The graphics card is one of the hardest working parts of your computer, especially if you play games a lot. Game enthusiasts should replace their graphics card every two to three years, although you can extend the life of the card beyond that. Over the years, changing graphics cards has become simpler and easier, and driver installation has become a process that can run itself without too much user intervention. Once you've selected your card and unlocked your computer, you should usually be able to install a new card and be ready to use it in just a few minutes.
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Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Graphics Card
Step 1. Balance budget and power
The graphics card can easily be the most expensive component in your computer, but it doesn't have to be. Many budget and mid-range card combinations can still provide great performance, depending on your needs. If you're a game fan who has to play the latest games at the highest settings, you'll need to look for more powerful and expensive cards. If you only play the occasional game, don't mind the latest releases, or don't mind sacrificing some graphics settings, you'll get a decent price by looking for a mid-range card. If you just want to watch HD videos or play some 2D games, most budget graphics cards will provide the desired results.
- Do your research before risking your money. Sites such as Info Computer Online (infocomputer.com) and PCPlus Online (pcplus.co.id) regularly test and provide comparisons for the most popular and upcoming new graphics cards. The results of this test can help you quickly see how all of the available options compare to each other.
- Don't worry about the amount of memory (RAM) your graphics card has. Large amounts of memory are often used to make poor quality cards look more attractive. What matters is the memory bandwidth. This is the memory speed in sending and receiving data from the computer. GDDR5 is currently the leader in this category, and will significantly outperform the old GDDR3 memory by four times.
- If you have a mid-range CPU, chances are you won't get the most out of a high-end graphics card. The graphics card is an important factor for performance, but games depend on all the components in your computer in different capacities, including the CPU, system RAM, and even the read and write speed of the hard disk.
- 4K games are getting closer and closer to reality, but they will need one (or two) top quality graphics cards to get satisfactory performance from your games at that resolution. Keep this in mind if you want to buy a 4K monitor as well.
Step 2. Open your computer case
Before buying a new graphics card, you need to check a few things inside your computer or in your computer documentation. Remove the side panel of the computer by loosening the screw or Phillips screws along the back of the computer. Usually you will slide the panel in the opposite direction of the Input/Output panel on the back of the computer.
- Except in very rare circumstances, it is not possible to update the graphics card on your laptop. See your laptop's documentation for how to update the graphics card if possible.
- When opening the computer case and working with the inside of the computer, make sure you are properly grounded. This will prevent the discharge of static electricity that can damage computer components. You can ground yourself using an electrostatic wrist strap, or by touching a running water faucet before working on the computer.
Step 3. Check your power supply
Graphics cards are one of the biggest consumers of power supply, so you need to make sure that your power supply can supply the power needed by the new card. Different cards require different amounts of power, so check the specifications of the card you want to buy, along with the specifications found on the computer power supply.
- There are various online power supply calculators that you can use to plug in all the components of your computer and see the recommended minimum power. You'll need a little over the minimum amount to make your computer future tested and reliable. Another general rule that you can follow is that you will usually need a power supply that can supply twice the power that the graphics card requires.
- If you install multiple graphics cards in one computer, you may need a power supply that can provide at least 1 kilowatt of power.
- It is impossible to determine the magnitude of the power supply from the power supply without physically looking at it. There is no software that can report the amount of power. Almost all power supplies have a clearly visible sticker on the side that lists the specifications of the power supply. You can usually remove the side panel of the computer and visually inspect the sticker.
- Many more powerful graphics cards require one or two 6-pin (PCIe) connectors from the power supply. Most newer power supplies have this cable, but older power supplies don't. You can get an adapter to connect to one of the other cables, but it might be a good idea to replace the power supply if it's old.
Step 4. Measure the length of the slot that the graphics card will occupy
Graphics cards are getting bigger and bigger, and if you have a small case with limited space, it may be difficult or even impossible to insert the card you want. Use a tape measure to measure the length of the slot where you will insert the graphics card. Match the length of the slot with the specifications of the graphics card you want to buy. Make sure you also pay attention to the slot width, as many more powerful cards are wider in size.
The width of a graphics card can be equivalent to two PCIe bays, but only needs to be plugged into one slot
Step 5. Check your computer's motherboard (motherboard) compatibility
Almost all modern graphics cards can run on the PCIe interface, which replaces the outdated AGP method. If your computer was purchased or assembled more or less in the last ten years, it is most likely PCIe. If you are trying to update the graphics card from a very old computer, you may be having issues with AGP unless you update your motherboard as well.
- The PCIe and AGP slots have different colors on the motherboard. AGP is usually a darker color such as brown, while PCIe is usually white, yellow, or blue. However, there is no standard for it, so check the motherboard documentation or look for the label next to the slot.
