graphics accelerator
A type of video adapter that contains its own processor to boost performance levels. These processors are specialized for computing graphical transformations, so they achieve better results than the general-purpose CPU used by the computer. In addition, they free up the computer's CPU to execute other commands while the graphics accelerator is handling graphics computations.
The popularity of graphical applications, and especially multimedia applications, has made graphics accelerators not only a common enhancement, but a necessity. Most computer manufacturers now bundle a graphics accelerator with their mid-range and high-end systems.
Aside from the graphics processor used, the other characteristics that differentiate graphics accelerators are:
Also see Understanding Video and Graphics Adapters in Webopedia's "Did You Know...?" section.
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