Graphics Card Deals & Offers

Graphics Cards: Applications for Work and Play

Graphics cards turn data from your computer's processing unit into images that ultimately show on your monitor. While most of modern PCs come with built-in graphics chips, people who regularly use multimedia software, gamers, and designers, may need something more advanced and high-tech. A graphics card is attached to the motherboard of a computer in the PCIe expansion slot. It works best when combined with an HD monitor, providing advanced graphics processing and improved image quality.

High-Quality and Immersive PC Visual with Graphics Card

Introduced in the early 1980’s, graphics cards weren’t a big hit at the time, as the standard screen resolution was poor in comparison to that of PCs today. As computers have become more and more advanced, graphics cards too began to get more attention. They became essential for higher quality images and faster graphic processing on the screen.

What are the Different Types of Graphics Card?

If you are considering replacing your current graphics card or getting a new one for the first time, read below to find out what is best for your use. Here we provide the descriptions of the three main types of graphics card.

• Integrated Graphics Cards — This type of graphics card usually comes with your PC. This is a part of your computer’s motherboard, or the central processing unit (CPU). Although it cannot usually be removed, you can add another graphics processor to increase your PC's capabilities. If you mainly use your computer for casual 2D games, videos, documents and Internet surfing, an integrated solution will be sufficient for your needs. These aren’t particularly graphic-intensive activities, so you should rarely experience lag or crashes. Nevertheless, you can play some 3D games but make sure you set the graphics low so it won't interrupt with your gameplay.

• Mid-Range Graphics Cards — If you play games or videos that require a more powerful GPU, like GTA 5, Fallout 4 or Just Cause 3, then you might want to look into mid-range graphics cards. Units with the Sapphire technology from AMD are especially useful if you like using a larger monitor or a display, of which the resolution is around 1080p. There are more advanced options but if all you do is playing HD games with your existing setup, this should suffice. Assuming your PC has a spare PCIe slot, this type of card can fit in very easily and deliver an immediate boost to your gameplay. You can tweak the settings in each individual game to get the best results and also take full advantage of any software provided by the card manufacturer.

• 4K Gaming Cards — For those who expect excellent results regardless of which level of screen resolution they use, a high-end card will give you the maximum results. If you are planning on using a 4K monitor you’ll need a card that is made for this. This type of card is a necessity if you plan to play one of the new virtual reality games designed to be used with the Oculus Rift headset or other VR hardware. The graphics cards in this category are not the most affordable ones, but if you want to have the freedom of playing any modern game and enojoy their full quaility, then you’ll need one of these top range GPUs. Good examples are the GTX 1080 and the Quadro M4000 from Nvidia.

Nvidias GeForce 1080 Ti Graphics Card

What to Consider Before Buying a Graphics Card

If you want to upgrade your computer, one of the best ways to go about it is by investing in the right graphics card. For avid gamers this is worth an investment, but it can be difficult to choose which one suits your needs. Here are five things to consider when making a decision:

• Only pay for what you need — The cards that provide the highest level of performance aren’t cheap. You can easily pay over £500 for a card that has all the latest features and is designed to work perfectly on a large monitor. However, you might not even notice the extra functionality so unless your setup specifically demands a higher version, you will find that a mid-range card works totally fine.

• Decide what you want beforehand — When you start looking for a graphics card you’ll find a wide array of cards with different strengths, features and statistics. Unless you already know exactly what you need, it can be difficult to figure out which card fits your scenario. Find out which specs are important by looking at the requirements of the game or other software you intend to use, then use those as a guide.

• RAM matters — Of all the specs on a graphics card, one of the most important aspect is RAM. This determines the amount of memory a card has to work with, although it runs separately from the built-in RAM of your computer. A card with sufficient RAM can deliver clearer and faster graphics.

