Knowing your need for using the card.
You will need a high performance graphic card with huge memory if you are a gamer who using a high requirement game. If the graphic card doesn’t meet the requirement, this will effect on the graphic quality of the game or for worse the game will crash or freeze because you force the graphic cards to work more harder than it should be. High quality graphic game working with a real time video graphic streaming that is why it need high requirement.
You also need a high performance graphic card if you are video editor. For editing video, some video editing software needs a high requirement video graphic card for during the process of editing. For cutting the video, render, and compile the editing result need high performance graphic card. Some graphic cards support dual monitor to make it easier for editing.
For graphic design and photo editing purpose, a high performance graphic card also needed to process a big resolution file. A big resolution file needs a high performance graphic card for rendering process of effect in editing and saving the file.
You don’t need using a high performance graphic card if you are only using for writing, browsing of watching movie.
Find about graphic card specification.
Chipset - There are many graphic cards chipset like ATI or NVIDIA. Every chipset has it is own ability. They are all making all level graphic card from entry level, medium and high level. Please notice that you cannot rely on one brand because one series they are good but other series they are bad. So please be careful about choosing the chipset and series.
Memory - Other important aspect of choosing a graphic card is the amount of memory. More big memory will make your compute able to handle more programs using a visual processor. For normal using like browsing, words processing and watching video, a 128 megabytes to 256 megabytes graphic card memory is enough for you. For high graphic gamer, video editor, graphic designer, photo editor, they need more memory for the graphic card from 512 megabytes to 1 gigabyte. It is also good to know about the new memory technology. Now the Dual Date Rate II (DDRII) has more good quality performance.
Cooling Technology - Every graphic card has cooling system on the chipset. It is usually using alloy and small fan. For simple logic, more big cooling system is good for your chipset. The graphic will begin crash or start working slow for processing if the chipset is over heat.
Meet your LCD or CRT monitor resolution.
More big dimensions of LCD or CRT monitor, more big it support for high resolution. 15 inch LCD or monitor support until 768 x 1024 resolution and 19 inch LCD or CRT monitor support until 1024 x 1280 resolution. Please read the support of your graphic card resolution. When you use 19 inch LCD but you use a low display resolution, the image will show bigger. In my opinion, this will not good for you.
Read review
There are many brand, series, and chipset you can choose. It is a good thing if you have time to read all review about the product you choose. You can find a reliable forum or website like toms hardware. Maybe this will take more time but it is better than you buy something you doesn’t know the good and the bad about the product.
Meet your budget
After you read a review, maybe you will now decide some option if graphic card you will buy. You can choose which one meet with the budget you have.
Check the guaranty of product
Every vendor has different policy about guaranty. You can choose which vendor who has good quality service about guaranty. It will make you feel safely if something bad happen to your graphic card in the future.
Note: You can also find this article at Helium
