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Arqade

Questions tagged [graphics-card]

Referring to problems with a graphics card, the graphics processing unit, usually on a PC, or specific settings on a graphics card for a specific game.

189 questions
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5 answers

What are the differences between the different anti-aliasing / multisampling settings?

I'm tweaking the settings in DiRT 2 and I'm presented with these choices (in order) for multisampling: 2x MSAA 4x MSAA 8x MSAA 8x CSAA 16x CSAA 8x QCSAA Using the nVidia Control panel I'm presented with 2x 4x 8x CSAA 8x 16x CSAA 16xQ CSAA 32x…
DMA57361
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What is V-Sync and when should I enable it?

Most modern 3D games have a graphics option "V-Sync". It's usually an on/off setting. I'd like to understand settings I tweak with, and this one kind of eludes me. What does "V-Sync" mean, and when should I turn it on? I've tried a few things to…
Jeroen
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10 answers

Is there a difference between running games in Windowed or Fullscreen mode?

Does playing game when it's windowed increase performance? Decrease it? Does the same also hold true to fullscreen mode? I've always thought that playing on Fullscreen meant a higher fps boost, but I never confirmed this. Is there a difference…
childe
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55
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3 answers

What is a "pixel shader"?

I have noticed that some games quote the requirement for "pixel shader 3.0 or better". What is a pixel shader and is it some software requirements or hardware requirements?
Sisir
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52
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7 answers

Can I force Steam to use my Nvidia GPU instead of the integrated Intel card?

I have 2 graphics cards in my laptop (Alienware M11X); the first is the default Intel graphics card, and the second is a high perf Nvidia card. I would like to play my Steam games with the Nvidia card (namely Half Life 2, Ep1), but it keeps playing…
LynchDev
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6 answers

Determining if a game is CPU- or GPU-limited

What is a reliable, but not too time-consuming way to determine if a certain game is limited by the graphics card or by the processor speed? I have some preconceptions about whether I'm mostly GPU or CPU limited, but I'd like to verify if I'm right…
Mad Scientist
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2 answers

Why is there still screen tearing even when fps are limited to be equal to monitor refresh rate?

Why is there still screen tearing even when fps are limited to be equal to monitor refresh rate? Also if tearing occurs because of fps higher than screen refresh rate why don't games limit fps to be equal to the screen refresh rate by default?
bgfvfd
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How do I buy a graphics card?

I want to buy a graphics card. As there are variety of cards available, I dont know which one is better and how that one is better. Should I be looking at its memory size? (1 GB, 512 MB etc) Or should I check its technology and ignore its memory?…
LifeH2O
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38
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1 answer

What's the difference between Bilinear, Trilinear, and Anisotropic texture filtering?

A lot of games offer the setting of texture filtering. Which should I chose if I want best quality even if it means slower performance? Bilinear Trilinear Anisotropic
k0pernikus
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30
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5 answers

What is ray tracing?

I'm not a big tech person so the first time I've heard about it is in Cyberpunk 2077 discussions. Apparently only the really high end GPUs can support it properly. What exactly is ray tracing? How will it change the graphics of a game? I'm…
saraserin
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3 answers

What's the deal with VSync?

I'm often encountering very strongly held opinions among games about the Vertical Sync (VSync) option present in nearly all modern 3D games. The option is supposed to synchronize the output of the game to the monitor refresh rate and thereby prevent…
Mad Scientist
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15
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8 answers

How can I choose which monitor a game starts on?

Currently I am using a three-monitor setup, based on a GeForce GTX 680 graphics card: 3D monitor for gaming and work. Secondary monitor for work only. TV for watching movies and sometimes playing games with friends. The TV is fixed on my room's…
Aschratt
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11 answers

Black Screen when alt-tab or exiting fullscreen games in Windows 10

When I use alt+tab on a fullscreen game to go back to the Desktop in Windows 10, most of the time the screen goes black. It doesn't happen all the time which is makes this even more confusing. It also turns black sometimes after exiting the game. I…
solarc
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How does the "gamma correction" feature affect my gaming experience?

A lot of games often include a gamma correction feature when you first start playing the game. It's often some sort of symbol or image on the screen with a sliding bar, where you're supposed to adjust the slider so that the symbol is just barely…
animuson
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13
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4 answers

How to read system requirements & compare GPUs?

I've wanted to ask this for quite some time, hope this is the right place ... So, the system requirements for games usually give a recommendation for the minimally required GPU and CPU for both Nvidia and Intel hardware. However, both manufacturers…
MoritzLost
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