PRIMER 22.1

A Brief Description of How Modern Graphics Hardware Works

A Brief Description of How Modern Graphics Hardware Works

All modern workstations and PCs separate the main processor, the graphics card and the display. At its simplest:

The Main Processor

(CPU, etc)

Sends graphics requests to

The Graphics Card

Which has its own memory and, in the case of better cards, considerable "intelligence" for 3D graphics (lighting, shading, hidden surface removal, etc)

Sends video output to

The Display

Cathode ray tube, LCD, plasma, projector, etc