VGA - Video Graphics Accelerator/Array. VGA is the standard that started it all for present-day color monitors, next was SVGA, and later the accelerators we have today.
VGA Output - The output cable or signal capable of sending VGA video to an analog monitor.
Vertex Shaders - Programmable subroutines to perform specific actions with a vertex are known as "vertex shaders". This term received a lot of attention with the GeForce3 launch, due to its onboard programmable vertex shaders using the T&L capabilities of the card. Programmable vertex shaders on video hardware result in unique effects with minimal CPU usage.
Vertex Skinning - Available in two common configurations, "2-matrix skinning" and "4-matrix skinning", the goal of vertex skinning is to create realistic, rounded joints in not-so-realistic, rectangle objects, such as in an arm or leg of a 3D man in a first person shooter. It works by stretching the textures at the joined edges. Also called "Vertex Blending".
Volumetric Lighting - The capability of light to give the effect of passing through an actual three dimensional medium such as fog, dust, smoke, steam, and other gasses.
Volumetric Fogging - The use of 'virtual' fog that has depth and volume to hide not yet rendered textures and/or objects in the distance. Turok 2 is notorious for this, however most gamers prefer fog over pop-up objects.
Voodoo Graphics - Argued as the father of the 3D accelerator, 3dfx's Voodoo Graphics chip was revolutionary. Extremely fast for its time, with stunning visual quality, the Voodoo Graphics chip changed the way gamers look at PC games forever. It was followed by the Voodoo2, another add-in graphics card that offered SLI support and resolutions up to 1024x768, and later by the Voodoo3, 4 and 5. However, due to poor market response, delayed reponse to competition, and powerful products from ATI and NVIDIA, the once massive Voodoo Graphics empire was slowly diminished and eventually 3dfx was acquired by NVIDIA Corporation.
VRAM - Video Random Access Memory. This is memory used by many 3D devices. Its significance lies in the fact that two separate devices can access its memory at the same time, which is useful in 3D rendering.
Vsync - Stands for Visual or Vertical Synchronization. The Video Card's ability to synchronize buffer swaps with the monitor's refresh rate, obviating known visual artifacts and anomolies. Some manufacturers allow the disabling of this feature, which will usually increase framerate, while degrading image quality.
