Installation Of A Graphics Card...
Jan 02 '01
BUYING:
:: First to buy a graphics card you must know 2 most important things; 1- what its use is for, 2- what type you want.
1- What are you using it for. (#1)If say you are after a high-powered super fast graphics monster you'd go for a high spec. (#2) While just a replacement for desktop use would be cheaper and easier to buy.
2- After deciding what your using it for you must decide what you need.
Depending on what spec your PC is you must decide whether or not to use its AGP slot, or if it doesn't have a AGP slot use a PCI slot.
Or to make it easy for you, follow the diagram below to help you buying a card.
#1 Have you got a AGP slot?
Yes>>~1 No>>~2
(~1)[AGP SLOT}Is it for Games or desktop?
Games>>~3 Desktop>>~4
(~2)[PCI SLOT]Is it for games or desktop?
Games>>~5 Desktop>>~6
(~3)[AGP SLOT}What speed can your motherboard handle?
2x>>~7 4x>>~8
(~4)[Answer] Buy a cheap AGP card SPEC-2x 16Mb Ram (e.g. Voodoo 3)
(~5)[Answer] Buy a high end PCI slot spec 32Mb Ram (e.g. Voodoo 4 4500 PCI)
(~6)[Answer] Buy a cheap PCI card spec anything above 8Mb
(~7)[Answer] Buy a good 2x card spec anything above 16Mb (e.g. Voodoo 3)
(~8)[Answer] Buy a good 4x card spec 32Mb+ (e.g. Voodoo 4 4500)
Follow these steps and you end up with an affordable card while not paying for something that you won't use. Remember a Games card is going to set you back above £110/$154::
INSTALLING:
:: Follow this diagram: Be careful with the insides of the PC. If you have onboard graphics go to ##8
Is the card AGP or PCI?
PCI>>~1 AGP>>~2
(~1)[PCI]Is it a new PC without a graphics card?
Yes>>~3 No>>~4
(~2)[AGP]Is it a new PC without a graphics card?
Yes>>~5 No>>~6
(~3)[A]Remove case. Locate a white PCI slot on the motherboard, remove a blanking plate at the rear of the case. Insert with a little force into the slot. The bottom of the card faces up, so all chips are underneath. Screw in the card at the case.
(~4)[A]It has a card installed: Okay install the drivers which came with the new card. Shut down. Remove case. Remove old G Card, the one with the monitor cable attached to it. Insert with a little force into the force. The bottom of the card faces up, so all chips are underneath. Screw in the card at the case.
(~5)[A]Remove case. Locate a brown AGP slot on the motherboard; remove a blanking plate at the rear of the case. Insert with a little force into the slot. The bottom of the card faces up, so all chips are underneath. Screw in the card at the case.
(~6)[A]BUYING:
:: First to buy a graphics card you must know 2 most important things; 1- what its use is for, 2- what type you want.
1- What are you using it for. (#1)If say you are after a high powered super fast graphics monster you'd go for a high spec. (#2)While just a replacement for desktop use would be cheaper and easier to buy.
2- After deciding what your using it for you must decide what you need.
Depending on what spec your PC is you must decide whether or not to use its AGP slot, or if it doesn't have a AGP slot use a PCI slot.
Or to make it easy for you, follow the diagram below to help you buying a card.
#1 Have you got a AGP slot?
Yes>>~1 No>>~2
(~1)[AGP SLOT}Is it for Games or desktop?
Games>>~3 Desktop>>~4
(~2)[PCI SLOT]Is it for games or desktop?
Games>>~5 Desktop>>~6
(~3)[AGP SLOT}What speed can your motherboard handle?
2x>>~7 4x>>~8
(~4)[Answer] Buy a cheap AGP card SPEC-2x 16Mb Ram (e.g. Voodoo 3)
(~5)[Answer] Buy a high end PCI slot spec 32Mb Ram (e.g. Voodoo 4 4500 PCI)
(~6)[Answer] Buy a cheap PCI card spec anything above 8Mb
(~7)[Answer] Buy a good 2x card spec anything above 16Mb (e.g. Voodoo 3)
(~8)[Answer] Buy a good 4x card spec 32Mb+ (e.g. Voodoo 4 4500)
follow these steps and you end up with an affordable card while not paying for something which you won't use. Remember a Games card is going to set you back above £110/$154::
INSTALLING:
:: Follow this diagram: Be careful with the insides of the PC.
Is the card AGP or PCI?
PCI>>~1 AGP>>~2
(~1)[PCI]Is it a new PC without a graphics card?
Yes>>~3 No>>~4
(~2)[AGP]Is it a new PC without a graphics card?
Yes>>~5 No>>~6
(~3)[A]Remove case. Locate a white PCI slot on the motherboard, remove a blanking plate at the rear of the case. Insert with a little force into the slot. The bottom of the card faces up, so all chips are underneath. Screw in the card at the case.
(~4)[A]It has a card installed: Okay install the drivers which came with the new card. Shut down. Remove case. Insert with a little force into the force. The bottom of the card faces up, so all chips are underneath. Screw in the card at the case.
(~5)[A]Remove case. Locate a brown AGP slot on the motherboard, remove a blanking plate at the rear of the case. Insert with a little force into the slot. The bottom of the card faces up, so all chips are underneath. Screw in the card at the case.
(~6)[A]Install the drivers which came with new card. Shut down. Remove PC case, locate AGP slot. Remove monitor cable, remove old AGP card. Insert new card, with all the chips facing down.
Once installed check all the connection inside the case. Replace all cables from rear, and boot up the PC.
##8 You have onboard graphics. You need to read the motherboard manual on how to disable the onboard graphics, usually including the setting of some jumpers on the board. Once disabled you can start at the top as you will have no graphics card on the system. It is likely you don't have a AGP slot, use a PCI slot. BUT REMEMBER TO INSTALL THE NEW DRIVERS FOR THE NEW CARD BEFORE DISABLING THE ONBOARD GRAPHICS.
END: Now if you follow these steps you should have got a cheap card installed and working correctly. Remember to check what you have and don't have in the manual for motherboard.
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