| The graphics card plays an essential role in the PC. It takes the digital information that the computer produces and turns it into something human beings can see. On most computers, the graphics card converts digital information to analog information for display on the monitor; on laptops, the data remains digital because laptop displays are digital. |
| PC Video Graphics standards | |||||
| Standard | Signals | Resolution (H x V) | Refresh rate | Connector | Horizonal frequency |
| MDA | TTL | 720 x 350 | 50 Hz | 9 pin | 18,43 kHz |
| HGC | TTL | 720 x 348 | 50 Hz | 9 pin | 18,43 kHz |
| CGA | RGBI/TTL | 640 x 200 | 60 Hz | 9 pin | 15,75 kHz |
| EGA | RGB/TTL | 640 x 350 | 60 Hz | 9 pin | 21,85 kHz |
| EGA+ | RGB/TTL | 640 x 480 | 60 HZ | 9 pin | 30,5 kHz |
| VGA | RGB-Analog | 640 x 480 | 60/70 Hz | 9/15 pin | 31,47 kHz |
| 8514/A | RGBAnalog | 1024 x 768 | 87 Hz int | 15 pin | 35,50 kHz |
| XGA | RGB-Analog | 1024 x 768 | 72 Hz | 15 pin | 37,5 kHz |
| SVGA-1 | RGBAnalog | 800 x 600 | 56 Hz | 15 pin | 35,2 kHz |
| SVGA-2 | RGB-Analog | 800 x 600 | 60 Hz | 15 pin | 37,8 kHz |
| SVGA-3 | RGBAnalog | 800 x 600 | 72 Hz | 15 pin | 48,3 kHz |
| UVGA-1 | RGB-Analog | 1024 x 768 | 60 Hz | 15 pin | 48,4 kHz |
| UVGA-2 | RGBAnalog | 1024 x 768 | 70 Hz | 15 pin | 56, 5 kHz |
| UVGA-3 | RGB-Analog | 1280 x 960 | 60 Hz | 15 pin | 64,0 kHz |
| TIGA | RGBAnalog | 1280 x 1024 | 60 Hz | 15 pin | 64 kHz |