Are your games not running as well as your friends' computers? Do you see their screenshots and think "I wish my computer was able to do this"? Very often, to get this kind of results you have to start working on the video card. Upgrading your video card can be a daunting option, especially with all the new products on the market to choose from, but if you have a firm budget in mind and a steady screwdriver in your hand, you will be able to install your new video card in the blink of an eye. Start reading this guide from step one to see how.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choose a video card
Step 1. Open the case
Before you find your old card, identify your power supply and install a new one, you'll need to open the computer case. Most of the houses have thumb screws, to allow the user to quickly remove the side panels. However, if you own an old case, you will need the good old screwdriver.
- Before removing the panels, you MUST unplug your computer from the wall / power strip.
- Remove the panel on the opposite side of the motherboard. If you look on the back of the computer you will see a panel on one side that contains some ports, such as USB, Ethernet, Display, etc. This is the I / O panel of the motherboard, and thanks to it you will be able to understand which side the motherboard is screwed on. Lay the computer on this side and remove the opposite panel so that you can access the motherboard.
Step 2. Make sure your power supply is strong enough
Powerful video cards need an adequate power supply. Using an old power supply or a power supply that can't supply enough voltage to all the other components in your computer, your power supply won't make it. In this case, consider upgrading your power supply along with your video card.
- There are a variety of sites online that can help you calculate the voltage you need by analyzing all the components installed on your computer or those you plan to install. Search for "power supply calculator" on your favorite search engine.
- Your power supply will also need PCI-E connectors. This is generally not a problem if your power supply is of recent manufacture, but power supplies older than 10 years may not have the necessary connectors.
- The maximum wattage of the power supply should be printed on a plate affixed to the power supply itself. You may need to remove the power supply to find it.
Step 3. Make sure the video card is supported by the motherboard
Virtually all PCI-E video cards are now supported, so you just need to make sure you have at least one free slot in which to install it. Motherboard slots are typically the PCI-E slots that are located near the processor.
- Refer to the motherboard documentation for the diagram. Use this diagram to help you identify PCI-E slots.
- If you intend to install a new motherboard, you will need to reinstall the operating system as well.
- Note: Many laptops cannot upgrade the video card.
Step 4. Make sure the card fits
Many modern video cards are quite large, and many require two PCI slots. On top of that, these cards can be even longer and / or wider than normal, so you'll need to make sure there is enough physical space in the case, as well as enough slots.
Use a tape to measure both the vertical and horizontal length you have available. Almost all video card descriptions include the size of the card, so you can make sure of its size before purchasing it
Step 5. Reach a compromise between price and power
Video cards can be expensive - terribly expensive. Moreover, the average user will not be able to and will not need to appreciate the benefits of more expensive video cards. Examine the intended use of your video card and find a card that fits your budget.
- More expensive video cards are typically used to be overclocked and used in dual or quad-card configurations.
- Make sure you read as many reviews as possible before deciding to buy a motherboard. There are many online resources that can help you find the best board for your budget. Some sites like Tom's Hardware publish comparison cards among the most popular cards in all price ranges, and customer reviews on sites like Newegg can give you an idea of the average user's experience with a given type of card.
- Check the system requirements for your favorite games. Make sure which video card is recommended to get the best performance from your favorite video games. Take this into account for your future games as well.
Step 6. Find out which cards are recommended for your interests
Each video card is different, although most can be used as general purpose cards. Here is a list of the most popular video cards in 2014:
- Nvidia GTX 670 - This is a good card that most games run effortlessly on Ultra setting. This card is also highly recommended for graphic designers using programs such as Photoshop. Typically these are around € 300. The Radeon R9 290 is also a good choice for the same price (approx.).
- AMD Radeon HD 6670 - This low-end video card can handle most games with medium / high graphics settings. This video card is less than 60 €.
- Nvidia GTX 780 Ti - This is one of the best high-end video cards of the moment that can handle just about anything. Quality comes at a price of course - around € 600.
- If you are a graphic designer, look for cards with more memory, such as 3 or 4Gb. These will be more expensive but will improve rendering and encoding speeds.
Step 7. Pay attention to the display capabilities of the card
Display technology is improving, and so are all the options available for video cards - your new card may be capable of supporting HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, VGA, or any combination of these. Check your monitor connector and purchase a compatible card.
- To get the best possible quality, connect your monitor to your video card via HDMI or DisplayPort.
- If you want to use multiple monitors, make sure your video card supports multiple monitors and has high definition ports. We certainly don't want to connect one monitor to the HDMI port and the other to the VGA, since the monitor on the VGA will be low resolution and will look terrible near the HDMI monitor.
Part 2 of 3: Install the card
Step 1. Uninstall your old drivers
One of the most common causes of problems is driver incompatibility. Before installing your new video card, it is highly recommended that you uninstall your current graphics card drivers.
- The fastest way to uninstall drivers is to open Device Manager and uninstall from there. To open Device Manager, open the Start menu or press ⊞ Win + X and select it from the menu (Windows 8 only).
- Once in the Device Manager, expand the Display Adapters section. Right-click on your current display adapter and click Uninstall. Follow the onscreen instructions to remove the driver from your computer. Your display will most likely be automatically set to low resolution mode. After uninstalling the drivers, shut down your computer.
