Chapter 10. Video Adapters

A video adapter, also called a graphics adapter, renders video data provided by the processor into a form that the monitor can display. Many motherboards provide an integrated video adapter. Most also provide a special video expansion slot that accepts a standalone video adapter card. A stand-alone video adapter is called a video card or graphics card. Upgrading video is fast, easy, and generally inexpensive. There are several good reasons to do so, including:

  • Your current video card or integrated video has failed.

  • You've installed a larger display and require higher-resolution video than the old adapter provides.

  • You need a digital video (DVI) connector to drive a flat-panel LCD display.

  • You want to record television programs or other video sources to your hard drive.

  • You want to watch DVD-Video discs or other fast-motion video sources without jerkiness.

  • Your current video adapter is too slow for or incompatible with the games you want to play.

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