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What is inside a graphics card

By Arka Mukherjee Modified 05 Sep 2022 Follow Us Comment Share A wireframe of a graphics card (Image via Sportskeeda) Graphics cards are one of the most important components of a gaming rig. All 3D rendering workloads in video games are handled by the graphics processing unit (GPU). These pieces of cutting-edge technology have made virtual environments possible in the first place. Video cards have come a long way since they were introduced in the late '80s as a discrete component of the gaming system. Before the era of discrete GPUs, all graphics workloads were handled by the CPU. However, handing the task over to a different chip helped improve the efficiency of graphics-rendering pipelines.

Components inside a graphics card

A blown-up view of a graphics card (Image via Sportskeeda) A graphics card packs several components under the hood. The list includes the PCB on which the GPU, VRAM modules, and VRMs sit. Alongside those, it also pack cooling hardware to keep the graphics card under optimal temperatures while under load. The usual cooling hardware includes heatsinks and fans. Dayzer Denfur@DayzerHuskyNew graphics card got ?2635New graphics card got ? https://t.co/RMwxDUm7YU Apart from these, the graphics card also includes protective shrouds, backplates, RGB lighting hardware, and anti-sag brackets.

The printed circuit board PCB

The PCB of a GTX 780 GPU (Image via Wikipedia) PCB is the most important component of a video card, and it packs the parts that are responsible for the task of 3D rendering. The PCB mainly has the following parts on it: The GPU: The graphics processing unit is the small chip in the center of the PCB. It is mainly responsible for all 3D rendering workloads and is the most valuable part of a graphics card.Power connectors: The power connectors sit on the PCB, and are tasked with receiving power from the power supply unit (PSU) and channeling it through the circuit.VRAM modules: The VRAM modules mostly sit around the GPU chip. They are one of the most important components of the GPU as they store and transfer the rendered video data.Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs): The VRMs are essential for ensuring steady power delivery to the GPU die and VRAM modules. Most of them also need high-quality cooling to maintain optimal temperatures.Video output connectors: The video output connectors, namely HDMI and DisplayPort modules, also sit on the PCB. Tech Ambrosia (Amber)@TechAmbrWhile the 3DLabs Wildcat workstation graphics card is slightly longer overall, the Creative Labs Video Blaster capture card actually has more total PCB length #facts #retrocomputing7410While the 3DLabs Wildcat workstation graphics card is slightly longer overall, the Creative Labs Video Blaster capture card actually has more total PCB length #facts #retrocomputing https://t.co/pMsayt3Cuv

The cooling hardware

The heatsink of a GPU (Image via Made in China) Video cards these days come with increased heat outputs. Thus, they need hefty cooling hardware to maintain optimal temperatures. The cooling hardware involves a heatsink and fans driving the air into them for heat dissipation. Heatsinks are aluminum fins that are fed with copper heat pipes coming from the cold plate, which sits on the GPU die. Heatsinks also have contact points on VRMs and VRAM modules, and they add to most of the graphics card's weight. The fans on the video card are specially designed to blow air into the heatsink, and thus their blades are mostly scythe-shaped to fit this purpose.

Protective hardware

A GPU backplate from EKWB (Image via Amazon) Apart from the components listed above, video cards come with some protective gear to prevent the delicate PCB and aluminum heatsinks from getting damaged. The efficiency of the heatsinks can drop if bent, and the GPU might stop working if parts of the PCB get damaged. Thus, the graphics card is surrounded by a plastic shroud in places of immediate contact, increasing the visual appeal. However, this plastic shroud is a necessary evil as it covers the heatsink up and reduces thermal dissipation efficiency. Most modern video cards also pack a plastic or metal backplate that protects the bottom of the PCB and increases the visual appeal. Most GPUs also come with a metal protective cover to shield the video output ports. Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Abu Amjad Khan × Feedback Thank You! Be the first one to comment Follow Us Share Show More Comments GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ Be the first one to comment on this story More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content... 1 Manage your profile Editing Story Queue Video Queue Editing Stats Writer Home SEO Redirection Admin Wiki Edits Taxonomy Home Edit Site Menu Mapping Dashboard Tag Pages Community Social Feed Queue Feed Center Notification Center Affiliate Home Manage Pages Bottom Tagline Dash Timeless Stories Logout No Results Found Get the free App now Manage notifications Popular ‍ Sports (30+) CricketCricket HomeScheduleT20 World CupT20 warm upIND vs SAENG vs PAKAUS vs ENGLegends LeagueECS T10 CroatiaWBBL 2022ECC T10SMAT 2022Bukhatir LeagueNZ T20 Tri-SeriesWomen's Asia Cup 2022ECT10 FootballFootball HomeNewslettersSK Experts ScheduleEPLNations LeagueLa LigaLigue 1Champions LeagueFIFA WCMLS Bundesliga Serie A WWEWWE HomeNewslettersRumor RoundupRAWSmackDownResultsRosterChampionsWWE Crown Jewel 2022PPV ScheduleAEW EsportsEsports HomeMinecraftOverwatch 2RobloxGenshin ImpactFortniteGTAStreamersFree FirePUBGValorantBGMIPop CultureAnimeGaming TechWiki Guides TennisTennis HomeTennis calendarTennis Results TodayATP RankingsWTA RankingsRoger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicSerena Williams MMAMMA HomeUFC NewsONE ChampionshipUFC Fight NightScheduleRankingsResultsUFC Fights TonightONE Championship ResultsONE Championship ScheduleONE Championship Rankings KabaddiKabaddi HomePKL 2022PKL SchedulePKL Points TableKabaddi Rules WikiWiki HomeMinecraft WikiNaruto WikiTikTok WikiYoutube WikiGTA WikiTerraria WikiOne Piece Wiki MoreSportsBasketballIndian FootballNFLMinecraftFormula 1NascarPop CultureCollege FootballHockeyGolfAthleticsBadmintonGymnasticsWrestlingSwimmingTennisShootingBoxingArcheryWinter SportsRobloxFree PicksSkateboardingKho KhoLifestyle LINKS About Us Write For Us Policies Editorial Standards Journalism Awards Fact Check Affiliate Program Careers CSR Privacy Policy Contact Us Edition: English हिन्दी