Things to know before installing my graphics card?

[TheCookie]

I recently bought a ATI Radeon 9250 PCI graphics card, to replace my intel extreme intergrated graphics card, is there anything i should know before actually putting the card into my computer?

Cheers.

~Cookie

[V0Lt4Ge]

As long as you know how to put it in, there shouldn't be any other problems.

[[cc]z@nd!]

the biggest thing i'd be worried about is whether the physical interface of the card will fit on an open slot on the motherboard. i know of a few beginners that accidentally bought an AGP card when they had a PCIe slot instead, and vice versa. it's a bit late now that you've bought it, but before you open the package double-check, so if you have to send it back you can do it while it's still sealed.

otherwise, physical installation is easy:

1: turn off pc and unplug power cord
2: take off the side of the pc case
3: find your AGP/PCIe slot, and unscrew it's corresponding metal plate (the plate should be to your left, on the back of the PC case)
4: take out videocard, and carefully line up it's pins to the ones in the slot. it'll also have a metal edge in the back to hook into where you took out the plate. it might take some working, but it'll fit, just don't use too much force.
5: screw in the card (the same place you unscrewed the metal plate) and if there's a plastic holder on the end of the slot, attach that.
6: if the card needs power straight from the PSU, plug that in. if not, don't worry about it.
7: put the side of the PC back on, and unscrew the monitor cable form where you have it now and screw it into the corresponding connector on your new videocard
8: plug in the PC's power cable and boot up with the driver disks that came with the card handy.
9: install drivers, reboot(if needed), update drivers to latest version, reboot if you have to, and that should be it.

[shadowkhas]

You forgot the most important part: MAKE SURE YOU ARE GROUNDED ELECTRICALLY.
Optimally, I'd buy one of those anti-static wristbands, and use that on something, but you can just touch your computer's metal case before you handle the GPU or, for that matter, any other sensitive electrical equipment.
Other than that, it's a very straightforward installation. Don't be afraid to push a little harder than you would expect, just be sure the card is aligned perfectly before doing that.

[DJ_Gnomey]

You forgot the most important part: MAKE SURE YOU ARE GROUNDED ELECTRICALLY.
Optimally, I'd buy one of those anti-static wristbands, and use that on something, but you can just touch your computer's metal case before you handle the GPU or, for that matter, any other sensitive electrical equipment.
Other than that, it's a very straightforward installation. Don't be afraid to push a little harder than you would expect, just be sure the card is aligned perfectly before doing that.

Great idea but that is only needed for really big overclock graphic cards, and other very sensitive components like surround sound cards like in my custom PC



Indeed, check the card type before you open it!

[shadowkhas]

Great idea but that is only needed for really big overclock graphic cards, and other very sensitive components like surround sound cards like in my custom PC



Indeed, check the card type before you open it!

No...every exposed circuitry is vulnerable to static overload. The voltage from static discharge (even ones that you can't feel) can fry tiny parts on 99% of computer parts (the 1% would be things that have all exposed circuits shielded by a metal frame or something).

[TheCookie]

You forgot the most important part: MAKE SURE YOU ARE GROUNDED ELECTRICALLY.
Optimally, I'd buy one of those anti-static wristbands, and use that on something, but you can just touch your computer's metal case before you handle the GPU or, for that matter, any other sensitive electrical equipment.
Other than that, it's a very straightforward installation. Don't be afraid to push a little harder than you would expect, just be sure the card is aligned perfectly before doing that.

Inside or outside the case? I dont want to kill my computer.

P.S I Have 4 PCI Slots in my computer.

[[cc]z@nd!]

if you want to ground yourself before working with the pc, just touch the metal case, open the case, then touch the PSU for good measure, and don't do things that would generate static, like walk around on carpet with socks on.