How to Install a Graphics Card

Do you feel that your computer does not play games as smoothly as other computers? Do you think to yourself, “I wish my computer could do that?” every time I see the beautiful screenshots. Often those results have the effect of the graphics card (also known as the video card). Upgrading your graphics card can be a headache, especially when the market today offers you so many options, but by zoning out the price and not afraid to roll around with a screwdriver, you will quickly Complete the installation of the new graphics card.

Table of Contents

Choose a graphics card

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Open the case. To find the old graphics card, locate the power source, and install the new graphics card, you need to open the case. Most new cases come with a set of screws at the back so you can easily remove the cover, but you’ll probably still need a small-head screwdriver to unscrew the screws on your old case.

You need to remove the power cable and all peripherals before opening the case cover.
Remove the cover on the side opposite the motherboard. On the back of the case you’ll see a board with multiple ports, including USB, Ethernet, display ports, etc. This is the motherboard I/O board and will help you locate the motherboard. You can lay the case horizontally on this side and open the cover on the opposite side to easily see the motherboard.

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Make sure the power supply is still working properly. Powerful graphics cards need a power supply that provides the necessary power. If you use an old power supply, or the computer has many other components that require power, the power supply may not produce enough power. In this case, you should consider upgrading the power supply when upgrading the graphics card.

Some websites help you calculate the power needed by analyzing all existing or upcoming hardware. Search for “power supply calculator” using your favorite search engine. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Your power supply also needs a PCI-E connector. Usually this isn’t an issue if you’re using a new type of power supply, but power supplies manufactured more than 10 years ago may not find the right connector.
The maximum power is printed on the sticker on the power supply. You may have to unplug the power source to see this information.

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Make sure the motherboard supports the graphics card. Nearly every graphics card these days is PCI-E, so you need to make sure your computer has at least one of these slots. The card slot is usually located near the processor in the row of PCI slots. If you don’t see the PCI-E slot, you need to install a new motherboard when you want to upgrade the graphics card.

Refer to your motherboard’s documentation for assembly diagrams. This helps you locate the PCI-E slots.
Installing a new motherboard requires you to reinstall the operating system.
Note: Most laptops do not allow you to upgrade the graphics card.

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Make sure the graphics card fits into the slot. Many newer graphics cards are large in size, and will require two PCI slots of the computer. In addition, they can be quite tall and long, so you have to make sure the case has enough space horizontally and vertically.

Use a ruler to measure the horizontal and vertical space left in the case. Nearly all graphics cards list their dimensions in the product information, helping you make sure they’ll fit in your case before you order.

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Balance between cost and performance. Graphics cards can be very expensive. Unreasonably expensive I must say. There are times when users won’t get the extra benefit of buying an expensive graphics card. Explore the applications that use the graphics card, then find the one that produces the most performance and fits your budget. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Expensive cards are usually for people who want to overclock their graphics cards and users who want to use a configuration of two or four graphics cards.
Consult as many reviews as possible before buying a graphics card. There are many online resources to help you find the right product for your budget. Sites like Tom’s Hardware will post comparisons of the most popular current graphics cards in all price brackets, and customer reviews on sites like Newegg help you learn more about the user experience of a graphics card. some.
See the system requirements for your favorite game. Find out which graphics card you should use to play your favorite games smoothly, and don’t forget to consider the needs for other games in the future.

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Find the right graphics card for your needs. Each graphics card will be best suited for a few applications, but most graphics cards do well in many areas. Here is a popular graphics card as of 2015:

AMD Radeon R9 290X – This is a good all-rounder that can run most games in Ultra mode without problems. You can usually buy this type for about 300 USD (about 7 million VND). The one with similar functionality is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, which costs $50 more, but consumes less power.
AMD Radeon R7 260X – This is a low-cost graphics card that can run most games in Modes from Medium to High. You can “buy” this graphics card for less than $120 (about VND 2.8 million). The one with the same function is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti for $ 30 more (about 700 thousand dong), but consumes less power and does not need a PCIe power connector (suitable for computers with power supply). low power).
Nvidia GTX 980 – This is one of the best high-end graphics cards at the moment that can handle almost any content up to 1440p resolution. The price of this graphics card is about 550 USD (over 12.5 million VND) for the EVGA ACX 2.0 series and 680 USD (over 15.6 million VND) for the Classified version.
If you’re into graphic design, look for a graphics card with a larger memory capacity, such as 3GB or 4GB. This option costs more, but will speed up rendering and encoding.

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Learn about card visibility. As display technology improves, there are also more varieties of graphics cards. Maybe your new graphics card supports HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, VGA, or a combination of these options. Find out which connection your computer uses and choose the right graphics card.

For the best possible quality, you need to connect via HDMI or DisplayPort.
If you want to use multiple monitors, make sure the graphics card can support multiple monitors with high-quality ports. You probably don’t want to connect one display via HDMI and the other via VGA, because VGA monitors have a low resolution and look terrible when placed next to a monitor with an HDMI connection.

Installing the graphics card

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Uninstall old drivers. One of the leading causes of errors and problems is driver incompatibility. Before installing a new graphics card, it is better to uninstall the driver that Windows is using for the graphics part. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The fastest way to uninstall a driver is to open Device Manager and uninstall it from here. To open Device Manager, you need to search using the Start menu or press ⊞ Win + X and select from the menu (Windows 8 only).
After opening Device Manager, you will expand the Display Adapters section. Right-click the current desktop switch and select Uninstall. Follow the instructions to remove the driver from your computer. Your screen will display low quality, with large icons and blurry text. Don’t forget to power off the computer after uninstalling the driver.

