The Video Card in a computer is a physical piece of hardware. Video Cards can be purchased separately or on a new computer the graphics card is located on the mother board. Video Cards were placed on motherboards to help lower the cost of purchasing a new computer.
When the Video Card is connected to a monitor, it serves as a Visual Interface were you are then able to control the processes that you computer carries out. You may browse for files, create files, browse the internet or play video games.
Video Cards must specify its video standards, allowing end users to know what video cards may or may not be capable of doing. With new computers, you will most likely find SVGA standard video cards, allowing you to run the majority of software applications as well as run at high resolutions.
Generally, most video cards shipped today are included with video memory. Video memory is built onto the video board and/or motherboard, allowing the video card to run at higher resolutions and run at more efficient speeds.
Video cards are most commonly found in the PCI slots; however, with the release of the Pentium II came the AGP (Advanced Graphics Port) support. This new type of slot was released on August 26, 1996. This new technology allows the card to run at 66 MHz, 32-bit bus.
With the increasing popularity of advanced gaming came a new breed of video cards known as the 3D accelerators. When originally released, these cards only had support for 3D and not 2D and commonly required an additional 2D card to fully work. Today, 3D accelerators support both 3D and 2D, contains several MB of memory and processor on the video card.
Video Card Connections
The Below picture illustrates a 15 Pin Video Port Connector. The Pin numbers as well as the pin duties. The table below the picture illustrates the functions of each video port connector.
- Pin #1 - Red video R
- Pin #2 - Green Video G
- Pin #3 - Red Video B
- Pin #4 - Monitor ID 2
- Pin #5 - TTL Ground
- Pin #6 - Red Anaglog ground
- Pin #7 - Green Analog Ground
- Pin #8 - Blue Analog Ground
- Pin #9 - Key Plugged Hole
- Pin #10 - Sync Ground
- Pin #11 - Monitor ID 0
- Pin #12 - Monitor ID 1
- Pin #13 - Horizontal Sync
- Pin #14 - Vertical Sync
- Pin #15 - Monitor ID 3
A PC Power Supply Supplies power throughout the computer. Power supplies convert potentially lethal 110-115 or 220-230 volt alternating current (AC) into a steady low-voltage direct current (DC) usable by the computer. A power supply is rated by the number of watts it generates.
Advisory Warning: A person who hasn't been trained properly should never open a power supply, it contains capacitors which can hold electricity for months. If you touch one of the capacitors in your power supply you can die. If you do open it, Which is not recommended, take all precautions and ensure you work with one arm behind your back to direct the electricity away from the heart. Also ensure that you have no jewelry on (such as a watch or rings). However, again, This is not Recommended, and still cannot protect you 100% and is still potentially dangerous. Because of these precautions, no extensive information will be found on this page about opening power supplies.
Power Supply Connectors
The Power supply connector to the right is called a Moex connector. It come in a larger size and a smaller size. The smaller size was commonly used for power floppy drives whereas the larger is used for powering DVD-Drives, CD-drives and hradrives. The Molex Connector to the righe is a female plug.
Each wire in the connection serves a purpose in powering your computer. See the list below for information about each wire.
| Pin | Wire Color | Signal | |
| 1 | Yellow | +12v | |
| 2 | Black | Ground | |
| 3 | Black | Ground | |
| 4 | Red | +5v |
When it comes to looking inside your PC case, some people can get a little excited. It is best just to stay relaxed. Remember that all the wires and circuit boards are sensitive to Electric Static Discharge. (ESD)
Al the wires, connectors and data cables can sometime be a little intimidating. Yet, it is a lot more easier in the 21 century to carry out computer repairs, replacements, upgrades and installation.
Now days, it is easier for a computer technician, a good computer technician to spend a little under an hour to replace a specific component that no longer works. It is cheaper for a new part to be installed then it is to replace computer parts at chip level. It's quicker, easier, and much more economical to have the technician pop in a whole new video card or motherboard.
It's still important to know some of the different components and what they do. It can give you an insight as to which particular component may need replacement, and aids in the troubleshooting process.
It may only take 5 minutes to replace a particular FRU (Field Replaceable Unit), but it might require a lot more time to troubleshoot the problem and discover which module needs replacement.
Even if you don't plan on becoming A+ (A Plus) Certified, if you've come this far you must have an interest in computers. This is a great place to learn about what's inside that case.
Start looking at the navigation panel to the right and select What's Inside for sections on specific computer components and parts.
Pc 1-on-1 has been designed as a free introductory level, online computer training course, providing tutorials on computer hardware, software, operating systems, and basic troubleshooting.
If you just want to learn more about your computer's hardware, software and the overall system, here's a good place to start! Read the tutorials, then try the exercises provided. If you have trouble with the review questions, go over the tutorials again. You'll be surprised at how much you learn!
Start browsing our courses by using the links located on the right.
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