeply into this topic? After all, there is absolutely no need to acquire flagship solutions for everyday tasks - quite inexpensive, but quite good models.

How much video memory is needed to store the image? Calculate this parameter is easy even for ordinary users who are far from mathematics or IT. First, determine the required amount of video memory for graphics mode. Calculate the minimum volume can be by multiplying the width of the image by its length (meaning the resolution of the diagonal) and the bitmap.

For example, if the monitor's parameters are 1920 x 1080, and the most common color quality is 32 bits, then for the output of one frame it will be necessary: 1920 x 1080 x 32 = 8.3 MB. In general, the required amount of video memory depends on the nature of the user's activity.

To play on multiple screens simultaneously you need high-quality graphics, and it's worthwhile to understand the parameters of video cards in detail. It is recommended to give preference to those products that have more than 4 GB of video memory. And if the computer is used for "household" purposes - office work, study, watching movies, simple games - then the optimal volume is 1-2 GB.

Brain cards

Video memory converts signals into a picture and helps the processor to process the data associated with the formation of the image. It is an analog of RAM and consists of a graphics processor and chips. It is the graphics processor or chip that largely determines the capabilities, performance and durability of the video card.

Leaders in the chip manufacturing market are AMD Radeon and nVidia Geforce. Computer giants are in no way inferior to each other. They make high-quality processors, which occupy 80% of the volume of the entire video card, and are sold to well-known brands: Asus, GigaByte, Zotac, Sapphire, MSI.

At the completion of the component parts of this number of companies remains only 20%, so they can not stand out very strongly. Basically Asus, GigaByte, Zotac, Sapphire and MSI provide additional interfaces and a cooling system. Due to constant competition, prices for less productive cards are constantly decreasing. That's why ordinary users who perform ordinary operations (work with documents, web surfing, undemanding games), models of good quality at an adequate cost are available.

NVidia

The brand makes not only all known GeForce. NVidia also produces Quadro chips, which are characterized by high performance. Such chips are suitable for both user and professional systems.

The company also has a good position in the market of portable devices. Separately, one can distinguish nVidia Tegra. It provides a good graphical representation of many smartphones and other devices.

The nVidia brand has a number of interesting technologies:

• NVidia SLI allows you to install several video cards in one system;
• NVidia CUDA is a program structure that supports the processor's processing system;
• NVidia 3D Vision Surround supports 3 screens simultaneously and allows you to work with a 3D image;
• NVidia PhysX SDK can handle physical phenomena - the transformation of tissues, liquids and solids.

AMD Radeon

AMD Radeon chips with equal performance are distinguished by a lower price. Some users highlight the quality of the picture. Image due to the softness of the color is more realistic. The power consumption of these cards is lower, the AMD Radeon chips have less heat.

Among the interesting features of AMD can be identified technology Eyefinity, which allows you to connect up to 6 monitors on a single video card. To date, there have even been such systems that, with the support of this technology, combine up to 24 monitors. The minus of cards of this firm is work with shadows.

Top Rated Video Cards

Now everyone, even an inexperienced user, understands how to increase the amount of video memory - it's enough just to install a more perfect video card. But how do you decide what to choose? After all, the market is just full of the abundance of graphics processors. In this case, each manufacturer has both advantages and disadvantages. Leaders in this business segment include ASUS, Sapphire, Gigabyte, MSI. Less popular, but producing products of fairly good quality - Zotac, Leadtek, PowerColor. Previously, these companies themselves were engaged in the development and production of video cards, but in connection with some errors, most of them decided to produce their products on the basis of high-quality models of well-known manufacturers.

Rating of GPUs by performance

NVIDIA TITAN X is the top-rated graphics card for performance, the cost of the corresponding part is more than 1000 $. The top ten, which is indicative, includes the latest models of the nVidia brand, only one place (10th) is occupied by the model from AMD Radeon (Radeon Pro Duo). The rating of video cards on performance is made according to PassMark - G3D Mark.

The winner of the rating of graphics processors for noise

The noise level depends on the amount of heat that the video card allocates during active work. Manufacturers are trying to reduce this figure by installing various cooling systems. Zotac GeForce GTX 1060 AMP model tops the rating of low-noise video cards! 6GB GDDR5 (cost from 20 to 24 thousand rubles). And other versions of Zotac have a low noise power.

Power consumption of graphics processors

To quickly not be disappointed in the purchase, you need to pay attention to the amount of energy that the graphics card consumes. Especially this parameter should be considered if the power supply of the computer is not powerful enough. Often, manufacturers indicate the minimum power, which is recommended to work.

In some models there is also a power saving function. Do not blindly follow the marketing tricks and purchase a video card with energy savings. This parameter may not even be required, because everything depends on how the user is going to operate the part.

Among the models of the same brand can come across both successful specimens and video cards with high energy consumption. To give preference, of course, is worth the details with low energy consumption.

Leaders and outcomes

When choosing a video card, the decisive parameter for many users is the performance, but it is important to pay attention to other points. For really powerful gaming computers, the best option for the price / performance ratio is the STRIX-GTX 1080-8G-Gaming: its capabilities are sufficient not only for launching all modern games, but also for the near future. Not worse, and DUAL GTX 1070-8G, which allows you to run the latest games on ultra maximum settings.

The absolute leader and the most powerful video card that can be found on sale at the moment is the GIGABYTE GV-N1080XTREME W-8GD (pictured below). However, this model, along with high parameters, has a relatively low expected lifetime.

For medium and budget gaming computers DUAL-GTX 1060-3G, STRIX-RX470-4G-Gaming, GTX750TI-PH-2GD5 (pictured) or MINI-R7360-2G are quite suitable. These are relatively inexpensive options with high performance.

However, flagship solutions are really necessary only for real gamers or for those whose professional activity requires high characteristics of equipment. Ordinary users who spend most of their time editing documents, surfing the web, watching tapes on social networks or movies, quite good, but inexpensive models. They are 710-1-SL, 710-1-SL-BRK, R7250-2GD5, GT730-2GD5-BRK. Such video cards even allow you to play modern games at minimum settings.