Beginners guide to graphics cards

With the current speed of technological advancement, anyone owning a PC is sooner rather than later faced with the challenge of buying a new PC or more likely performing an upgrade.

The same is true for gamers with graphics performance upgrades enabling them to play the latest and greatest games on the market, which are released at speeds concurrent with developments in PC technology.

When it comes to making a choice in the final product purchase gamers always want and need the best, but unfortunately budget always poses a major stumbling block that forces them to re-evaluate their choices.

ATI and NVIDIA are the current world-leaders in the graphics card segment.

NVIDIA call its current cards the GeForce Series. The name emphasises the raw graphical power of the chipset also indicating that it is for graphics applications.

ATI, on the other hand, has chosen Radeon as a name for its graphics series.

NVIDIA has a number of chipsets available to value-oriented customers. These cards are aimed at the budget gamer or occasional gamer who does not need blistering performance or on-edge graphical integrity.

The chips from NVIDIA are the GeForce FX 5200, a great value contender and excellent for the occasional games or a gamer on a tight budget.

Another in the range is the GeForce 6200, NVIDIA`s latest cost-effective card; based on the hugely successful NV40 architecture it features most of the latest developments in graphics technology at a fraction of the price of the most costly top-of-the-line boards. Extra features include NVIDIA`s onboard PureVideo technology for hardware DVD rendering, allowing for richer, crisper DVDs that moves this card into the budget gamer and movie enthusiast market.

All model generation cards have access to the technology, with Gigabyte Technology offering the Geforce 6200 128MB and 256MB options.

ATI provides two models for this segment - offering a solution that is cost-effective and a sound upgrade choice.

Radeon`s 9250 is ATI`s direct competitor to the GeForce 5200 and offers exceptional features at a competitive price range - aimed at the budget gamer who requires adequate performance that will not cost an arm and a leg.

Next is Radeon`s X300SE which forms part of the new X-Series. These cards are designed from the ground up as a PCI Express solution. It is one of the quickest PCI Express cards available.

ATI also offers the brand new Radeon X550 which offers better performance at a higher price range. This card offers more to gamers and allows higher resolutions at better frame rates - features PCI Express only.

The mainstream cards are the preferred choice of the middle income group. Cards in this price range afford users a good balance between performance and total cost of ownership. Ideal for gamers who have no need for bleeding-edge performance but would like a smooth and hassle-free gaming.

NVIDIA has leveraged the power of the top end cards into a bang-for-buck type of chip with the 6600 and 6600GT. First-class video format support leverages the package into a complete bundle that is optimised for most users.

The GT is aimed at the person who is willing to spend a little more for that extra bit of speed but not delving into the high price cards. These are available in AGP and PCI Express, allowing a large number of systems to have access to the range.

In return, Gigabyte offers the Geforce 6600 128MB, 256MB and 6600GT 128MB for AGP and Geforce 6600 128MB, 256MB and 6600GT 128MB for PCI Express - these also have VIVO (video-in, video-out) options available for the budding home movie creator.

ATI has two chips that play in this segment - the X600 and X700. These options afford customers a wider variety which can be tailored to their budget or performance needs. Available in PCI Express only.

The Radeon X600 Pro features above average performance for most applications and will provide users with on-the-fly gaming or movie watching while also handling demanding gaming sessions.

Lastly is the Radeon X700 / X700 Pro - the big brother of the X600 that quite obviously offers better performance.

These cards would be for the more serious gamers that are looking for acceptable performance levels to fit their needs. The Pro once again offers higher performance to the standard, but also adds extra features like ATI Rage Theatre Video Capture Support for the VIVO models.

Gigabyte offers the Radeon X700 128MB, 256MB and X700 Pro 128MB solutions for this range.

The top-of-the-line cards are for performance junkies who want the best graphics at the fastest speeds and also have cash to blow. This segment is hotly contested by ATI and NVIDIA.

NVIDIA recently launched the GeForce 7800GTX which, to be blunt, is an absolute brute of a graphics card. It is currently the fastest single GPU solution available. Affectionately named the G70 by NVIDIA, it goes from normal routes where a NVIDIA chip would have NVxx as the code to a completely redesigned chip with performance as the main driver.

It is a 24Pipeline marvel that overshadows the previous generation by 8 Pipelines. It utilises the PCI Express Bus and fully supports SLI.

The G70 is currently the pinnacle of technological innovation and everybody wants to acquire one of these. Gigabyte offers the GV-NX78X256VB in this class.

ATI has yet to reveal its design, currently code named the Radeon R520. It will directly compete with the 7800GTX for top spot on the graphics pile.

For now, ATI offers the X800 and X850 series to compete with the 6800 GeForce series. These cards are well matched and provide excellent performance in their class and great features for a good and reducing price point.

Gigabyte offers the GV-R80L256VB / GV-RX80125DE / GV-RX80256D / GV-RX80L256VB / GV-RX80L512VB / GV-RX85T256VB in this class.