How do I Choose the Best Dual Video Card?

Getting the ideal dual video card requires some preparation and research, including a look at the hardware capabilities of your computer, along with the features and capabilities of the video card. Determine what you think are the best features commonly found on a high-end, multi-monitor video card, such as three-dimensional (3D) video or high-definition graphics. Look for a graphics card with many listed features, including a large amount of random access memory (RAM). You must also consider what type of hardware would be best for your computer workstation.

A video card, also known as a graphics card, is the hardware component necessary to give the computer the capability to transmit a video signal to a monitor or screen. Types of dual video card setups include external dual video card devices and internal video cards with multi-monitor capability. External dual video cards are also called external multi-display or multi-monitor devices. Dual video cards enable the user to work on more than one computer screen on the same computer. This can be useful for a computer user working on a project that requires multiple windows or programs, but a dual monitor system can also draw more computer resources and slow down the function of the system.

To gather information on the best video cards, read computer magazines and computer hardware forums for the latest reviews on graphics cards with dual video card capability. Find professional reviews in computer hardware magazines as well as reviews in computer hardware forums online. Rather than taking any particular review to heart, look for a pattern of problems or benefits that can tell you whether the dual video card hardware will meet your needs. Get as much information as you can about the video card interface to help you determine whether the dual display software is user-friendly.

Visit a local computer hardware store to get a look at the dual video card hardware unit. If you are installing an internal dual video card into a computer slot, look at the video card assembly and make sure it is not too large for your case. The length of a graphics card can vary by as much as four inches among different types of graphics cards. Many high-end video cards have dedicated memory chips on the video card chipset to help bolster the speed and function of the video card. Some of these cards contain mini heatsinks which come attached to the chipset, so some dual video card designs are thicker than others and may not fit in a tight computer case.