How to install a Graphics Card?

[Maximilian]

I ordered myself a nice 9800 sapphire pro retail and i have the job of gettin rid of the old (well not old but definately crap) 5200 FX. Is this gonna be reeeeally difficult?? ive only ever installed RAM before and it was way harder than people said it was (it didnt fit till i forced it). Is there anything i should know before i go and rip out the old g-card?? like where not to touch and how much force to use when putting in the new one??

 

[JBT]

Bascially just make sure you remove the drivers first through Add/Remove. Then run something like driver cleaner in safe mode.
As for the actual instilation it is pretty easy You may have to use a little force but if it feels like its going to break or somthing don't push that hard... Make sure you plugg in the Molex connector on the card and you should be all set. Install the latest CAT drivers I.E. not on the CD. DownLoad them from ATI. and boom happy fragging.

 

[farscape]

Don't forget about the lock-down clip at the rear of the card/AGP slot. Might not be easy to get to if your memory is in the way.

 

[Mem]

Driver Cleaner link,.

Short guide is to remove your old drivers via Control panel in add/remove program icon,reboot into safe mode run Driver Cleaner(don`t forget to install it,also full instructions for Driver Cleaner are in the readme file once you`ve downloaded it) also if Windows detects new hardware while booting up in safe mode hit the cancel button,run DriverCleaner for" Nvidia" at desktop in safe mode,you also have the option to run cab cleaner for XP SP1(service pack 1) which can be found in tools menu of Driver Cleaner,anyway once you`ve run Driver cleaner and cleaned any remaining old drivers files close the PC down,switch out your old card and install your new video card,boot up to normal desktop,if windows detects new hardware hit cancel,once at desktop install the new 4.2 ATi drivers.

I recommend you download ATI drivers( single setup installation is best,listed as high speed DSL/Cable) from here and have them ready on your PC for install.The ones on CD that come with your sapphire are normally out of date.

That`s the way I did it going from my GF2 Ti to Sapphire 9700NP.

Btw don`t forget to connect the power lead to the 9800 Pro card.

 

[Mike99Pgh]

Go to Radio Shack and buy the $5 anti-static wrist guard. Ground it on the chassis before you do any work in there.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Mike99Pgh
Go to Radio Shack and buy the $5 anti-static wrist guard. Ground it on the chassis before you do any work in there.

Or just touch bare metal on the case before you start touching cards and don't shuffle your feet while you work.

 

[DieHardware]

How to install cards.

 

[CraigRT]

me thinks you will be fine
my guess is you think "force" is something that people who build computers just think is normal... so just remove the old card, and plug in new

easy as pie.

 

[Maximilian]

Ok drivers=sorted driver cleaner thing=sorted earthing myself=ill go find metal when i need it
Thanks people it should all go ok when my card comes 2morra (if it comes 2morra)