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Last Updated on October 3, 2022 by Editor Futurescope
Did you know that about 74% of all gaming PCs have graphic cards? So for your graphic card to serve you effectively, you need to check if the motherboard can support it. However, you may ask yourself if an old motherboard can support a new graphics card.
The answer to that question is yes. It is not completely certain since you can’t expect a motherboard produced in the past to support a new graphics card. So to avoid any inconvenience conduct a background check on your motherboard to see if it can support the GPU.
The article looks into how to check the compatibility of motherboard and graphics card and whether any motherboard can support any GPU. Keep reading to learn more about the graphic card and motherboard.
What is a Graphic Card (GPU)?
A graphic card is a specialized circuit that provides top-quality service output for image display on monitors or televisions. Many GPUs link to PCs, desktops, gaming consoles, and other devices. The graphic card handles hard 3D graphics performing gaming and video encoding tasks.
GPUs are an important part of any gaming console, and due to technological advancement, graphic cards have developed.
Types of Graphic Cards
Graphic cards are necessary for gamers as they allow the display of images on the PC screen. However, graphic cards come in different types with different features and abilities. Here is a list of the graphic cards and how they perform:
- Video Card: This is the simplest type of graphic card and is thus responsible for image display on your screen. It includes two or more cores that can handle difficult calculations quickly. That’s why it’s common in gaming laptops.
- Integrated graphics: They are found in cheaper laptops and Ultrabooks and aren’t powerful as video cards. They perform one task well: quick image rendering. They don’t come with Dedicated Graphics Cores ( DGCs).
- PCI graphics cards: PCI cards are majorly in computers that don’t consume much power, such as handhelds, media players, and netbooks. They are less powerful than a video card but cheaper and don’t consume much power.
- AGP graphics cards: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) provides top-notch performance on computer graphics using PCIe interfaces. Their previous users were graphics experts, but PCIe cards have knocked them off. However, AGP still has fans because of more bandwidth and less latency than PCI express.
- PCI Express: Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E) is the newest PCI version. Its advantage is that it allows running more than one graphics card on your computer. The PCI-E provides high-speed data communication between devices on a computer. The manufacturers made it to improve system performance by accepting multiple connections of devices to be connected using a single cable.
What is Required to Support a New Graphics Card?
Compatibility is necessary to choose a motherboard for a graphics card. Old motherboards and new graphics cards don’t completely sync well. Therefore, there are key components that you need to look into for effective performance:
- PCI-e lanes: Newer boards have more PCI-e lanes than old motherboards. Ensure you pick a graphic card that can use all lanes on the motherboard.
- Memory type and speed: New memory types like the DDR4 can’t have support from some old motherboards. The graphic card you select needs to support this kind of memory. Additionally, check memory speeds linked to your board, as some cards require faster speeds.
- CPU compatibility: Old motherboards have old gen CPUs. Pairing a new GPU with an old CPU isn’t a good idea and may cause bottleneck issues. To avoid bottleneck issues, calculate bottleneck score with various GPUs and processors to get an idea.
- Power supply: Newer GPUs have higher processing and performing capability, which demands more power. Hence, a low-wattage power supply may be ineffective in such a case. The best thing is to get one with more wattage.
How to Know Compatibility of a Graphics Card
Installation of a new graphics card is simple, but the compatibility check may create issues for you. You need a decent graphics card if you want great performance and to play the latest games at high quality and resolutions.
This process is necessary to avoid disappointment; without it, you’ll have a powerful graphics card that isn’t compatible with your board.
Background to PCs Graphics
Integrated graphics is the most commonly used on PCs. The integrated graphics is either a chip on the motherboard or built into the CPU. Others have a ‘dedicated’ graphics card plugged into an expansion slot on the motherboard.
It’s easy to tell which type your PC is using by the port’s location. It is integrated graphics if its location is among other ports such as USB. It is probably a dedicated graphics card when it is separate from other ports.
PCI-e and a corresponding slot are necessary for any type with a removable backplate where connections will sit.
Features to Consider for Compatibility of Graphic card with a Motherboard
The following are some of the features you’ll need to consider when checking the graphics card’s compatibility.
