Installing a video card

**Saladin45** · January 23, 2007, 02:41 PM

Hello

I have bought a new video card. And I was wondering. How do I take out the old video card and install the new one? I need a step by step help on this.

**Aedile Rich** · January 23, 2007, 06:14 PM

What are the cards in question?

Basic guide -

Uninstall your current drivers and shut down the computer.
Leave the PSU lead plugged in but switch off the PSU.
Depress the power switch once to discharge the capacitors.
Disconnect the monitor lead and remove the side-panel.

Disconnect the molex power lead to the card if it has one and unscrew the PCI backplane plate.
Ground yourself by touching the side of the case at this point, to dissipate any electrostatic charge (this is why you left the PSU lead plugged in)
Check to see if there is a locking tab at the opposite end of the (AGP?) slot and release, if so.
Rock the card, end to end whilst pulling out lightly until it it released from the slot.

Insert your new card in a reversal of this procedure, being sure to push down firmly, so that it is properly seated in the slot.
You may hear a bit of a crunch at this point which seems worrying but don't worry, that's normal.
(Re)connect the molex PSU lead if necessary.
Screw down the PCI backplane to secure the card properly.

Reconnect the monitor lead and boot the PC
Don't worry about replacing the sidepanel at this point, wait until you're sure everything is done properly.
Once into windows, you'll be running under basic MS drivers and at a lower resolution and colour depth. Don't worry, this is normal.
Run an appropriate driver cleaner program, such as nVcleaner for an nVidia card or the equivalent Catalyst Uninstaller for ATi, especially if you're switching between brands.
Reboot.
Install the appropriate drivers for your card.
Reboot as necessary.
Set your preferred resolution and colour bit depth

Start up your chosen Total War game.
Enjoy.

If all is well, replace your sidepanel and tidy up the mess you just made...

**OTZ** · January 24, 2007, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Aedile Rich

You may hear a bit of a crunch at this point which seems worrying but don't worry, that's normal.

Probably the best advice in your reply. This noise was quite disconcerting when I installed my first video card...

Great instructions btw, should be quite useful.

**Aedile Rich** · January 24, 2007, 02:43 PM

You're welcome Saladin. Glad to help.

Cheers for the props OTZ. I used to do it for a living, now it's just for fun.
I've done so many now, I can do the hardware part with my eyes closed.

A couple of extra tips for anyone else referring to this -

It often helps to loosen the PCI slot cover below the one you're working on to avoid issues with the screw fouling the card.
If you find the new card doesn't quite line up with the slot in the case; loosen all the motherboard screws a quarter turn, together with the other card retention screws.
This should allow you to locate it properly but in extreme cases, I've had to loosen the actual plate on the card too. Don't forget to tighten them all again afterwards...
In some extreme/obscure cases, you may find it necessary to fit the card with the motherboard outside of the case completely.
This is actually good practice anyway but in the case of my ClearPC, it was the only way you could do it.

Hope it helps.

**Robot Porter** · January 26, 2007, 06:09 PM

I don't know if you wrote this, but this is a very good basic guide. Much better than the instructions that come with most cards.

In the instructions that came with my latest card it said "DON'T INSTALL IT IN THE BLACK SLOT" ... of course the PCI-E slot in my computer is black. In fact, the instructions were clearly written before PCI-E slots existed. They aren't even referred to anywhere in the booklet.

But, thankfully, they included these same bad instructions in Chinese.

Most of the mistakes I've ever made when installing new hardware in a PC comes from READING the manufacturer's instructions.

Originally Posted by Aedile Rich

What are the cards in question?

Basic guide -

Uninstall your current drivers and shut down the computer.
Leave the PSU lead plugged in but switch off the PSU.
Depress the power switch once to discharge the capacitors.
Disconnect the monitor lead and remove the side-panel.

Disconnect the molex power lead to the card if it has one and unscrew the PCI backplane plate.
Ground yourself by touching the side of the case at this point, to dissipate any electrostatic charge (this is why you left the PSU lead plugged in)
Check to see if there is a locking tab at the opposite end of the (AGP?) slot and release, if so.
Rock the card, end to end whilst pulling out lightly until it it released from the slot.

Insert your new card in a reversal of this procedure, being sure to push down firmly, so that it is properly seated in the slot.
You may hear a bit of a crunch at this point which seems worrying but don't worry, that's normal.
(Re)connect the molex PSU lead if necessary.
Screw down the PCI backplane to secure the card properly.

Reconnect the monitor lead and boot the PC
Don't worry about replacing the sidepanel at this point, wait until you're sure everything is done properly.
Once into windows, you'll be running under basic MS drivers and at a lower resolution and colour depth. Don't worry, this is normal.
Run an appropriate driver cleaner program, such as nVcleaner for an nVidia card or the equivalent Catalyst Uninstaller for ATi, especially if you're switching between brands.
Reboot.
Install the appropriate drivers for your card.
Reboot as necessary.
Set your preferred resolution and colour bit depth

Start up your chosen Total War game.
Enjoy.

If all is well, replace your sidepanel and tidy up the mess you just made...

**Aedile Rich** · January 27, 2007, 03:46 AM

Originally Posted by Robot Porter

I don't know if you wrote this, but this is a very good basic guide. Much better than the instructions that come with most cards.

Yes, I did.
Thanks.

I haven't had the opportunity to do many PCI-E cards yet but as far as I'm aware, the only fundamental difference with physical installation (apart from the slot itself) is the 6-pin power connector, rather than the four pin molex.

The instructions you quote sound like a throwback to before AGP! Back in the heady days when we just had PCI and ISA (ISA being the black slot and also the preferred choice for VESA Local bus graphics cards).

**Robot Porter** · February 04, 2007, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Aedile Rich

Yes, I did.
Thanks.

I haven't had the opportunity to do many PCI-E cards yet but as far as I'm aware, the only fundamental difference with physical installation (apart from the slot itself) is the 6-pin power connector, rather than the four pin molex.

The 7600 GT has no power connector, so the install is so easy. My current case also has only one thumb-threaded screw to open it, so literally I had the card installed and running in less than 3 minutes. And most of that time was devoted to driver loads and reboots.

The instructions you quote sound like a throwback to before AGP! Back in the heady days when we just had PCI and ISA (ISA being the black slot and also the preferred choice for VESA Local bus graphics cards).

You're right. Almost. To the very early days of AGP. The manual makes no mention of PCI-E slots, just PCI, AGP, and ISA, though it's included in the box with a PCI-E card.