How to Choose and Install a Graphics Card

If you can't play Crysis, read this. You obviously have a bad graphics card and you need a new one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• One open PCI-E slot
• One PCI-E Graphics card
• Screwdriver
• $100 - $600

1. Before you buy, you should know what purposes are you going to use your graphics card for. The main reason people buy graphics cards is that their old card sucks and they want to play certain games (Crysis). Anyways, you need to choose a card based on your budget, power supply output, space in your computer case, and what you are going to use the card for. I'm assuming you're going to play Crysis, so you should pick a card that has at least 512 MB of VRAM. Once you've picked a card and made sure you've got enough space in your case for it, you need to check if your power supply is good enough. Open up your case and look at the side of your power supply. Somewhere on the side there will be a sticker telling you the combined output of that power supply in watts. A Crysis compatible card should need about 450 to 600 watts. If you have to install a new power supply, read another guide.

2. When you are done choosing the card, buy it and wait for it to arrive in the mail. Once it comes, carefully lift the card out of its box and set it on a flat surface. Using the screwdriver to open your case, set the side of the case away and proceed to take the graphics card out of its antistatic bag. Make sure you are wearing an antistatic wristband to avoid damaging the parts. If you do not have an antistatic wristband, handle the card using latex gloves.

3. Locate the PCI Express (2.0) slot on your motherboard, make sure the area around the slot is not full of cables. Making sure that the side of the card with the metal bar on it is facing towards the back of the case and proceed to insert the card in the slot. Do not apply large amounts of pressure on the card or you risk breaking it or your motherboard. Carefully nudge it inwards until it will not go any further. Find the latch at the end of the slot and push it down, this will ensure your card does not displace itself.

4. Plug your monitor into the DVI or VGA outputs on your card. Turn your computer on and you should see the image on the monitor in a low resolution. Log in to Windows and insert the disc that came with your card. Install all the necessary drivers and restart your computer. It's all good now.

Tips & Warnings

• If your computer is over five years old, it probably doesn't even have a PCI-E slot, in this case you'd have to buy an AGP or a PCI graphics card. Both of those technologies are hopelessly terrible and the cards are very expensive. Forget about it.
• Don't be a noob!

[wirelessjen]

on 1/13/2009 I have installed several things in computers over the years. I have never done step 2 though. I'm thinking I should really do that next time. Thanks!