Do you need a graphics card to play Counter Strike Source?

Answer 1

Yes, a graphics card is essential for any computer. Without a graphics card the monitor would not be usable, as it is the graphics card that turns data fed to it into data which can be displayed as pixels on a screen. Even if you think you do not have a graphics card, you are probably wrong, as computers are manufactured with graphics cards mounted on their motherboards.

Answer 2

Every PC type computer needs an output screen (unless you want to print your game on 5,000,000,000 pages of paper) - originally the computers had such simple screens (text only) that the main CPU could handle all the instructions and drives and video. As graphics became more complex (color, 256 to 1024 shading) memory was needed to hold the video info. Because you could add new cards to a computer to change it's abilities, it became customary to set all the video functions to the add-on card (even if that "add-on" was from the factory.)

Some PCs have the chips and memory for the video on the mainboard, but have slots to allow new technology to be added and the on-board chips to be overridden. Since games use lots of colors, lots of color depths (8bit, 15 bit, 16 bit, 32bit, 64bit) and have a lot of movement, very realistic (movement and perception) games require both lots of video memory and very quick graphic processors. In fact there are now some video boards that are faster (and have more memory) than the main computer processor has, gamers have become so used to excellent graphics.

Every computer used for games needs some chips to control video output, a video card is one of two formats there are for the hardware to generate the output signal: on card, on main board. Main board video is generally not upgradeable (95%+ of the time) so anyone "keeping up with the Jones" will want a format that can be upgraded, easy to install and the fastest they can afford.

Answer 3

Depends on the games you play, if you want to play something like Assassins Creed brotherhood or Need for Speed shift 2 you will definitely need a powerful graphics card, but have no fear a graphics cards for 200$ can run these games nicely but you have to make sure you have enough juice in you power supply to feed the card.

If you want to play something like GTA:Vice city or CS 1.6 you will not need a graphics card, unless your system is very old. and if it is, i would recommend you buy a new one.

Answer 4

Yes. You need a graphics card to provide any graphics for your computer.

Answer 5

Your card must support open gl 1.4, minimum. Open gl 2.0 and 128M of dedicated vid is recommended.

Answer 6

Your computer should already have a graphics card. You can upgrade the graphics card you have if you would like a better quality picture.

Answer 7

you need a DirectX® 9 level Graphics Card