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How to Install a Video Card on a Computer

By eHow Computers Editor

Rate: (34 Ratings)

A video card determines, in part, the number of colors and the resolution you can get from your monitor. These instructions will work for the majority of Pentium or newer PCs running Windows 95/98. If your computer currently has a video chip or your video card requires a change in jumpers or IRQs, installation will be much more complicated.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Video Cards

Step1

Shut down the computer.

Step2

Leave the computer plugged into the surge suppressor.

Step3

Disconnect all peripherals from the computer.

Step4

Remove the cover of the chassis.

Step5

Put on a grounding strap if you have one and follow its instructions. Otherwise, ground yourself by touching a metal part of the chassis.

Step6

Remove the computer's back panel if necessary.

Step7

Remove old video card. Put the new video card into that slot if it will fit physically. Skip to Step 11.

Step8

If upgrading from a PCI card to an ISA card, find an open PCI slot.

Step9

Knock out or unscrew the metal plate on slot holder on the computer's back panel.

Step10

Insert the video card gently but firmly into a slot. Don't touch any connectors on the card. Rock it into position if necessary, but don't force it.

Step11

Replace the back panel and any removed screws. Screw the video card into the slot holder if it has a screw hole.

Step12

Reconnect the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Reboot the computer.

Step13

If your monitor displays properly, the card is working.

Step14

Follow onscreen instructions to install driver and additional software. If Windows doesn't prompt you, manually complete the installation using the Add New Hardware control panel.

Step15

Adjust controls on your monitor and settings in the Display control panel.

Step16

Shut down the computer.

Step17

Replace the computer cover. Reboot the computer.

Tips & Warnings

If possible, do the installation in an uncarpeted area to avoid static.
If possible, use the slot with the most open space around it.
Be careful not to touch any chips. Touch as little as possible on the video card or inside your machine.
If your computer is under manufacturer's warranty, modifying the product usually ends that warranty.
If you do not understand these instructions or you lack good manual dexterity, have a qualified technician install the video card for you.

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Comments

grasshoppa said

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on 2/1/2008 Thank you so much for this article, and paul for adding that comment. Its so much better to learn how to figure out your own computer then it is to take it to someone else. This was extremely helpful. Just goes to show how technology is so awesome now a days that if you look in the right places in your own computer and in the internet you can teach yourself almost anything.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Are you upgrading from the basic video that is built into your computer's motherboard? If you are trying to boost your performance by installing an after-market video card, you may need to disable the built-in video by changing the settings in your computer's BIOS (Basic Input Output System).

When your computer boots, it probably displays a message that says something similar to: Press F2 to enter "setup". This is how you get into the BIOS for your computer.

You can page through the BIOS and see the different settings you can change. If you are unfamiliar with making BIOS changes, follow two rules:
1. Write down the original setting BEFORE you make any change. That way you can undo what you did if it causes a problem.
2. Only make ONE change at a time. It's too hard to troubleshoot a problem if you make several changes at once.

Look for something that talks about Onboard video or built in video. Highlight that item and change it to "disabled" or "off".

Save the changes to the BIOS before exiting. Then reboot your computer. The new video card should work now.

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