Know whether you're purchasing a PCI or AGP card . The AGP slot has become one of the preferred slot bays for video cards, though experts say most systems fail to unlock the AGP slot's full potential when it comes to speed. If you've purchased a computer within the past year this shouldn't be a major concern. Understand resolution versus speed . The higher the resolution your video card can support, the better - but as you increase resolution, the frame rate deteriorates.
Drivers can make a world of difference .
For many users, just popping in a card and crossing your fingers isn't enough to get up and running. Drivers ensure that your operating system and programs are communicating properly with the video card. They can offer the ability to turn hardware options off and on, adjust color levels and tweak your card's speed. It's important to know that your card has good software support. Choose your RAM carefully .