How To Install A Video Or Graphics Card In A PC

Installing a video card (aka a graphics card) in a computer is a simple process and can be performed by almost anyone with a little patience and a little desire to do the job themselves.

After deciding to install a video card in a computer, one of the first things you need to do is make sure the computer's motherboard will support the video card interface. You can do this by reading the specifications of the motherboard and determining the type of add-on interface slots it has.

The four most popular interface slots in computers today are:

1. The regular PCI Slot (one of the oldest and almost obsolete)
2. The AGP Slot (older interface but still in circulation)
3. The PCI-e Slot (newer interface and better than the two above)
4. The PCI-e 2.0 Slot (newest and faster than the other three)

It is imperative that the motherboard supports the card type as it is impossible to install an AGP video card in a PCI-e slot and vice-versa.

Also, you need to check the power specifications of the video card and the power supply you have, as many newer video cards require an additional power connection.

Some may not require any additional power connections,while others may require a regular 4-pin molex connector or a 1 or possibly 2, 6-pin PCI power connectors.

After making sure that your video card is supported by your motherboard and power supply, installation of your video card is fairly easy.

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Important note:

Before removing your computer's access panel and putting your hands inside your computer case, make sure the power source is unplugged and that you have discharged any static electricity from your body by either touching both of your hands to the metal frame of your computer case or by wearing an anti-static wrist band found in many local computer stores.

After removing the access panel from the side of your computer and laying the computer down on it's side with the opened acces panel facing up, locate the interface slot that the video card will be occupying then check to see which knock-out you need to remove from the back of the case by holding the video card above the selected slot on the motherboard (do not try to insert the video card yet.)

Once the correct knock-out is indentified, carefully remove the knock-out by using a flat head screwdriver and a pair of pliers. The knock-out is usually held in by two small tabs (one at the top of the knock-out and one at the bottom), using the flat head screwdriver, carefully turn the knock out until you can grab one side of it with the pliers, using the pliers, then turn the knock-out back and forth until it breaks off at the tabs.

Now that the case is ready to install your video card and the knock-out is removed, you can easily insert the video card into the appropriate slot, but make sure that the small tab on the video card frame goes between the motherboard and the case frame as pictured, then press the video card firmly down into the slot making sure it is seated all the way down.

Most all video cards have 1 screw that secures the video card frame to the case frame to help hold the video card in place. Secure the the video card frame to the case frame using 1 screw as pictured below.

After securing the card frame to the case frame, double check that the card is still seated properly and then connect any required power connectors to the video card from the power supply.

Once the card is secured in the case and seated properly in the slot, and you have connected the power connectors to the card, you can secure the access panel back on the side of the computer and stand it up.

Once the video card is installed and the case panel(s) is put back on, you can start reconnecting all of your connections on the back of your computer.

Note:

If you have been using onboard video ( video intergrated into the motherboard ), you may have to disable the onboard video in the bios ( basic input output system ) of your motherboard (see your motherboard's documentaion on how to do this.)

Once everything is connected, power on your computer and login to your desktop if necessary.

Most likely you will need to insert the disc that came with your graphics card and install the drivers for it, your operating system may not have the necessary drivers for your card.

Note:

It is best, even if you have installed drivers from the disc that came with your video card to navigate to the web page of your video card manufacturer and update the drivers from there as the drivers on the disc ( even if brand new ) may be outdated by the time you install them.

In many instances, if you know the chipset of your video card (usually ATI or Nvidia), then it is best to update your drivers from their website.

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I hope this Hub has helped you in learning how to install video card and I would also like to ask you to take time to scroll to the bottom of this page and rate and/or share this hub.

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