to process data. This means that two memory access actions are realised per clock pulse, thereby achieving double the transmission rate.

With some memory modules, the configuration of the memory banks is dependent on the motherboard’s chip set. Information on this can be found in the motherboard documentation.

Detailed information about slots and the BIOS can be found in the documentation for the motherboard.

2.5 The graphics card

The graphics card is a hardware component of the computer, which allows information to be processed and displayed on a monitor.

As digital data is used inside the PC, while traditional tube monitors only work with analog signals, the fundamental task of the graphics card is to convert the digital information from the PC into analog signals for the monitor.

Recently, flat-screen monitors with DVI digital input (Digital Visual Interface) have come into use. These devices process the digital image signal directly in the monitor.

The essential components of a graphics card are the graphics processor, the memory, the RAMDAC (Random Access Memory Digital Analog Converter), the internal bus and the interfaces to the motherboard, monitor and possibly a TV.

The graphics card is inserted in a specially designed AGP

(Accelerated Graphics Port) or PCI Express X16 slot on the motherboard. The graphics card may also be integrated on the motherboard ("graphic on board").

For low-fatigue work on the PC, it is important from an ergonomic point of view that the refresh rate is set correctly. Even at high resolutions, this should not be below 85 Hz.

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