Atomic Systems

I am wanting to buy a new Graphics Card within the comming weeks but i have no idea how i can add it into my PC and get it working properly does anyone know how to?

Hi won't the shop fit it?

Regards

Ron P

ronald parkin wrote:Hi won't the shop fit it?

Regards

Ron P

Well considering i'm buying it online i don't think they can send someone to my address

It probably depends on what your system has already. If its using on board graphics you may have to disable that in the computers bios first ( you get to the bios by hitting a set key or combinations of keys as the PC boots but before windows loads. Your documentation should tell you.

If you have a graphics card already installed it should be just a question of removing the old, plugging in the new and loading the drivers - they usually come with a CD with everything you need on it. Then you may have to use device manager to properly remove the old one from Windows so it doesnt look for both.

Its not difficult, but if you dont know your way around the inside of a computer, its safer to seek professional help or at least from someone who knows how, who can help you.

Dazza,

Have a look at this link and decide whether you want to try.
It is not difficult if you take it steady and follow the instructions

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3118_7-5023982-1.html

I should also say that you have to have the right type of card for the card slot in your PC. It might be AGP or it might be PCI Express in which case the procedure is the same but the slot will not be as described for AGP in th e instruction

For alternative sources of information type "Install graphics card" into Google

It has been recommended elsewhere that you uninstall the old drivers as well.Can anyone else confirm that?I did it when I installed a new card some time ago.No problems.Physically,all you do is insert the card into an available (correct) slot on the MoBo and secure it to the machine case.Then the fun begins.Plug and Pray I believe.

timenec wrote:It has been recommended elsewhere that you uninstall the old drivers as well.Can anyone else confirm that?I did it when I installed a new card some time ago.No problems.Physically,all you do is insert the card into an available (correct) slot on the MoBo and secure it to the machine case.Then the fun begins.Plug and Pray I believe.

Yes I can confirm.
Certainly in Win 98/ XP you should uninstall the drivers.
Reboot in 16 colours.
Switch off at socket, leave power lead in (chassis acts as earth)
Remove card, add new card.
Reboot
Install new drivers.
Reboot.

Unless the cards individual instructions say something different.

Cheers
Jon

You left out "shut down" before killing the power.

For the original poster Fitting a graphics card is not hard, as long as you can handle those kids toys, the ball with the holes and shapes....you're sorted

As may have been mentioned or linked, you just need to make sure your machine has the right socket.

AGP is a bit old but if it's AGP 8x an Nvidia 6800 (Xtreme, GTX, that sort of model) will be the fastest you can get.

If it is PCIE then the world is your shellfish, BUT.....some cards, notably 8800's will NOT work on anything but PCIE16 slots, they just bail on PCIE8 ones.

The actual fitting, as has been said, is a piece of the proverbial.