Best Video Card for Performance
The video card (or graphics card) is the most important factor in achieving smooth frame rates in intensive video games and graphical applications. It renders the pixels that create the game world, providing the calculations and the hardware to make smooth framerates and incredible graphics possible. High resolution gaming also requires a fair amount of video hardware, given the amount of pixels on typical 20-24" monitors; 30" monitors also require great video hardware, given their 2560x1600 resolutions. Anti-aliasing (a process that makes textures at a distance look clear rather than blurred) also requires highly-capable hardware to render properly and maintain good framerates. This list consists of the best of the best consumer video card on the market today. Just be prepared to spend a premium for some superb performance and make sure that none of your other computer parts like the CPU, RAM, or motherboard are a bottleneck to the video card.
Why it's best:
Similar to Nvidia's 9800GX2 design, Nvidia's GTX295 packs two underclocked GTX260 cores into one physical video card (and one PCI-e x16 slot). The result is blazing performance from a single card, and the possibility of running a second GTX295 in tandem presents the ultimate... read full review
Why it's a best pick:
The ATI HD4870X2 boasts dual GPU technology on one printed circuit board, teaming up the dual 55nm RV770 GPUs in tandem for maximum performance in a single video card. Essentially two HD4870s slapped together onto one card, its dual cores are clocked at 750MHz each, with the...
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Why it's a best pick:
An update to Nvidia's GTX280, the GTX285's main draw is its 55nm GPU, which allows for cooler operation and less power usage without sacrificing performance. The other key advantage to the 55nm GPU is its overclocking headroom. Aside from this, the GTX285 boasts the same spe...
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Why it's a best pick:
Essentially the single-GPU variant of the HD4870X2, the HD4870 boasts the RV770 core that is within ATI’s current lineup of video cards. It is possible to run four of these cards within one system across a Crossfire-capable motherboard, though dual HD4870X2s would prob...
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Why it's a best pick:
Similar to the 4870X2 in theory, the Sapphire HD4850X2 is essentially two HD4850s slapped together onto one physical card, allowing for performances comparable to running two HD4850s in CrossFire. It is readily comparable to the GTX280 in terms performance, but its dual GPU ...
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