When building and buying a gaming PC, desktop graphics cards matter much more than the CPU. There’s a lot to consider when picking out computer graphics cards, from the PC case size to the type of monitor on the system to the gameplay settings you’re looking to use. Gaming graphics cards are essential for PC gaming, VR gaming, or Cloud gaming. All in all, the most important thing is to make sure you can use it before you buy it.

NVIDIA and AMD Computer Graphics Cards Offer Key Features

There are numerous desktop graphics cards from various manufacturers, including video cards. However, there are only two corporations, AMD and NVIDIA®, that manufacture the GPUs that are used in these components. Intel® is looking to enter the computer graphics cards realm very soon. AMD offers budget and competitive upper-mid range GPUs, and their latest Radeon™ RX series is now toe-to-toe, in terms of power consumption, with their NVIDIA counterparts. Check for available video card accessories to factor in their impact on your build. 

The Importance of Form Factor for Gaming Graphics Cards

It would help if you remembered that the case must have enough room for the card you want. Look at the thickness, height, and length of the case. Desktop graphics cards can be found in triple, double, or single shot options. Many of these graphics cards will take up two expansion ports and be full height. Even though a card typically only takes up 1 or 2 ports in the case, if it’s got a fan shroud and a giant heatsink, it can end up blocking an adjacent slot.

Look At the Power Connectors for Compatible Power Supply

Most top-notch gaming graphics cards use a lot more than the 75-watt maximum standard provided by PCIe slots. Such cards will need you to connect additional power connectors that usually come in 8-pin and 6-pin varieties. If you have a power supply that does not have the supplemental power connectors you require, you might need to get an adapter that sources power from a few Molex or SATA connectors. The next logical step is to upgrade.

Match the Graphics Card to Virtual Reality Usage

If you intend to use PC VR platforms, video graphics cards are an essential element, and then you’ll need to use, at the very least, mid-range workstation graphics cards that have optimal performance levels. You might want to concentrate on the high-end models of video cards, like the NVIDIA devices. These are well-known to support virtual reality gaming. There are some lower-cost options you can use. AMD’s RX cards offer substantial power and response for virtual reality performance. However, most seasoned gamers will advise you to go for the top-tier desktop graphics cards if you’re looking for seamless virtual reality gaming.