Video Card Drivers
Video drivers are programs dedicated to the graphics adapters of a desktop PC or laptop computer. This software provides a platform that allows the operating system and the installed application to communicate to the video device and display images on the monitor.
The codes found in a video driver are used to directly generate an image into the display devices - such as monitors, LCD projectors, and television screens. The quality of the video output varies according to the capability of the graphics adapter. Many people upgrade the video card in their PC or laptop in an effort to gain better speed and resolution when gaming or utilizing advanced graphics or video production software.
Types of Video Adapters
There are two types of video adapters. These include:
- video cards integrated directly into the motherboard as a built-in component. These video cards require specific drivers that are compatible with the chipset
- dedicated expansion cards are plugged directly into PCI slots in the motherboard. These cards require drivers from their respective manufacturers to operate.
Both types of video adaptors must be compatible with the operating system ( Windows XP, Vista or Windows® 7 and Linux) before they can be successfully integrated as part of the working components of the computer.
Problems Associated with Video Cards
Common problems associated with video cards include:
- corrupted screen display
- "ghosting" or "shadowing" when gaming or viewing high resolution video
- the resolution does not maximize the capability of the video adapter and the display device
- certain applications, especially games, fail to load properly due to the inability of the video device to provide a minimum specification requirement - which happens despite having more processing power than the minimum specifications as required by the gaming application.
These issues are generally attributed to incompatible video drivers installed in the operating system.
How to Download Video Drivers from the Internet
Downloading video drivers is one solution to the problems you may be facing with your PC or laptop. Downloading drivers offers the following advantages:
- you can choose and download drivers according to the type of video device installed in you system
- the updated video driver versions are provided freely by their respective manufacturers
- video driver download sites offer extensive technical information that can educate you on the type of drivers compatible with your video adapters
If your computer is running under a Microsoft Windows operating system, particularly XP or Vista, downloading video drivers online can solve many problems that stem from incompatibility between the operating system, the video driver, the video card and the monitor.
Given the number of drivers, devices and operating systems available today, you may find it helpful to download a driver updating application. These applications automatically search out the most current driver and install it correctly into your PC or laptop operating system. Not only will this save you time but also ensure the right driver is installed in the right location within the operating system.
Driver Manufacturers
- Acer Drivers
- APPLE Drivers
- Asus Drivers
- ATI Drivers
- Canon Drivers
- Compaq Drivers
- Dell Drivers
- eMachines Drivers
- Epson Drivers
- Gateway Drivers
- HP Drivers
- iMac Drivers
- Intel Drivers
- Lexmark Drivers
- Linksys Drivers
- Logitech Drivers
- Microsoft Drivers
- MSI Drivers
- nVIDIA Drivers
- Realtek Drivers
- Toshiba Drivers
- Audio Drivers
- BIOS Drivers
- CD Drivers
- Chipset Drivers
- Digital Camera Drivers
- Display Drivers
- DVD Drivers
- Flash Drive Drivers
- Graphics Card Drivers
- Jump Drive Drivers
- Keyboard Drivers
- Laptop Device Drivers
- Leopard O/S Drivers
- Modem Drivers
- Monitor Drivers
- Motherboard Drivers
- Mouse Drivers
- Network Card Drivers
- Operating System Drivers
- PC Device Drivers
- Printer Drivers
- Scanner Drivers
- Sound Card Drivers
- USB Drive Drivers
- USB (Port) Drivers
- Video Card Drivers
- Vista Drivers
- Webcam Drivers
- Windows Drivers
