Swapping out GPUs, what is necessary?

[boozie]

So I am going from a 8800 GTS to a 5770 on my current Win7 64-bit PC. What I'm wondering is can I just turn off the PC, make the swap, then install appropriate drivers? Or is it important that I first uninstall the Nvidia control panel and current drivers with a reboot into safe mode and all that?

I am looking for the simplest method that works ~90% of the time.

Are the current ATI drivers on their site regarded as the best for gaming?

 

[Dahak]

Generally uninstall current drivers, shutdown swap card install new drivers from website for new card

 

[boozie]

When it asks for rebooting for uninstall to take affect can I decline and then shutdown or do I need to reboot, try to stop it from auto-installing (i.e. safe mode boot), then shutdown and make the swap?

 

[raasco]

install driver sweeper
Uninstall nvidia drivers through control panel
reboot in safe mode
run driver sweeper
shutdown
replace card
install amd drivers

 

[boozie]

Okay thanks. Last thing, can I use CCleaner instead of driver sweeper with the same result? I would boot in safe mode check the drivers tab and then also clean the registry.

 

[dpodblood]

install driver sweeper
Uninstall nvidia drivers through control panel
reboot in safe mode
run driver sweeper
shutdown
replace card
install amd drivers

This. And use driver sweeper. Ccleaner doesn't do the same thing.

 

[aphelion02]

I don't think you need to use driver sweeper, thats only for the uber-paranoid. I've always just uninstalled and swapped without errors.

 

[Thor_Odinson]

I only use Driver Sweeper when I move from NVIDIA to ATI or vice versa.

 

[Seero]

install driver sweeper
Uninstall nvidia drivers through control panel
reboot in safe mode
run driver sweeper
shutdown
replace card
install amd drivers

^^

 

[boozie]

Alright that went without a hitch, thanks for all the help. Went from a 19" 1280x1024/8800 GTS to a 24" widescreen 1920x1080/5770 and it is awesome!

Now I need to do the same thing for my brother, but his PC is currently using onboard graphics. Do I still need to uninstall stuff from programs/device manager and run driver sweeper?

 

[Thor_Odinson]

Alright that went without a hitch, thanks for all the help. Went from a 19" 1280x1024/8800 GTS to a 24" widescreen 1920x1080/5770 and it is awesome!

Now I need to do the same thing for my brother, but his PC is currently using onboard graphics. Do I still need to uninstall stuff from programs/device manager and run driver sweeper?

Disabling the onboard in bios and then slapping in the card (and installing the latest drivers) should be enough

 

[pcm81]

install driver sweeper
Uninstall nvidia drivers through control panel
reboot in safe mode
run driver sweeper
shutdown
replace card
install amd drivers

And don't forget to spray the computer with holly watter afterwards.

 

[Seero]

And don't forget to spray the computer with holly watter afterwards.

That list of procedure is better than holy water when it comes to cursed computers.

 

[pcm81]

That list of procedure is better than holy water when it comes to cursed computers.

True, dut de-ionized holly water is still better. Especially if you use heavy water.