When installing a new video card, should I clear old drivers first?

bovinda

Senior member
Nov 26, 2004
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I'm going to be installing a new video card today (XFX 260 GTX, replacing an 8800 GT). They use the same video driver, as far as I know. Should I uninstall the driver before in stalling the card, though?

And to do that, can I just do it through Device Manager? (I feel like I've heard somewhere about people saying you need a drive cleaner or something.)

End: Another question...should graphics cards always be run from the PCI Exp 1 slot? Or would it be okay to run them from the PCI Exp 2 slot (if there's only one card)? My mobo is an Abit IP35 Pro. I ask b/c this big ass card blocks both of my hard drive spots in the middle if it's in the PCI Exp 1 slot, but I can still fit one if I put it in the PCI Exp 2 slot.
 

bovinda

Senior member
Nov 26, 2004
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Never do...uninstall drivers? Or use driver cleaner? (I think you mean you never uninstall drivers, yeah?)

Edit...sorry, I'm a little slow today :)
 

bovinda

Senior member
Nov 26, 2004
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Another question...should graphics cards always be run from the PCI Exp 1 slot? Or would it be okay to run them from the PCI Exp 2 slot (if there's only one card)? My mobo is an Abit IP35 Pro. I ask b/c this big ass card blocks both of my hard drive spots in the middle if it's in the PCI Exp 1 slot, but I can still fit one if I put it in the PCI Exp 2 slot.
 

roid450

Senior member
Sep 4, 2008
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I ran my GTX 260 in the second slot for a while just to test it, same exact performance as slot 1 on my board.
 

aatf510

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2004
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Originally posted by: bovinda
And to do that, can I just do it through Device Manager? (I feel like I've heard somewhere about people saying you need a drive cleaner or something.)

Removing the device from device manager does not remove the drivers from your system at all!
At the very least, go into Control Panal / Add Remove Programs, and uninstall those "Nvidia" items listed there.
However, it's still best to use some 3rd party program like Driver Cleaner, Driver Sweeper to delete the remaining registry entrees, DLL files left in your system afterwards.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
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Originally posted by: toattett
Originally posted by: bovinda
And to do that, can I just do it through Device Manager? (I feel like I've heard somewhere about people saying you need a drive cleaner or something.)

Removing the device from device manager does not remove the drivers from your system at all!
At the very least, go into Control Panal / Add Remove Programs, and uninstall those "Nvidia" items listed there.
However, it's still best to use some 3rd party program like Driver Cleaner, Driver Sweeper to delete the remaining registry entrees, DLL files left in your system afterwards.

I always use driver cleaner when getting new drivers even for the same card and did so when I went from a 7800 to a 9800GTX.
 

Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Uninstall the old drivers. Don't use driver sweeper/cleaner programs unless you really know why you need them.
 

bovinda

Senior member
Nov 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: toattett
Removing the device from device manager does not remove the drivers from your system at all!
At the very least, go into Control Panal / Add Remove Programs, and uninstall those "Nvidia" items listed there.
However, it's still best to use some 3rd party program like Driver Cleaner, Driver Sweeper to delete the remaining registry entrees, DLL files left in your system afterwards.

Oops...I thought clicking on "Uninstall" under the driver tab in device manager did uninstall the drivers...? So is it only through Add/Remove Programs, then?
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,751
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Originally posted by: bovinda
Another question...should graphics cards always be run from the PCI Exp 1 slot? Or would it be okay to run them from the PCI Exp 2 slot (if there's only one card)? My mobo is an Abit IP35 Pro. I ask b/c this big ass card blocks both of my hard drive spots in the middle if it's in the PCI Exp 1 slot, but I can still fit one if I put it in the PCI Exp 2 slot.

I have this board. I would advise against this as the 2nd PCI-E 16x slot is only 4x electrical. On modern graphics cards, this results in performance hit.
 

bovinda

Senior member
Nov 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: bovinda
Another question...should graphics cards always be run from the PCI Exp 1 slot? Or would it be okay to run them from the PCI Exp 2 slot (if there's only one card)? My mobo is an Abit IP35 Pro. I ask b/c this big ass card blocks both of my hard drive spots in the middle if it's in the PCI Exp 1 slot, but I can still fit one if I put it in the PCI Exp 2 slot.

I have this board. I would advise against this as the 2nd PCI-E 16x slot is only 4x electrical. On modern graphics cards, this results in performance hit.

Thanks Ping, I'd been wondering about that very thing. I will leave it where it is then, and deal with the four hard drives being close together. I'll probably just get an extra case fan to be on the safe side.