getting first video card what do i need to know

[gatepc]

hello all might be getting my first video card will just install it my self what do i have to do to do this? this is what i think i do tell me if i am missing anything

1. turn off computer ( of course)
2. put 2nd video card in
3. boot up and turn off intergrated card in bios
4 boot windows vista

now to make sure will this card work with vista
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141065
i dont need anything good its just that i cant play most games at all even on THE lowest graphics setting and would like to play on at least low for most games and integrated is just not cutting it also getting 1 more gb of ram :) any way tell me what else i need to know first video card install i have done ram before so this shouldint be hard

[iccanui]

My god thats a cheap card. I dont mean in a bad way. I have a 7900gs in my server that im going to steal for my new pc i just ordered, i might have to buy that one or look around and see whats out there and just upgrade the card too.


Anyway, no you havent missed anything. Sounds like you have all the steps and should feel confident that your doing it all the right way. Make sure to download the latest drivers before you installed the card though cause the ones on the disk are never current. Might as well get the lastest and best drivers if your doing a clean install and especially if its vista.


Good luck.

[gatepc]

ok thanks i didint know i had to install the drivers first thanks a lot

[iccanui]

ok thanks i didint know i had to install the drivers first thanks a lot

hmm, i dont. but do uninstall any old drivers first. vista will have drivers built in so you can boot into windows.

[gatepc]

how do i do that
uninstall the drivers i mean right now i am using the bulit in video card 6150se if it matters

[gta_bmx2]

You might want to look into an 8600 based card. Newegg has a lot of specials, so the price might be about the same or a little more, and the performance will be better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units

scroll down for a nice chart of pixel/texture/shader rates and such. I'm using an Asus Nvidia 7300GT card that I bought for $50 or so a while back. It does good on the older games like HL2. I'm also looking to upgrade to an 8600 or better card in a few months.

Remember to completely unplug the PC from the outlet/power strip. And ground yourself. Also be careful when handling the new card because there are fragile capacitors and such on the card.

[gta_bmx2]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121231

This iAsus 8600GT is only $59 after rebates. Not sure if you like messing with rebates. And ASUS is a great brand. This 8600GT will be about twice as fast/powerful as the 8500GT.

http://www.steampowered.com/nvidia/

Whatever card you buy, as long as it's an Nvidia, Steam will give you 4 great games for FREE. "Half-Life 2: Deathmatch" is an awesome game.

[gatepc]

how should i ground myself lol i never did in the past and never killed anything yet is it really that importent is there any free way liking keeping one hand on the pc case it self or something i know the static stips are dirt cheap but dont want to have to get one at the store lol

[iccanui]

how do i do that
uninstall the drivers i mean right now i am using the bulit in video card 6150se if it matters

oh yea i forgot its on board. dont sweat it then.

[iccanui]

how should i ground myself lol i never did in the past and never killed anything yet is it really that importent is there any free way liking keeping one hand on the pc case it self or something i know the static stips are dirt cheap but dont want to have to get one at the store lol

Dont worry about grounding. Thats really old school and no one does it. If your worried take your screw driver and touch the case before you touch anything inside.

[gatepc]

k thanks a lot man :)