Best New Graphics Cards 2011 - 2012
Ranked #213 in Computers & Electronics, #2,906 overall
Any more, it seems, a video card is becoming a necessity in computing. Weather you want a laptop for watching movies, a PC for gaming, or a computer used for 3D modeling and video, the video card has taken a central role in providing the capabilities to produce and view some amazing content. Video cards come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors and which one is right for you depends on what you intend to do with your computer.
Choosing A Video Card
AMD vs. nVidia Technology
There are two main manufacturers of the brains of a video card - the graphics processing unit, or GPU - and each has its' advantages and disadvantages in each card it offers. NVIDIA and AMD/ATI both offer everything from entry level to world class GPU's and video cards.NVIDIA video cards have many features that make them great. 3D Vision Surround Technology which allows you to spread your display across 3 monitors in full HD 3D for an immersive experience and GPUDirect which allows for faster communication between computer hardware are two features that set NVIDIA cards apart. Optimus technology which optimizes notebook PC's, and PureVideo high definition video processor are a few of the other features that help you get the most out of your computing experience.
Some NVIDIA cards also feature CUDA Architecture which allows the GPU to perform mathematical calculations to speed up computing performance. PhysX gives the card the ability to run real-time physics in games and SLI technology allows you to link together multiple video cards for increased graphics power. With a great lineup of features it's no wonder that NVIDIA a popular choice.
AMD Technology
AMD video cards (AMD bought ATI a few years back) also have great features that give them performance benefits. AMD employs graphics technologies like VISION Engine which is the foundation of VISION technology giving you vivid HD entertainment and blazing fast graphics. AMD Radeon Dual Graphics combines two Radeon graphics processors to provide performance boosts. AMD Catalyst Control Center allows you to quickly and easily control every aspect of the graphics experience. AMD Eyefinity Technology gives you the capability of using multiple independent display outputs simultaneously - this can allow for massive displays and immersive graphics experiences.
AMD video cards also feature AMD CrossFireX Technology which utilizes multiple GPU's for high performance, GDDR5 Memory, Dynamic switchable graphics for balancing between performance and battery life, and AMD XGP Technology which breathes new graphics life into notebook computers.
Finding a graphics card to suit your needs shouldn't be hard with all of the features that these two manufacturers offer. As I mentioned earlier, which video card is right for you depends on the intended use.
Best CAD Video Card 2011 - 2012
NVIDIA Quadro 6000 Review
CAD (Computer-aided Design) programs today use a lot of resources to produce the designs and drawings they do. As such, computers built to run CAD software have been designed and built to meet the demands of these programs.
One of the most important items to have in any computer running CAD software is a video card as CAD programs require a lot of graphics power. There are several video cards that are good for use in CAD systems and one of the best is the NVIDIA Quadro 6000. The Quadro 6000 offers incredible features and will allow any workstation to perform with optimal speed and quality.
NVIDIA Quadro 6000 by PNY 6GB GDDR5 PCI Express Gen 2 x16 DVI-I DL Dual DisplayPort and Stereo OpenGL, DirectX, CUDA, and OpenCL Profesional Graphics Board, VCQ6000-PB
Amazon Price: $2,600.00 (as of 05/29/2012)
The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 is built on the NVIDIA Fermi architecture and is equipped with NVIDIA's Cuda technology for blazing speed. It is also the first video card with 6GB of GDDR5 ECC video ram which gives you unprecedented performance across a broad range of applications. At a maximum resolution of 2560x1600 pixels at 60Hz, the Quadro 6000 deliver crisp, clear images. The Quadro 6000 has all the outputs you need to get connected to monitors, projectors, and HD TV's with 1 Dual-link DVI-I, 2 Display ports, and a 3-pin-Mini-Din Stereo port. The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 is definitely not the least expensive graphics card on the market, but if you are serious about squeezing every ounce of performance out of your CAD applications, then this card is a great choice. NVIDIA has packed a lot of power and features into this video card and for CAD graphics, this card can't be beat.
Video Cards for Graphic Design
ATI Radeon HD 6950 Review
Video cards are key in any system used for gaming. Nothing is more frustrating than having poor video performance just when you need it most. A good system with a great video card can make game play awesome.
Sapphire DIRT 3 EDITION Radeon HD 6950 2 GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 100312-3SR
Amazon Price: $399.00 (as of 05/29/2012)
The Radeon HD 6950 offers amazing graphics capabilities and a very reasonable price point. Starting with 2GB of GDDR5 video ram and Eye-definition graphics which supports full DirectX 11, the Radeon HD 6950 is built on a solid foundation. The 6950 features AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology with native support for up to 4 monitors along with AMD CrossFireX mutli-GPU technology for dual, triple, or quad GPU scaling. With AMD App Acceleration the Radeon HD 6950 makes using your graphics programs feel lightning fast while giving you high end video quality. AMD HD3D technology also gives you that 3D experience and cutting edge integrated display support for connecting nearly any display type to your system make the ATI Radeon HD 6950 an outstanding choice for a graphics video card.
