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Graphics card
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<p>A graphics card (also called a video card, display card, graphics accelerator, graphics adapter, VGA card/VGA, video adapter, display adapter, or colloquially GPU) is a <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a> <a href="/facts/Expansion_card/QkWAPnxJ">expansion card</a> that generates a feed of <a href="/facts/Graphics/1V76IF8J">graphics</a> output to a <a href="/facts/Display_device/yX1Mypk0">display device</a> such as a <a href="/facts/Computer_monitor/NRaTDFHc">monitor</a>. Graphics cards are sometimes called <i>discrete</i> or <i>dedicated</i> graphics cards to emphasize their distinction to an <a href="/facts/Graphics_processing_unit/PTK1RQVp">integrated graphics processor</a> on the <a href="/facts/Motherboard/GXB10heG">motherboard</a> or the <a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">central processing unit</a> (CPU). A <a href="/facts/Graphics_processing_unit/PTK1RQVp">graphics processing unit</a> (GPU) that performs the necessary computations is the main component in a graphics card, but the <a href="/facts/Acronym/nlHK7aRt">acronym</a> "GPU" is sometimes also used to refer to the graphics card as a whole erroneously. </p><p>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 CPU. Additionally, computing platforms such as <a href="/facts/OpenCL/ns8y6np7">OpenCL</a> and <a href="/facts/CUDA/fvPpolot">CUDA</a> allow using graphics cards for <a href="/facts/General-purpose_computing_on_graphics_processing_units/roBwsPY2">general-purpose computing</a>. Applications of general-purpose computing on graphics cards include <a href="/facts/AI_accelerator/k0QuXHIb">AI training</a>, <a href="/facts/Mining_(crypto-currency)/Rg6JAS8y">cryptocurrency mining</a>, and <a href="/facts/Molecular_modeling_on_GPUs/EqbMxvfS">molecular simulation</a>. </p><p>Usually, a <i>graphics card</i> comes in the form of a printed circuit board (expansion board) which is to be inserted into an expansion slot. Others may have dedicated enclosures, and they are connected to the computer via a <a href="/facts/Docking_station/6dA1GQmq">docking station</a> or a cable. These are known as external GPUs (eGPUs). </p><p>Graphics cards are often preferred over integrated graphics for increased performance. A more powerful graphics card will be able to render more <a href="/facts/Frame_rate/sbRkc9xa">frames per second</a>. </p>