Week 6 - Graphics

Video cards or also known as video adapter or display card are generally pre installed onto
motherboards. However installed expanded video cards or graphics add in boards generate a much
greater feed of output images to a display on computer moniters or any hardware which displays
generated pixels.
AMD and Nvida graphics are currently manufacturing all major video cards. These video cards offer
rendering of both 2D and 3D graphic for varias formats which include folowing:
MPEG-2/MPEG-4
TV Output
Multi-Monitor.
Dedicated vs integrated graphics
video card can be integrated onto the motherboard or the CPU. Motherboard-based
implementations are called "on- e video cards.board video". CPU integrated graphics are called
accelerated processing units or APUs. Almost all desktop computer motherboards with onbaord
video cards allow integrated graphics chip to be disabled in the BIOS. Onbaords video cards include a
PCI Express (PCI-E) slot allowing integration of higher performance
Disabling integrated video cards still allows motherboard to be still in function even if the on-board
video has failed. Sometimes both integrated graphics and a dedicated graphics cards can be used
together to separate displays. Integrated graphics cost more than onboard. However its
compactness, simplistic and has low energy consumption.
There are some performance disadvantages of integrated graphics as the graphics processor shares
system resources with the CPU. A dedicated graphics card has its own random access memory
(RAM). Integrated graphics also uses its own cooling system. Dedicated power regulators are used
along with all components specifically designed for processing video images.
Dedicated graphics are faster since data offloads from the CPU and Ram which may improve the
systems overall performance.
Price ranges and market segments for video cards.
The low to high performance spectrum of video cards can start from 24 pounds. For example
SAPPHIRE AMD Radeon 5450 PCI-E Graphics Card - 1 GB at PC World is priced 24.99. top selling
graphics cards range from 50 to 100 pounds. The starting price of high performance graphics cards
are 200 pounds up to 900 pounds. The ASUS GTX TITAN- 6GD5 PCI-E 3.0 Graphics Card - 6GB is the
highest value video card which is also one of PC Worlds high performance video card.



Power demand
Every time new video cards are manufactured, the processing power increase which means they
demand more electrical power for higher performance. Sometimes powerful GPU (graphics
processing unit) require such high power, the CPU and power supply will need to be upgraded to
higher power efficiency since the video may be highest electricity user in the system.
This is the main reason stronger power supplies are being manufactured. The PCI express connection
has an limit of supplying up to 75 watts. Latest video cards with power consumption of over 75 watts
include six pins of 75 watts or eight pins of 150 watts. These pins are sockets which connect directly
to the power supply.
A minimum of 500 watts of power supply is required for a video card, however most gaming
computers will need at least 750 watts with a high performance video card. Computers with multiple
video card installed may need power supplies of 1000 to 1500 watts to perform efficiently. Heat
extractors are essential to cool down the system.

Components of Video cards:
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
A GPU is also known as visual processing unit (VPU). Its main purpose is to feed off images in a
frame buffer, the result is a output display. This is done by rapidly manipulating and accelerating
memory. The GPU is such an powerful component that requires such high electricity, its a computer
system its self due to its high performance.


Heat Sink
Most latest video cards manufactures mounted on heat sinks with the intention to spread out heat
given off by the GPU evenly. A fans is also mounted to cool the heat sink and the GPU. However the
older GPUs dont have heat sinks and fans mounted. Instead the GPUs where liquid cooled using
water blocks since video cards manufactured from the 1980s to early 1990s did not generate much
heat so heatsinks sinks where not required.
Modern Heat Sink.

Video Bios
Also known as firmware which is a program for initial set up and control of the video card. This
contains information on the timing of the memory, operating speed in addition to voltages of other
components resembling the graphics processer and RAM. The purpose of having a video bios is to
allow faster processing speeds by over clocking the video card. Over clocking is done to make the
video bios operate at a faster speed than the default clock frequency specified by the video card
manufacture. This is executed by modifying the system parameters. The operation of the GPU can
be increased by increasing voltages. The downside of overclocking techniques leads to increase in
power consumption which generating more heat. Overclocking can also potentially damage video
cards and possibly cause cascaded damage to the motherboard.

