Tips on purchasing video graphics board<\/p>\n
By Zatni Arbi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some time ago, my colleague, Jim Scharf, wrote
\nan excellent article on computer monitors.<\/p>\n
He also provided us with several tips on choosing the best
\none.<\/p>\n
Now, assuming you already have a good monitor for your PC,
\npreferably a 17 inch one, it's probably time to add a Windows
\ngraphics accelerator card.<\/p>\n
A Windows graphics accelerator card has its own processor
\nthat frees the CPU from the tasks of handling the pixels on your
\nscreen.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the CPU can work faster on the real processing
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Therefore, a good monitor without a good graphics accelerator
\nboard is like a Porsche Carrerra with the engine of a VW Beetle.<\/p>\n
Here's the check list to make sure you also get the 270 HP,
\n3.6-liter flat-six engine for your Carrerra:<\/p>\n
1. The graphics accelerator card should be capable of giving
\na refresh rate of at least 70 Hz. At this level, the display is
\nvirtually flicker-free and the white page on your monitor will
\nlook more like the real paper than the neon lamp, and it is much
\nless taxing to your eyes;<\/p>\n
2. It has to have at least 1 MB VRAM so that you can display
\nup to 256 color simultaneously at the high resolution of 1024 by
\n768.<\/p>\n
Just for comparison, your standard VGA subsystem can display
\nonly 16 different color at the same time. You'll need up to 3 MB
\nVRAM if you want to display 24 bit true colors--16.7 million
\ndifferent colors--on a super VGA monitor.<\/p>\n
Life is indeed more exciting when it is colorful, right?<\/p>\n
3. You should be able to get the latest version of software
\ndriver. This may actually be the most important consideration in
\nchoosing this card.<\/p>\n
Earlier versions of drivers are typically buggy and show
\nmediocre performance, while their later revisions are almost
\nalways more efficient and work faster.<\/p>\n
4. You should choose from most popular graphic card manufac
\nturers to make sure that you'll get an update to the software
\ndriver as it becomes available.<\/p>\n
Most graphic card makers now provide you with drivers for
\nOS\/2, too, and this may speed up mass adoption of this operating
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Some top graphic card makers are Diamond, ATI, Hercules,
\nMatrox, and Radius.<\/p>\n
5. Finally, you should make sure that the type of graphics
\ncard matches your bus type. If you have a VESA local bus system,
\nfor instance, you might want to choose Diamond Viper VLB. But if
\nyou have an ISA bus, your choice might be Diamond Stealth Pro.<\/p>",
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