Editing Graphics card (section)

== History ==
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Graphics cards, also known as video cards or graphics processing units (GPUs), have historically evolved alongside [[List of computer display standards|computer display standards]] to accommodate advancing technologies and user demands. In the realm of IBM PC compatibles, the early standards included [[Monochrome Display Adapter|Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA)]], [[Color Graphics Adapter|Color Graphics Adapter (CGA)]], [[Hercules Graphics Card]], [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA)]], and [[Video Graphics Array|Video Graphics Array (VGA)]]. Each of these standards represented a step forward in the ability of computers to display more colors, higher resolutions, and richer graphical interfaces, laying the foundation for the development of modern graphical capabilities.

In the late 1980s, advancements in personal computing led companies like [[Radius Inc.|Radius]] to develop specialized graphics cards for the [[Macintosh II|Apple Macintosh II]]. These cards were unique in that they incorporated discrete [[QuickDraw|2D QuickDraw]] capabilities, enhancing the graphical output of Macintosh computers by accelerating 2D graphics rendering. QuickDraw, a core part of the Macintosh graphical user interface, allowed for the rapid rendering of bitmapped graphics, fonts, and shapes, and the introduction of such hardware-based enhancements signaled an era of specialized graphics processing in consumer machines.

The evolution of graphics processing took a major leap forward in the mid-1990s with [[3dfx Interactive]]'s introduction of the [[Voodoo 5|Voodoo series]], one of the earliest consumer-facing GPUs that supported 3D acceleration. The Voodoo's architecture marked a major shift in graphical computing by offloading the demanding task of 3D rendering from the [[Central processing unit|CPU]] to the GPU, significantly improving gaming performance and graphical realism.

The development of fully integrated GPUs that could handle both 2D and 3D rendering came with the introduction of the [[RIVA 128|NVIDIA RIVA 128]]. Released in 1997, the RIVA 128 was one of the first consumer-facing GPUs to integrate both 3D and 2D processing units on a single chip. This innovation simplified the hardware requirements for end-users, as they no longer needed separate cards for 2D and 3D rendering, thus paving the way for the widespread adoption of more powerful and versatile GPUs in personal computers.

In contemporary times, the majority of graphics cards are built using chips sourced from two dominant manufacturers: [[AMD]] and [[Nvidia]]. These modern graphics cards are multifunctional and support various tasks beyond rendering 3D images for gaming. They also provide 2D graphics processing, [[Video acceleration|video decoding]], [[TV-out|TV output]], and [[Multi-monitor|multi-monitor setups]]. Additionally, many graphics cards now have integrated sound capabilities, allowing them to transmit audio alongside video output to connected TVs or monitors with built-in speakers, further enhancing the multimedia experience.

Within the graphics industry, these products are often referred to as graphics add-in boards (AIBs).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Graphics Add-in Board (AIB) Market Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2024-2032 |url=https://www.imarcgroup.com/graphics-add-board-market#:~:text=Graphics%20add-in%20board%20(AIB)%20refers%20to%20an%20electronic,central%20processing%20unit%20(CPU). |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=www.imarcgroup.com |language=en}}</ref> The term "AIB" emphasizes the modular nature of these components, as they are typically added to a computer's motherboard to enhance its graphical capabilities. The evolution from the early days of separate 2D and 3D cards to today's integrated and multifunctional GPUs reflects the ongoing technological advancements and the increasing demand for high-quality visual and [[Multimedia|multimedia experiences]] in computing.