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One important component on a computer is the graphics card. Depending on what you use your computer for, a graphics card can mean the difference between a dream and a nightmare. Hopefully what I have listed here will help you decide on what types and brands to look for, if you go for something new.

Whether To Upgrade Or Not
If you already have a working graphics card that fits your need, do you really need a new video card? Some older computers are not equipped with extra PCI/AGP slots! If this is the case, you'll need to buy a new motherboard or take out an existing PCI card (modems, sound card, video card). With most store bought computers the graphics card is embedded on the motherboard, and all the PCI slots are taken. This is a major problem if you wish to upgrade at a later time. Because there are no open slots you'll need to take more drastic measures. Supposing you build your own computer or buy one with extra slots, then you shouldn't worry about having a free slot.

Depending on your current video card, supposing you have one, you may not need to upgrade. The user of the computer has the deciding factor on what to get. Price, chipsets and personal usage are key.

It All Depends On Your Usage
Heavy Gamers: Those who play games will need to have a decent graphics card. Getting a 3D card here is a must, otherwise you're game may not function at all. The game "Prince Of Persia 3D" requires a 3D card, and without it you can't play that game. Nowadays PC games are taking advantage of the 3D aspects, and without 3D capabilities you will miss some groundbreaking graphics. You'll notice graphics cards have a scale to them (4mb, 8mb, 16mb, 32mb, 64mb). I'd recommend a high end graphics card for this category because you'll be demanding alot from it. It's essential that you have extra slots here. Not considering chipsets here, but gamers should look at 32mb or 64mb graphics cards. Ones you might think of are: GForce 3, GForce 2, Voodoo 5 5000

Light Gamers: Typical gamers may not need the high end graphics cards, but good speeds would be nice. This category appeals to those that play Hoyle Cards, You Don't Know Jack, or simple graphical games. A normal everyday graphics card would consist of 16mb or 32mb, and cost less than $130. Because of the dropping computer prices, this is the best time to buy high end cards to last longer. Users here may want to look into the Diamond series cards because they are cheap, but still pack a long lasting punch.

Email & Internet: Users here are just using the computer for light internet activity, email, or word processing. If this is you, don't bother getting a new video card. Like all the great ones say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it). Your standard 4mb on board graphics card is plenty!

Added Features
Depending on what you use a computer for, it will affect what you buy. The biggest feature in graphics cards today is the Video In/Out functions. If you plan on watching dvds on television, watching television on your computer, or doing video editing from a camcorder, you'll need a very good graphics card with these features. In most cases this will involve fans on the card, so be prepared for more noise.

PCI/AGP Sockets
There are two slot type of graphics cards PCI/AGP. Each is basically equal in power, PCI being the same as AGP. The reasoning for creating an AGP slot was that the PCI slots were being filled up with other junk. So whether you buy PCI or AGP you won't notice any difference. It's been said that AGP is better because it doesn't cause IRQ conflicts and works apart from other PCI components. AGP also has different speeds (1x, 2x, 4x...) so you'll want to check your motherboards specs to see what type of AGP card you can handle. With a PCI slot there is nothing to compare, any PCI card will work on any PCI slot. So with that, get an AGP slot type graphics card if possible.

Video Support
DVD Acceleration Features - Some do some don't, but read the descriptions to make sure
OpenGL Support - This feature is used with some high end 3D modeling software & games.
Direct3D Support - This feature is used with some high end 3D modeling software & games.

Price vs Quality
The price of a graphics card can make or break a decision. A decent graphics card today goes for under $150. Now unless you are looking for the top of the line high end cards, you can expect to spend $150 for something to last you a few years. There are always the lousy low end cards for under $80, but these are more for light gamers and internet users. Since I've only had two video cards in my time, it's hard to say what you should buy and for how much. Heck, over a year ago my DSIII 32mb was a steal for $100. This gave me a semi high end card for a small cost.

Support & Drivers
It's always best to check out a manufactures website before purchasing anything from them. Graphics cards are always being updated, and you'll want a well lain out website to help you download new drivers. The 3DFX Voodoo cards went out of business and so did their website. This meant finding driver updates would be harder, and newer updates not be published. A decent support system is also nice to have your graphics card has problems.

Read Reviews
Once you've found a few cards that you like, it's always best to look at product reviews and see how well they work for others. Just going on your basic instincts, or trusting some John Doe is not enough. Some card's major defects not stated on the box in a store. This is why I suggest doing research on a product before you make a purchase. Ask around at school, work, or friends/family to get their opinions of any given card and what's best for you. Epinions.com is a great place to get user reviews of a certain graphics card, thus the reason to read reviews!

Go With What You Know Best
With brand names it's common for people to keep to one brand. If you've previously used a Voodoo, then it suggested to keep with that brand. Unless you've had some bad experiences with a brand, then keep to one brand. You'll find that a new version of the same brand will work best, especially for beginners. This way you'll be familiar with how the card works and functions.

If you have friends that are always getting new computer parts, talk with them first. This way you can check out their graphics card and see it in action. What better way to check out a graphics card! Buying a graphics card online from a simple picture and a short description is not recommend unless you are absolutely sure you know what you're getting. Many times I've seen people buy a card that didn't work in their system. Check the manufactures website, and look at it in person at a local store. I'm not big on buying things online, but that's just me I guess.

Conclusion
So, make sure your current computer can handle the video card you want! If you're looking for a good type, go with GForce, Voodoo, or Radeon. These will provide users with high end graphics cards. Average users will want something from Diamond or ATI. In the end it's all up to what you plan on using the computer for. Don't just spend $300 on a GForce and only use it to play solitaire, that'd be a waste. Plan for the future, and pick wisely because bigger and better cards will be on the way soon.