- The PCIe slot location is usually closest to the CPU on the motherboard.
Part 2 of 3: Installing a New Card
Step 1. Turn off the computer
Make sure your computer is completely shut down before you work inside the computer. Unplug the cable from the power outlet once the computer is completely turned off.
Step 2. Remove the monitor
The monitor is most likely connected to an old graphics card, so remove it from the back of the computer before removing the old card.
Step 3. Connect your body with the ground
Whenever you are working inside a computer, you must make sure that your body is properly grounded. An electrostatic wristband attached to the bare metal of a computer case is the easiest way to ground yourself while working on a computer. You can also ground yourself by touching a running faucet.
Step 4. Remove the old card (if necessary)
If you are updating, you will need to unplug the old card before installing the new card. If you are using an on-board graphics card on the motherboard, you do not need to remove the card.
- Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws that secure the card to the case.
- Unplug all cables connected to the old graphics card.
- Pull the latch under the back of the old graphics card (PCIe). These latches help secure the graphics card, so be sure to unlatch it before pulling out the old card.
- Carefully pull the old card straight out of the slot. Pull the old card straight from the slot. You have to pull firmly, but don't force the card out. If you cannot pull out the card, make sure the latch is opened and the Phillips screw is removed from the card bracket.
Step 5. Remove the additional bay cover (if needed)
Many newer graphics cards require two bays on the back of the computer. You may need to remove the bay guard panel next to it if you are not already using it. This panel usually comes off right away, although it varies depending on your computer case.
Step 6. Insert a new graphics card
Make sure that no cables are blocking the slots and that nothing will be pulled under the back of the card. Firmly press the card straight into the PCIe slot until you hear the latch click and the card is evenly seated. Secure the card to the case using Phillips screws (most cards have multiple screws). Be sure to tighten each bracket if the card occupies more than one bay.
Step 7. Connect the power supply
Most newer graphics cards require at least one 6 or 8 pin connector from the power supply, usually located on the top of the graphics card. Make sure you connect all of these, as your computer will likely not turn on if the graphics card is not properly supplied with power.
Because the pins are configured in a certain way, the connector can only be connected from one direction. Do not force the connector into place, but make sure the connector is securely fastened
Step 8. Close the case
Once the graphics card is properly installed and connected to the power supply, you can close the case and move on to the software installation side.
Step 9. Connect the monitor with the new graphics card
When plugging the power cord back into the computer, ensure that the monitor is now connected to one of the ports on the new card. If the monitor is very old and your graphics card is new, you may need an adapter to connect the monitor. Most graphics cards come with this kind of adapter.
Part 3 of 3: Installing Drivers
Step 1. Turn on Windows
Before you do anything with drivers, make sure your computer boots up properly. If the computer does not turn on, or encounters an error immediately after turning it on, the graphics card may not be installed properly, or may not be receiving sufficient power from the power supply.
Windows may boot into low resolution mode when starting with a new graphics card. Ignore the command to detect new hardware for now
Step 2. Uninstall old drivers
If your old card is AMD/ATI and you are switching to NVIDIA, or vice versa, you should uninstall the old drivers first to avoid conflicts. If you're using the same brand, it's still recommended to uninstall the old drivers so you can start off clean. You can uninstall the driver from the Control Panel.
- Open Control Panel and select “Programs and Features” or “Uninstall a program”. If you are using Windows XP, select "Add or Remove Programs".
- Look for the graphics driver in the list of installed programs. For NVIDIA, it's usually "NVIDIA Graphics Driver XXX. XX". If you removed the AMD/ATI driver, search for “AMD Catalyst Install Manager”.
- Follow the instructions to uninstall the driver. For NVIDIA, highlight the driver, click Uninstall, then follow the prompts. For AMD, highlight "AMD Catalyst Install Manager", click Change, select "Express Uninstall ALL AMD Software" then follow the prompts.
- Reboot the computer after removing the drivers. This will complete the installation process.
Step 3. Download the latest drivers from the card manufacturer's site
After removing the old card driver, you can install the driver for the new card. Ignore the drivers included on the disc you found with the card because these drivers are out of date. Visit the AMD or NVIDIA site, depending on the card you purchased, and enter your graphics card model into the Search tool. Download the latest appropriate driver for your card model.
The driver file is quite large (about 300 MB), and it may take a while to download
Step 4. Run the installer for your new driver
Follow the prompts to install the driver to the computer. Most users can select the "Express" option. During driver installation, your monitor screen may flicker several times, and may change to a more suitable resolution.
You may be prompted to restart your computer once the driver installation is complete
Step 5. Start using your new card
Once the new drivers are installed, you can start using the new graphics card. Launch your favorite game or graphics-intensive program and see what performance you get!
