Learn about memory and compatibility in computer graphics cards.
Novice computer users often get confused when assembling or upgrading their first computer. While the most common error is made when distinguishing system memory, RAM, from hard drive space, gaming computers have an extra wrinkle to worry about. Graphics cards use memory separately from the system memory mounted on the motherboard. Some graphics cards use the more typical DDR standard, though it's permanently attached to the graphics card circuitboard, while others use the new GDDR standard. For the most part, the internals of the graphics card aren't relevant to the rest of the computer -- it's all about the connection slot.
What Is DDR Memory?
DDR, or "Double Data Rate," is the standardized random access memory format for most desktop and laptop computers. DDR RAM comes in different generational standards: DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and the newer DDR4. RAM chips, known as DIMMs, come in only one format, as do the DIMM slots on motherboards, so a DDR3-compatible motherboard memory slot can accept only DDR3 RAM DIMMs -- RAM that uses an earlier or later standard is incompatible.
GDDR Memory and Graphics Cards
Modern graphics cards use a modified memory standard called GDDR, short for Graphics Double Data Rate. While similar, GDDR and DDR memory is not the same: Most importantly, GDDR memory is integrated into the graphics card and cannot be removed. Some older graphics cards use DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 memory, but this is also integrated into the card. Graphics cards of varying power come with different kinds of RAM - as of the date of publication, most cards feature GDDR4 or GDDR5 memory.
Graphics Card Motherboard Connections
Discrete desktop graphics cards are mounted inside a computer case and plugged directly into the motherboard. Three standard connections are used for graphics cards: PCI-Express (the most common and powerful), PCI and AGP. It is this connection that determines how much data can be shared between the graphics card and the other system components, such as the CPU, the system RAM and the hard drive. The expansion slot standard is the primary function for determining whether or not a graphics card is compatible with any given computer: If your motherboard has a PCI-E slot, it's compatible, if not ideally so, with all PCI-E graphics cards.
Graphics Card Memory and System Memory Compatability
Memory is an important part of game performance, but graphics memory and system memory are two different things. For better performance, it's best to have as much graphics memory AND system memory as possible, but the different standards used by the graphics card and the motherboard are largely irrelevant. As long as the graphics card uses the correct expansion slot standard, it will work with the corresponding motherboard, regardless of its DDR version.
Tags: graphics card, graphics card, graphics cards, system memory, Data Rate, DDR2 DDR3