Step 2. Discharge static electricity
Whenever you have to work with computer components, you have to make sure you discharge static electricity. Electrostatic charge can damage or destroy computer components, rendering them unusable. Ideally, you should use an antistatic wrist strap attached to an exposed piece of metal on the case. If you don't have one, you can discharge static electricity by touching a metal water tap.
- When working inside the computer, make sure that your computer is not resting on the floor but on tiles or linoleum.
- Make sure the computer has been unplugged from the wall before opening it.
Step 3. Identify the old card
You can find your old graphics card plugged into the motherboard's PCI-E or AGP slot (AGP cards are mostly found on older computers). Most video cards are quite large in size, and will most likely be the largest card installed on your system. Most often they are attached to fans or heatsinks.
If your computer until now used an integrated graphics card (your monitor was connected directly to the motherboard), then there will be no need to remove any cards
Step 4. Remove the old card
If you are updating your video card, you will obviously need to remove the old video card before installing the new one. Unscrew the screws that connect the card to the chassis. Most modern video cards have a tab on one end of the PCI slot that needs to be released to remove the card.
- When removing the card, pull it straight up to avoid damaging the PCI slot.
- Make sure you disconnect any displays connected to the old video card before removing it.
Step 5. Clean up any traces of dust
When the old video card has been removed, it is a good idea to clean up some of the accumulated dust. Use a small vacuum cleaner or can of compressed air to remove dust from the crevices around the PCI slot. Dust, in fact, can accumulate and become the cause of components overheating - therefore, cleaning your computer will help prevent these problems.
Step 6. Insert the new video card
Gently remove the paper from the antistatic case, avoiding touching the contacts or circuit board. Insert it directly into the empty PCI-E slot and apply even pressure on the top until the card is completely seated in the slot. If the PCI-E slot has a tab, you will hear a click when the card has been inserted correctly.
- You may need to remove another component if your graphics card is very large.
- Before inserting the card all the way, make sure that cables or other components are not cluttered.
Step 7. Stop the card
Use the case screws to secure the card to the chassis. If the card occupies two slots, secure it with two screws, one for each bay. Make sure the card is properly inserted into the slot (s) before tightening the screws.
Step 8. Connect the power supply
Most modern cards have a built-in power supply port on top of the card, on the back. You will need to connect one or two PCI-E connectors coming from the power supply, which is usually a 6-pin cable. If you do not connect the power supply, the card will not work properly.
Many video cards are supplied with an adapter in order to adapt the power supply connectors to the video card port
Step 9. Close the case
After checking that the card has been inserted correctly, screwed and connected to the power supply, you can close the case. Make sure you connect your monitor to the new video card. If you used to use the motherboard's integrated graphics card, you will now need to plug the monitor into the new card socket if you want to start using it.
For best results, connect the display to the video card via HDMI or DisplayPort. If your card or monitor doesn't support HDMI or DisplayPort, the second best choice might be DVI, followed by VGA
Part 3 of 3: Install the drivers and test the card
Step 1. Turn on your computer
Your operating system at this point will most likely detect the new video card and try to adjust the display settings accordingly, setting the optimal resolution and color depth. Accept the changes and start using the computer.
- If the monitor does not show any image, you will need to double check your installation. Make sure the card has been installed and connected correctly.
- An irregular, jagged or distorted image could indicate a video card problem. Make sure your video card is installed correctly, though, before contacting the manufacturer or vendor.
Step 2. Insert the driver disc or download the drivers
If your video card comes with a driver disk, insert it to begin the installation process. If your video card does not come with a disc, or you want to make sure you have the most up-to-date drivers possible, you can download the drivers directly from the Nvidia or AMD website (depending on your video card manufacturer).
Step 3. Install the drivers
The driver installation process is largely automatic, although you may be asked if you want to install video card management software. Installing this software is optional, but it can help you make sure you always have the latest drivers. During the installation process, your display will most likely begin to flicker or reset.
The drivers contained on the disk are almost always obsolete at the time the card is purchased, so after the installation process you will be asked to update them
Step 4. Start a game
Let's be honest: the reason you bought a new video card is to play the latest video games. So what's the best way to test it than to start a game? Before you start playing, explore the game's graphics settings menu and set all values to maximum and test the game. If the game runs smoothly, everything is fine!
- When setting the resolution, you should always make sure that it matches the resolution of the monitor. For most flatscreen monitors, this is 1920x1080, although newer monitors may have a higher native resolution.
- If the game is jerky or otherwise malfunctions, start decreasing the video settings one by one. Don't worry too much if your video card can't handle Ultra settings, there are some games that don't work well with some graphics cards, even if the graphics card in question is top of the line!
- The game's performance is also affected by other parameters besides the video card. Your processor, RAM and even the speed of your hard drive play an important role in the performance of video games.
Advice
- As with any other job inside the computer case, move slowly and carefully. For maximum accuracy - such as when you have to remove the video card from the slot - keep your arms close to your body and configure the workspace so that your arms can move sideways to your body. This way you can use your chest and abdominal muscles, as well as your arms, to make fine adjustments.
- Be aware that replacing your computer's graphics card could void your warranty. For most computers, especially self-assembled ones, however, this is not the case. On other computers you use, however, such as those at school or work, you may not be allowed to replace any components.
