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Dell OptiPlex 380 Video Card
Most newer computers will have at least one PCIe slot open for a video card to be added to the system. All video cards computes and sends the rendered images to a monitor where it is displayed for you. There are really only two kinds of graphic cards, integrated and dedicated. Integrated cards are built-in to the computer itself, while a dedicated graphics card is an individual piece of hardware that is bought and installed separately. Integrated display adapters are not as good as dedicated graphic cards, generally speaking. At the moment, nVidia rules the dedicated card market, while AMD is in second. Dedicated video cards are pretty much required for most games you would play on a desktop computer like Mass Effect, Grand Theft Auto or Battlefield.
Signals the video card is in dire straights
- The monitor displays stretched or elongated pictures
- The desktop reboots when beginning a game
- Nothing seems to show up as you boot the PC
- A driver for the video card has problems installing like it should
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