What is a graphics card and a graphics driver?

Graphics card

The graphics components are the part of your computer that control and enhance how graphics (pictures, videos, programs, animation, 3D) are displayed on your computer screen.

  • Often, the graphics components are on a separate card that plugs into a slot on the motherboard, which is the main part of the computer. That's why the graphics components are commonly called the graphics card. Sometimes the graphics card components are build directly into the motherboard.

    Other common names for graphics components

    Other common names for the graphics components are: video card, video adapter, display adapter, and graphic accelerator.

    Graphics driver

    The graphics driver is a program that controls how your graphic components work with the rest of your computer: your software, like SketchUp, your monitor, and so on.

    More information

    For more information about:

    • The graphics cards that are recommended for SketchUp, click here.
    • How to find out which graphics card you have in your PC, click here.
    • How to update a graphics driver, click here.
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