Graphics and Media Control Panel of Intel 64 Family 6 Model Video Card 31.

Video memory
Most video memory cards capacity starts from 128mb up to 8GB. High performance video cards
typically perform with the memory of 8GB. They use special high speed multi-port memory
assembling VRAM, WRAM, SGRAM since its being accessed by the GPU.
Typical video memory is based on DDR Technology (Double Data Rate) which transfers data on
rising and falling edges of the clock signal, Wikipedia states. This is a transfer per cycle on a
electronic circuit. After DDR technology was introduced, manufactures the moved on to DDR2,
GDDR4, GDDR5. Latest video cards have a memory clock rate between 1GHz to 6.3GHz
Other data can be stored using video memory, even screen image. For example Z-buffer which the
depth coordinates in 3D Graphics, textures and vertex buffers are managed by. Video Memory can
even be used for other shader programs.
The Memory Clock Frequency of DDR technology types.



RAMDAC
RAMDAC Stands for Randon Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter. Its drive is to convert
digital signals to analog for computer displays which uses analog inputs. For example CRT (Cathode
Raytube) uses analog inputs. RAMDAC contains an RAM Chip which regulates functioning of video
cards. RAMDAC data transfer rates converter supports different computer display refresh rates
depending upon number of bits used. Flicker of CRT displays can be caused if RAM is working under
60 Hz. Working over 75 Hz should minimize the flicker.
Latest LCD monitors do not use RAMDAC and flickers are very rare, instead they work by the digital
domain. When LCD TVs where first released, they featured analog inputs (VGA, SCART) which
required RAMDAC. The analog signal was reconverted to digital before display.



Video In Video Out (VIVO) for S-Video (TV-out),
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) for High-definition television (HDTV). Digital transmission, Red, Blue and
Green. channel. Conveys digital data, input from 0 - 255.
DB-15 for Video Graphics Array (VGA)
Video Graphics Array (VGA) (DE-15)
VGA is also known as D-sub, VGA was designed in the 1980s for CRT displays as an analog-based.
This component is also known as a VGA connector. However some problems have been
encountered: electrical noise, image distortion and sampling error in evaluating pixels. High
definition video including 1080p are still being used today by VGA analogy interface.
high resolution playback is supported by VGA transmission bandwidth, however depending on cable
quality and length, users may experience degradation in picture quality. Degradation in quality may
appear most frequently using a DVI or HDMI connection on large LCD/LED monitors or TVs. This may
be apparent using VGA analogy interface in Blu-ray playback at 1080p.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
flat-panel displays (LCDs, plasma screens, high-definition television and video projectors use digital-
based standard designs. DVI is also used by high end CRT monitors. The advantages of CRT monitors
using DVI are: no image distortion and electrical noise and corresponds each pixel from the
computer to the CRTs display pixel.
manufacturers include DVI-I connector which is a simple adapter to connect other flat panel
displays. Also RGB signal output is mounted to allow old CRT or LCD monitors to be connected using
VGA input.

Video In Video Out (VIVO) for S-Video, Composite video and Component video

VIVO has two 10-pin mini-DIN connector which may be used to connect the
following: televisions, DVD players, video recorders and video game consoles. VIVO splitter cable
generally comes with either 4 connectors which are: S-Video in and out, composite video in and out.
VIIVO also comes with 6 connectors which are: S-Video in and out, component P
B
out +, component
P
R
out +. Vivo also comes with component Y out and composite out + composite in
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
HDMI is used for transferring uncompressed video data. HDMI is also used to compress and
uncompressed digital audio data from the HDMI source device. The audio and video data is then
transferred to the following compatible devices: digital audio, computer monitor, video projector,
or digital television with a compact audio/video interface.
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HDMI was introduced as a digital replacement for existing analog video standards. For example
Composite video, which is an analog video transmission with no audio which carries standard
definition video typically at 480i or 576i resolution. HDMI also supports copy protection
through HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) which is is digital copy
protection and digital rights management developed by Intel Corporation


