Upgrading AGP Video Card Question

[Madodese]

Hello,

I'm upgrading my video card from an ATI 9500pro to an ATI x700pro. This may be a silly question, but do I need to uninstall my video and mb agp drivers, get new ones and then install the new ones when I go through the VC installation? Or, can I just unplug my old video card and plug in the new one (with any new updated Catalyst drivers)?

Reading the handy dandy non-card specific manual it says to do all the above, but doesn't specify if that's only for new AGP mb install or not. This is not. Just don't want to mess up, as the last time I installed my Radeon it flopped for 2 weeks while I determined I installed my software in the wrong order...

Thanks!

Madodese

 

[Leper Messiah]

just clean out your old Radeon drivers and install the new ones after you phyiscally install your new card.


Just wondering, but why'd you get a x700pro when 9800s are better?

 

[Madodese]

Erm...mainly because I didn't see any information regarding the 9800 during my pre-shopping reviews...

And because it was purchased via Gift Card from Christmas at a nat'l retailer and they weren't carrying anything but the x700 or GF6600(base) in my price range.

Madodese

 

[Conky]

Here's what you do.

1. Download Driver Cleaner3(google) and the latest drivers from ati.com.
2. Install DC3.
3. Go to control panel, add/remove programs, and remove old driver and any old ATI software.
4. Reboot in safe mode(hit F8 while booting up and pick "safe mode") and run DC3.
5. Reboot again and then click close on anything Windows tries to install for you. Install the new drivers from ATI.
6. Reboot again and enjoy.

:beer:

 

[Captante]

It depends on how good you've been about keeping your video drivers up to date... if they're only a few months old you should be fine just swapping the cards, but if your due for a driver update anyway, the uninstall & driver removal utility is a very good idea.

 

[Madodese]

Thanks for the information. I much prefer directions when dealing with stuff I paid for (at work it's a different story, it's not my million I'm gonna wreck)...

I didn't do that yet, I just physically installed and loaded from the disc that came with the x700. My 3dmark score jumped up just under double my score on the 9500pro I started with. I'm hoping that running it at 800x600 (I think that is what Toms Hardware does for their reviews??) and installing the newest Cat (5.13) will give me a little more in terms of numbers.

But one thing I noticed is on the second run of the two demo's, I get a max of 3fps and an average of 1fps. Yet my score was higher with the x700, but I had the same fps with my 9500pro. Any reason why that would be?

Thanks again for the info, I do appreciate any and all help.

Madodese