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Self grounding. Whenever handling sensitive computer components, you should always ensure proper grounding. Electrostatic discharge can damage or destroy components, rendering them useless. You’re better off wearing an antistatic ring that’s attached to the metal part of the case. If you don’t have this accessory, you can land by touching the metal faucet.

Do not place the open case on the carpet, and you will be standing on the tile or linpeum floor when performing operations inside the case.
Make sure the computer is disconnected from the power source before you proceed to deal with the case.

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Find the old graphics card. You will see the old graphics card plugged into the PCI-E or AGP slot on the motherboard (the type of AGP graphics card is usually found in older computers). Most older graphics cards are relatively large, and possibly the biggest in the case. They are usually fitted with fans and radiators.

If your computer has built-in graphics (the monitor is connected directly to the motherboard), you don’t need to remove the graphics card.

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Remove the current graphics card. If you want to upgrade the graphics card, you need to remove the old graphics card before installing the new one. Unscrew the screw used to secure the graphics card to the base. Most newer graphics cards have a lock on the bottom near the back of the PCI slot and need to be removed to eject the graphics card.

When taking out the graphics card, you need to pull it up so as not to damage the PCI slot.
Make sure you have removed everything connected to the old graphics card before taking it out.

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Clean dirt. Ready when you take out the graphics card, you can clean the dirt that has accumulated in the slot. Use compressed air to clean dirt in the crevices around the PCI slot. Dirt can build up and cause components to overheat; Therefore, regular cleaning will contribute to prolonging the life of the computer.

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Install a new graphics card. Gently remove the graphics card from the antistatic bag, avoiding touching the contacts or circuits. Insert the graphics card into an empty PCI-e slot and gently push the top until the graphics card snaps into place. If the PCI-E slot has a fixed clamp, you will hear a click when the graphics card is inserted neatly into the slot. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You may need to remove the side panel if the graphics card is the size of two panels.
Make sure the slot is free of cables or other components before you insert the graphics card.

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Hold the graphics card steady. Use your computer’s screws to secure the graphics card to the base. If the graphics card is the size of two boards, you’ll need to secure it with two screws, one for each base. Make sure the graphics card is properly installed before securing it with screws.

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Connect to the power source. Most modern graphics cards have a built-in power connector on the back of the graphics card. You need to connect one or two PCI-E connectors from the power source, usually a six-pin cable. If not connected to a power source, the graphics card will not work properly.

Many graphics cards have an adapter that converts the existing connector to one suitable for the graphics card.

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Close the case. Once the graphics card is in place, fixed, and connected to the power source, you can close the case. Remember to connect the monitor to the new graphics card. If you used the built-in graphics card, the monitor may already be connected to the motherboard. The monitor must be connected to the new graphics card to use the utility.

For best results, use HDMI or DisplayPort to connect the monitor to the graphics card. If your monitor or graphics card does not support HDMI or DisplayPort, you can use a DVI or VGA connection.

Install driver and test

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Open Computer. The operating system will recognize the new graphics card and adjust the monitor so that the optimal resolution and color depth can be used. Please accept the changes and access the operating system.

If no images appear on the screen, you need to troubleshoot the installation. Check to make sure you have installed and connected the graphics card correctly.
Unusual, uneven, or distorted images indicate a problem with the graphics card. Check that the graphics card is installed correctly before you contact the manufacturer.

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Use the driver installation disc or download the driver. If your graphics card comes with a driver installation disc, you can insert the disc into your computer and install the driver. If your graphics card doesn’t have a disc, or you want to use the latest driver version, you can download the driver from the Nvidia or AMD site (depending on your graphics card type).

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Install the driver. The installation is usually automatic, but you may be asked about installing additional graphics card management software. This add-on is not required, but can help ensure drivers are always up to date. Your screen will flash and reset during installation.

Drivers on disc are usually out of date at the time you order them, so you’ll be asked to update them after installation.

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Open the game. Surely the reason why you buy this graphics card is to play the latest and greatest games. So why not experiment by opening the game? Before playing the game, you should check out the game’s Video settings menu. Turn all settings to the highest possible setting and enjoy the game. If you can play the game smoothly, then everything is fine!

When setting the resolution, you should always choose the level that matches the resolution of your monitor. For most flat panel monitors, the resolution is 1920×1080, but newer monitors usually have a higher resolution.
If the game lags or renders poorly, you can try reducing the settings one by one. Don’t worry too much if the graphics card can’t operate in Ultra mode; sometimes no graphics card is suitable for some games!
The game display is not only affected by the graphics card. Processor, RAM, and even hard drive speed all contribute to game rendering.

Advice

Always act slowly and carefully when working in the case. For the best accuracy, such as when you take out the graphics card, place your arm close to your body and perform the operation so that the arm moves across the front of the body. As such, you can easily adjust the maneuver by using your chest and abdominal muscles along with your arms.
Note that changing your computer’s graphics card may affect the terms of the warranty. With most computers, especially self-assembled ones, you don’t need to worry about this. Also, you can’t change the graphics card in another computer you’re using, such as a school or work computer.

Steps

Choose a graphics card

Installing the graphics card

Install driver and test

Advice

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