Fastest For PC Gaming
The GeForce GTX 590 is a powerhouse in a small package. It is built on the NVIDIA Fermi architecture and combines the raw power of two GTX 500 GPU's on a single video card. The GTX 590 utilizes an insane 3GB of GDDR5 video ram to give you the outstanding gaming experience you crave. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 give you that ability to attach up to 3 monitors on a single video card so you can have an immersive experience.
EVGA GeForce GTX 590 Classified 3072 MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 3DVI/Mini-Display Port SLI Ready Limited Lifetime Warranty Graphics Card, 03G-P3-1596-AR
Amazon Price: $999.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
The GeForce GTX 590 features support for DirectX11, NVIDIA PhysX, NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology, NVIDIA Quad SLI readiness, NVIDIA CUDA technology, and NVIDIA 3D Vision surround readiness. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is not the cheapest graphics card on the market, but if gaming is your passion then this card is worth every penny and will give you the edge over all your opponents.
Best Graphics Card for HTPC Home Theaters 2011
ATI Radeon HD 5450
A video card is an important component in any HTPC as it is what allows you to send the video to your TV instead of an ordinary monitor. It also contains special features that make using an HTPC for TV viewing an enjoyable experience. One of the best video cards for the HTPC is the ATI Radeon HD 5450.
The Radeon HD 5450 has been specifically built to live in an HTPC and has many HTPC specific features. At its' core, the 5450 has from 512MB to 2GB of GDDR2/GDDR3 video ram depending on the card manufacturer. The Radeon HD 5450 features support for DirectX 11, ATI Stream acceleration technology, ATI CrossFireX Multi-GPU technology, and ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology which can drive up to three displays.
ASUS EAH5450 SILENT/DI/512MD3(LP) Radeon HD 5450 SILENT 1400 MHz (700 MHz DDR3) Video Card
Amazon Price: $32.00 (as of 05/29/2012)
The ATI Radeon HD 5450 also features HTPC specific technologies under the feature name ATI Avivo HD Video & Display Technology. These features include a UVD 2 dedicated video playback accelerator, support for H.264 (HD), VC-1, MPEG-2 and Adobe Flash. Dual-stream (HD+SD) playback support and support for 3D stereoscopic display/glasses also help you get the most from the 5450. The Radeon HD 5450 includes a dual-link DVI output with HDCP, a Display Port output, an HDMI 1.3 output with Deep Color, xvYCC wide gamut support and high bit-rate audio, and a VGA output. The 5450 also features an integrated HD audio controller capable of producing output protected high bit-rate 7.1 channel surround sound over HDMI and supports AC-3, AAC, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master audio formats. The ATI Radeon HD 5450 is a great HTPC video card that will give you a wonderful TV and video watching experience.
Best Under $200
Radeon HD 6850 Review
Spending $200 will get you a very good video card and one that, while it may not be the fastest or most powerful, will get the job done. One of the best sub $200 video cards out there is the ATI Radeon HD 6850.
Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 6850 1GB PCI-E Video Card (100315L)
Amazon Price: $149.98 (as of 05/29/2012)
The Radeon HD 6850 strikes a good balance between cost and power. It features 1GB of GDDR5 video ram, Eye-definition graphics supporting DirectX 11 and OpenGL, AMD Eyefinity for multiple display support, and AMD CrossFireX multi-GPU technology. AMD has put some more advanced features in this video card such as AMD App Acceleration and AMD HD3D technology which supports 3D video features. The HD 6850 is a double slot form factor and features a DisplayPort 1.2 output, HDMI 1.4a output, Dual-link DVI with HDCP output, and a standard VGA output.
Under $100
NVIDIA GeForce GT 430
Evga GeForce GT 430 1024 MB DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 DVI/HDMI/VGA Graphics Card, 01G-P3-1430-LR
Amazon Price: $53.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
With HDMI 1.4, Dual-link DVI, and VGA outputs, connecting to almost any monitor is guaranteed. Being on the lower end of the cost spectrum does not make the GeForce GT 430 a video card to skip over when considering upgrading your system.
Reader Feedback
This article has represented a wide range of applications and video cards to fit those applications. Weather you are after the ultimate speed and performance or a budget friendly compromise, there is bound to be a video card that is right for you, and we have just taken a look at the best video cards of 2011. Have a comment or recommendation? Feel free to leave your feedback below.
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Edutopia
Jan 2, 2012 @ 2:00 am | delete
- The one thing I really like about AMD cards is that they have native triple monitor support build in to their 6x series which can be a deal breaker for some.
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ronickcompany
Nov 21, 2011 @ 10:54 am | delete
- Good Article on the a couple different video cards, for benchmarking you can check out http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-gaming-graphics-charts/benchmarks,123.html
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