What (who) is video controller - definition
![ISA 8-bit (XT) interface]].](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ATI Hercules Card 1986 (cropped and transparent).png?width=200 "ISA 8-bit (XT) interface]].")
![DE-15]])](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/DE-15 female.svg?width=200 "DE-15]])")
![[[Digital Visual Interface]] (DVI-I)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/DVI Connector Pinout.svg?width=200 "[[Digital Visual Interface]] (DVI-I)")
![Classical desktop computer architecture with a distinct graphics card over [[PCI Express]]. Typical bandwidths for given memory technologies, missing are the [[memory latency]]. [[Zero-copy]] between GPU and CPU is ''not possible'', since both have their distinct physical memories. Data must be copied from one to the other to be shared.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Desktop computer bus bandwidths.svg?width=200 "Classical desktop computer architecture with a distinct graphics card over [[PCI Express]]. Typical bandwidths for given memory technologies, missing are the [[memory latency]]. [[Zero-copy]] between GPU and CPU is ''not possible'', since both have their distinct physical memories. Data must be copied from one to the other to be shared.")
![[[DisplayPort]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/DisplayPort Connector.svg?width=200 "[[DisplayPort]]")
![[[Video-in video-out]] (VIVO) for S-Video (TV-out), Digital Visual Interface (DVI) for high-definition television (HDTV), and DE-15 for Video Graphics Array (VGA)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Gpu-connector.jpg?width=200 "[[Video-in video-out]] (VIVO) for S-Video (TV-out), Digital Visual Interface (DVI) for high-definition television (HDTV), and DE-15 for Video Graphics Array (VGA)")
![[[High-Definition Multimedia Interface]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/HDMI Connector Pinout.svg?width=200 "[[High-Definition Multimedia Interface]]")
![HSA]])](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/HSA-enabled integrated graphics.svg?width=200 "HSA]])")
.jpg?width=200 "A half-height graphics card")
![Radeon HD 7970]] with the main heatsink removed, showing the major components of the card. The large, tilted silver object is the GPU die, which is surrounded by RAM chips, which are covered in extruded aluminum heatsinks. Power delivery circuitry is mounted next to the RAM, near the right side of the card.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7970.jpg?width=200 "Radeon HD 7970]] with the main heatsink removed, showing the major components of the card. The large, tilted silver object is the GPU die, which is surrounded by RAM chips, which are covered in extruded aluminum heatsinks. Power delivery circuitry is mounted next to the RAM, near the right side of the card.")
![A [[Logitech]] steering wheel for the [[PlayStation 3]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Logitech-Driving-Force-PS3.jpg?width=200 "A [[Logitech]] steering wheel for the [[PlayStation 3]]")
![Nintendo DS touchscreen (bottom) with [[stylus]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Nintendo-DS-Lite-w-stylus.png?width=200 "Nintendo DS touchscreen (bottom) with [[stylus]]")
![A [[Nintendo Switch Pro Controller]], a typical modern two-stick gamepad](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Nintendo-Switch-Pro-Controller-FL.jpg?width=200 "A [[Nintendo Switch Pro Controller]], a typical modern two-stick gamepad")
![PlayStation]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/PlayStation-Analog-Joystick.jpg?width=200 "PlayStation]]")
![arcade style controller]] for the Sega [[Dreamcast]].](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sega-Dreamcast-Arcade-Stick.jpg?width=200 "arcade style controller]] for the Sega [[Dreamcast]].")
![WASD]] keyboard setup is used widely, but by no means universally.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/W-A-S-D.jpg?width=200 "WASD]] keyboard setup is used widely, but by no means universally.")
![[[Wii Remote]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Wii Remote Image.jpg?width=200 "[[Wii Remote]]")
Wikipedia
A graphics card (also called a video card, display card, graphics adapter, VGA card/VGA, video adapter, display adapter, or colloquially GPU) is a computer expansion card that generates a feed of graphics output to a display device such as a monitor. Graphics cards are sometimes called discrete or dedicated graphics cards to emphasize their distinction to integrated graphics processor on the motherboard or the CPU. A graphics processing unit (GPU) that performs the necessary computations is the main component in a graphics card, but the acronym "GPU" is sometimes also used to refer to the graphics card as a whole.
Most graphics cards are not limited to simple display output. The graphics processing unit can be used for additional processing, which reduces the load from the central processing unit. Additionally, computing platforms such as OpenCL and CUDA allow using graphics cards for general-purpose computing. Applications of general-purpose computing on graphics cards include AI training, cryptocurrency mining, and molecular simulation.
Usually, a graphics card comes in the form of a printed circuit board (expansion board) which are to be inserted into an expansion slot. Others may have dedicated enclosures, and they are connected to the computer via a docking station or a cable. These are known as external GPUs (eGPUs).
Graphics cards are often preferred over integrated graphics for increased performance.
