If you are upgrading either your graphics card or your monitor, the first thing to do is make sure that they are compatible. The good news is that this is easier than ever to do these days, with lots of sites and online tools that are designed to help you figure out which graphics cards are compatible with your system. Before you invest in a new graphics card for your setup, it’s important to ensure that it can easily be connected with your display, and that the two will work well together. Some of the main things to check to ensure that you are getting the most from your system include:
Output Ports
The ports for output are one of the most important factors to think about before you purchase either a graphics card or a new monitor. If you’re using a low-profile monitor, then chances are that it’s going to have a VGA connection, which will work with most entry-level graphics cards. Both graphics cards and monitors will usually come with at least one display output port, although most modern options have at least two. To make sure that your monitor and graphics card are compatible with one another, they should have at least one identical port. Learn more about Lenovo Intel® Arc™ Graphics and if these cards are compatible with your monitor.
Resolution
Another factor to consider when it comes to making sure that your graphics card and monitor work well together is your monitor’s resolution. The higher the resolution, the more pixels will be displayed on the screen in the form of images, therefore you’ll need a stronger graphics card to ensure that your display can reach its maximum resolution potential. For example, if you are using a 4k gaming monitor, and your graphics card is low-end or even mid-range in some cases, it simply might not be enough to handle your monitor’s graphical requirements.
Sync Technology
If you are choosing a monitor and graphics card mainly for the purpose of gaming, then sync technology is going to be another essential factor for you to give some thought to. Currently, you can get FreeSync displays designed to be used with graphics cards from AMD, along with NVIDIA GSync monitors designed to be used with NVIDIA graphics cards. Most of the time, you’ll only find these technologies available on modern, high-end monitors with high refresh rates that you will pay more for. GSync monitors tend to be more expensive compared to FreeSync.
Other Things to Check
While it’s important to make sure that your monitor and graphics card are compatible with one another, it’s also crucial to check a few other things about your system. Firstly, you’ll need to make sure that your CPU and graphics card are on a similar level to one another to prevent bottlenecks. You’ll also need to have enough case clearance, and the right power supply connector.
When choosing a graphics card, especially for gaming, making sure that it’s compatible with your monitor is essential for a great experience.