Basic questions about graphics cards!

[MEK]

I have a bunch of questions about graphic cards. If anyone can help me out, I'd be so happy! I'm trying to write an up to date buyers guide, but I don't know much about graphics cards. In fact, if anyone knows of an up to date graphics card guide, that'd be great too!

Is it currently accurate that there are basically 3 types of graphics cards: convetional cards where the CPU basically does all the work; graphic accelerators where the CPU does the geometry and the graphics card does the rendering; and co-processor cards, where the graphics card basically does all the work..?

Is it true that the "geometry" calculations are now called "transform and lighting"--or is that just by Nvidia?

Is it still true that there are dedicated 3D cards, and that in order to get 2D you have to get another, seperate card? And is it correct that you have to plug your 3D card into the 2D card via the "feature's connector"?

Do AGP cards not have a frame buffer at all?

Egads! Help!
Thank you!
MEK

[Charliey]

For an up todate guide you should try looking at http://www.tomshardware.com

[Toaster]

Any video card with "local" memory "can" be a "frame buffer" type vid-card.
So...most vid-cards that install using "generic" VGA compatability (640x480x16 colors) IS a frame buffer.
Exceptions to this are dedicated cards that have only a "native" mode. These are primarily found on dedicated "cad/cam" systems where ONLY a given type of display card/monitor are supported.
So you have:
1. Simple frame buffer type cards. (almost all cards where they have a default "VGA" compatability mode).
2. Accelerator cards where as you describe, the host CPU does the computational work and the display card simply "draws" the image.
2.a Dedicated accelerator cards or cards with a "GPU" (graphics processor unit) which still have frame buffer capabilites but complex graphics are computed locally with assist from the host CPU for particular tasks.
3. Stand alone "GPU" "engine" type vid-cards. This card is rather rare for the PC world for now but is soon to change.
All processing is done locally, all memory is local and the host CPU does the "frame buffer work" and I/O.
These cards are common on SGS systems, SUN/SPARC and other "specific" systems.
A typical Nvidia GeForce card falls somewhere in the (2a) area. However, to make faster vid-cards, companies are moving to the type "3" card.
I wasn`t real specific and there are differences between card types. This is only the basics.
As far as research materials, online book stores often have these types of books. Also, I suggest you also look into the "VESA" project.