Changes

A video card, also commonly referred to as a "graphics adapter" is a replaceable variant of the [[Graphics Processing Unit|graphics processing unit]] commonly found in computer and electronics stores.

A '''video card''', also commonly referred to as a "graphics adapter" is a replaceable variant of the [[Graphics Processing Unit|graphics processing unit]] commonly found in computer and electronics stores.

==Purpose==

==Purpose==

While [[motherboard]]s virtually always include their own "on board" equivalent; the [[Graphics Processing Unit|GPU]], video cards are preferred in gaming and 3D modeling applications because of their superior ability to meet increasingly demanding [[system requirements]] of PC games released in the past several years.  

While [[motherboard]]s virtually always include their own "on board" equivalent; the [[Graphics Processing Unit|GPU]], video cards are preferred in gaming and 3D modeling applications because of their superior ability to meet increasingly demanding [[system requirements]] of PC games released in the past several years.  

One particular event that stimulated the sales of high-end video cards was the now infamous PC release of [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] on December 2 of 2008. While it's PC version predecessor; [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]] only required a 64MB [[DirectX]] 9 compatible video card at the minimum, Grand Theft Auto IV required a 256MB [[Nvidia]] 7900 or [[ATI]] X1900. By March of 2009, the Rockstar Games Social Club; the online gaming community for various [[Grand Theft Auto]] games and other PC games released by [[Rockstar Games|Rockstar]] had became heavily populated and gameplay videos of the PC version flooded the internet.

One particular event that stimulated the sales of high-end video cards was the now infamous PC release of [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] on December 2 of 2008. While it's PC version predecessor; [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]] only required a 64MB [[DirectX]] 9 compatible video card at the minimum, Grand Theft Auto IV required a 256MB [[Nvidia]] 7900 or [[ATI]] X1900. By March 2009, the Rockstar Games Social Club; the online gaming community for various [[Grand Theft Auto]] games and other PC games released by [[Rockstar Games|Rockstar]] had became heavily populated and gameplay videos of the PC version flooded the internet.

It is not uncommon for PC games nowadays to demand middle-of-the-line to high-end video cards.

It is not uncommon for PC games nowadays to demand middle-of-the-line to high-end video cards.