grafíkkort

Grafíkkort, also known as a graphics card or video card, is a piece of computer hardware designed to render images, video, and animations for display on a monitor. Its primary function is to accelerate the creation and output of visual content, freeing up the central processing unit (CPU) for other tasks. This acceleration is crucial for demanding applications such as video games, 3D modeling, video editing, and scientific simulations.

The core component of a grafíkkort is its graphics processing unit (GPU), a specialized processor optimized for parallel computations. Modern grafíkkort also include dedicated video memory (VRAM) to store textures, frame buffers, and other graphical data, which allows for faster access and processing. The performance of a grafíkkort is typically measured by factors like its clock speed, the number of processing cores, and the amount and speed of its VRAM.

Grafíkkort can be integrated directly onto the motherboard or as a discrete component plugged into a dedicated slot, usually PCI Express. Discrete grafíkkort generally offer significantly higher performance than integrated graphics, making them essential for users who require advanced visual capabilities. The market for grafíkkort is dominated by a few major manufacturers, with NVIDIA and AMD being the most prominent.