video card

video card, integrated circuit that generates a video signal to be sent to a computer display. The card is usually located on the computer motherboard or operates as a separate circuit board, but it is sometimes built into the computer display unit. The card contains a graphics processing unit (GPU), which is a processor dedicated to creating images; a digital-to-analog converter; and memory chips that store display data.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Tara Ramanathan.