• Reference vs. non-reference — Major graphics card producers like Nvidia and Asus, develop and manufacture the cards before selling them in two different ways. Customers can buy directly from them or from other suppliers to which the manufacturers provide their products. However, note that these suppliers make some modifications to the cards before selling them to consumers and thus their versions are usually known as non-reference cards, or aftermarket cards. They may have higher spec components and better cooling systems than reference cards sold by the original suppliers but can also be more costly as a result.

• The cooling system — One of the most commonly modified components of a graphics card is the cooling system. It is what keeps the card below a certain temperature threshold when it’s in use and safeguard it from overheating. If you are not planning to use run the card for a prolonged period of time, a single fan version that propels hot air out and away from your PC should be sufficient. For users of high-powered applications for a longer period of time, a card with two cooling fans, or even a water-based cooling system, could be worth it.

• Are there any compatibility issues? — As with any tech items, graphics cards can present compatibility issues. Check if your computer has the required input port and if can handle the power the card consumes. Otherwise, a separate power supply may be required in additiong to an adapter. You might also want to think about where the card will be housed and whether it will fit inside your tower.

• Look at benchmark results — After you decide on what type of graphics card you are purchasing, there are many websites where you can read about how it performs, particularly in comparison to other similar items. These comparison results will give important tips like how much stress the card can take before it begins to show signs of lag or other weakness. This information is extremely helpful as a last step for deciding if the card that you chose is the right decision.

Which Storage Size to Choose

The on-board memory of a graphics card can range from 2GB to 11GB and your decision should depend on how much memory size your system can process. This memory is separate from that of the PC and used exclusively by the graphics card.

Currently, there are few benefits for getting a storage above 4GB, as even the most high budget games with demanding graphics do not require this much storage. The only reason for choosing a GPU with 6GB or above is to prepare your system setup for future upcoming games.

Graphics Card Accessories

From brackets that secure the card placement to extra adaptors, accessories can help you get the most out of a graphics card.

• Graphics adapters — You can combine a high-powered adapter with your GPU if you plan to connect it to a number of separate displays. This allows you to double or triple the amount of workspace you are currently using.

• Brackets — A bracket is used to mount a graphics card in a way that suits the user. You can find a range of brackets from low profile ones to more prominent ones. Brackets can help prevent the GPU sag problem of larger cards.

• Sound cards — A sound card amplifies the audio of a PC, delivering clearer sound to go with the refined visuals of a good graphics card. Together with a sound card, a graphics card can provide a far more immersive gaming experience.

• SLI Bridge — This specialised device bridges two different graphics cards, doubling the frame rate. A SLI bridge is neither compatible with all types of graphics card not is necessary, but it can be improve the performance of two cards if you have one very high-performance card and one relatively low-tiered version. Some SLI Bridges have lights and logos that enhance the overall appearance of a rig.

Identifying a Graphics Card

If you’re not sure which graphics card you have, this is how you find out. Follow the simple steps provided below on your Windows PC.

1. Start by right-clicking on desktop

2. Choose "Screen Resolution" and then "Advanced Settings"

3. A pop-up will show the details of the card under "Adapter Type"

4. This should show the hardware and the memory

5. Click "Properties" to see further details

How to Get the Best Graphics Card Deals

Online retailers like BT, Tesco Direct and Novatech carry an excellent selection of cards of all levels, basic, mid-range and high-performance graphics. You can also take a look at the virtual shelves of manufacturers like NVidia or AMD to shop the latest releases.

There are numerous graphics cards for every level of budget. During the Black Friday sales, major retailers like Amazon and Argos offer big discounts on technology items and provide shoppers a chance to save up to 25%. Additionally, they also offer GPU deals around the Christmas period and other annual sales in the summer or spring. During these times, you can also find graphics card sales at stores like Currys, Maplin and eBay.

HotUKDeals collects up-to-date graphics card discount and promo codes on the page dedicated to graphics cards only. Shoppers can find the right GPU for them at a bargain with HotUKDeals.