DisplayPort

DisplayPort was developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). Display Port is a
digital display interface, primarily used to connect a video source to a display device resembling
a computer monitor.
Display Port can also be used to transmit audio, USB, and other forms of data.
[29]
. VESA designed
this with intention to replace VGA, DVI, and LVDS (Low-voltage differential signalling). LVDS is a
technical standard which specifies electrical characteristics of a differential and serial
communication protocol.
adapter dongles enables users to use backward compatibility to VGA and DVI, however DisplayPort
has similar functionalities as HDMI.
Refresh rate: 80=90 hts apple macs
Projectors fairly slow refresh rate 40 hrtz
Livescan cameras
Video camera takes frame 25 frames per second
Livescan cameras scans vertically. They used in railways
Expensive web cam are Livescan cameras
Digital SLR capturing frame to expose surface of image.

VGA OUTPUT on board to motherboard
two DVI out ports for multiple screens
apple is limited to 8
matrix of numbers.
Each pixel have address for green ,red blue.
Maximum red pixel is
Multi threading
Graphics is only device that multiple thread
Greed, red , blue channel
Number ranges from 0 255
CUDA CUDA, (the Compute Unified Device Architecture), is a parallel computing platform and
programming model created by NVIDIA and implemented by the graphics processing units (GPUs)
that they produce
Openngl
Dot pitch
GRAPHICS cards have separate power supply
PCI express explading the data bus feeding the graphics card. Only accepts 75 watts.
2KW power supply to feed theatre machine
Explore realtionship between ram and graphics card.

Understand the key concets between digital to analog.

Graphics processing unit
Core marli graphics chip
Flat panel displays
What resolution image.
Difference between TV and monitor
Smart TV will have slightly low resolution then monitor
LCD - Liquid-crystal display
Light source array of those behind 3 mil thick of display.
Essentially discharge tubes
Different layers of nano
Internet koist
Explore display technology
What resolution are we dealing with?
HD cameras have stretched the image for larger viewport
Image scaling
Euler filter
W3C svg primer
Vector graphics coordinates based each pixel as dvir
Identifies the nodems.
3-D graphics next frame rendered may be smaller, next frame rendered. Coordinates are
changing. May be true frame or computer interpreter it.
Left eye is viewed as horizontal
Right eye is
DVD frame rate: 15 -25 frames per second
Webcam 2 or 3 frames per second.

References:
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760w-power-supply-cp-9020036-uk [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Ebuyer.com. 2014. Gigabyte GTX 750 Ti Dual DVI HDMI DisplayPort PCI-E.. | Ebuyer.com. [online]
Available at: http://www.ebuyer.com/623499-gigabyte-gtx-750-ti-dual-dvi-hdmi-pci-e-graphics-card-
gv-n75toc-2gi [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Ebuyer.com. 2014. Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev 2 Socket 775, 1150.. | Ebuyer.com. [online]
Available at: http://www.ebuyer.com/176157-arctic-cooling-freezer-7-pro-rev-2-socket-775-1156-
1155-1366-ac-frz-7pr2 [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
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http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-029985.htm [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Xbitlabs.com. 2014. AMD Sempron 3100+ Overclocking. Page 3 - X-bit labs. [online] Available at:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/sempron-3100-oc_3.html [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Wikipedia. 2014. Video card. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_card
[Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Wikipedia. 2014. Composite video. [online] Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_video [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Wikipedia. 2014. Low-voltage differential signaling. [online] Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-voltage_differential_signaling [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Wikipedia. 2014. Gpu-connector.jpg. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gpu-
connector.jpg [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Wikipedia. 2014. Overclocking. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overclock
[Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].
Wikipedia. 2014. High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. [online] Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection [Accessed: 11 Mar 2014].