PCI Express Slot
On most PCs, there will be fewer expansion slots on the motherboard. They will all be PCI Express; however, you require a PCI Express x16 slot for a graphics card.
There are three known versions of this slot that are backward compatible. Therefore, a modern PCI-E 3.0 graphics card will work in a PCI-Express x16 2.0 slot.
Length and Height
Powerful graphic cards may have large fans to keep them cool, making them twice as thick as a ‘single-height’ card. The fan assembly will be under the card and not on top, depending on how many PCs are made. You’ll need an unused slot and backplate. These two be directly under the PCI-e x16 slot.
You need to calculate the distance from the backplate to any component which may block a long graphics card at the front of the case. It’s necessary to recall that some cards have power sockets on their back edge rather than the side. Therefore, you’ll need to add approximately 30-40 mm to the length of your card to guarantee its fitting.
Power Requirements
Despite having a PCI-Express x16 slot and more room, extra power is required for most graphics cards. The power supply will likely have PCI-E power connectors, but you may find them tied out if no GPU is fitted.
Connectors are usually black, marked as PCI-E, and contain six pins in a 3×2 system. If the Power Supply Unit (PSU) lacks this, you may choose to purchase adapters connecting to the standard four-pin power connectors. There are graphic cards that need two PCI-E power connectors as each needs to be connected to a separate 12v power supply rail.
On most PSUs, this implies connecting each adaptor to a different ‘daisy chain’ of power but not the same chain. Ensure your power supply has adequate headroom above existing components drawing power to power your graphics card.
Can Any Motherboard Support Any GPU?
Is it possible that you are 25 and wear a shirt that you wore when you were nine? It’s practically impossible; the same applies to motherboards and GPUs. Not all motherboards support GPUs.
The proportions of the graphics card will determine if it fits. However, you may fail to know whether your board will support the graphics card. Simply open your case and check for the printed model on the motherboard.
If that doesn’t work, use a measuring tape and determine the dimensions of the case, but this isn’t foolproof. Additionally, if you know the model and the motherboard, you can conduct a Google search to find out about it.
Ensure to take approximate measures of the closed case. Don’t leave the case open; it can collect dust and cause overheating. You must know how to attach the graphics card and close the case safely.
The graphic card consumes a lot of power and produces excess heat. Ensure this doesn’t affect other components inside the motherboard by not forcing the GPU into the motherboard.
Therefore, not all motherboards can support any GPU. For instance, Legacy motherboards can’t support new GPUs. Additionally, installing the wrong GPU inside the board may damage the PC beyond repair.
Can a Motherboard Break a GPU?
During transportation, the chances of this breakage happening are possible. It’s rare but not impossible. Consequently, GPUs can burn motherboards.
Graphic cards with a backplate are heavy for motherboards. Newer motherboards contain firm PCI slots to reduce the load on the motherboard. GPUs have a ‘hook’ for attaching to the motherboard.
During GPU installation, ensure it fits, and don’t force it. If it doesn’t slide in easily, it’s the correct graphics card for that particular motherboard.
Most PCs’ shipping is with the graphic card unattached. Similarly, during transportation of your PC, remove the GPU, water-powered cooling systems, hard drives, and liquid coolers.
If your water cooling system is fixed, drain the water and allow it to dry. Use anti-vibration mounts to secure magnetic hard drives. All loose components need fastening.
In the least number of cases, the motherboard destroys the GPU, but the opposite is more common. The graphic card consumes a lot of power, and if you let it run for a long time, it may cause power drainage out of the motherboard.
The motherboard can’t sustain high-level power consumption and may break. The power generation comes from the power supply, but this won’t be of any substantial help if the motherboard can’t support the GPU. That’s why matching the GPU to a powerful motherboard is essential.
Conclusion
When installing a GPU to your motherboard, ensure you are factual and not trying to force things. You need to understand that not all motherboards support any GPU, as in the case of Legacy motherboards.
A wrong GPU may cause much damage, and you will incur much more expenses. So just choose both of them to be compatible.
