Graphics Card upgrade - Help required

Card will work with your system or you can go better with a 7950 GT card.  Up to you.

 

Proper way to install a video card:


http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=965852


Step # 1


Download the most current driver for the video card, and have it placed on the desktop for later install. Try not to use the video card driver from the CD that comes with the card, since they are somewhat out of date. You still may if you wish.


If it’s an nVidia card, go to www.nvidia.com



If you are going from an ATI video card to a NVIDIA or vs. versa, one should uninstall the old driver first, from Add/Remove program, than use a driver cleaner, to get all the old driver code completely off the system. Use the driver cleaner twice. If you are going from an nVidia card to another nVidia card (Same for the ATI card), you may not have to use the driver cleaner, but I do to be on the safe side, but many, including me, have not seen any issues with this procedure. Others may have.




1. Turn off the system, unplug the power cord, and push in on the systems power button for about 5 seconds to discharge the system further.


2. Remove the old card, and install the new card, firmly.


Now attach, if required, any power cable to the card and the other end to a power source, to get the video card to work. Your systems power supply may have this power 4 pin or 6 pin connector.


Some retail video card manufactures include the molex Y power cable and some do not. If not, they do not cost more than a couple of bucks.


http://www.drivercleaner.net/  Driver Cleaner Pro download site.


(Now they are charging $10 for the program, where it was free before. You can try to manually clean out the old driver if you wish, but this is still a good program to have around)


Driver Cleaner 1.5 free edition linked below...


http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/Other-DRIVERS-TOOLS/Others/Driver-Cleaner-Professional-15.shtml


3. Now disable your Anti Virus software, and disconnect the modem at this time


4. Install the newer video card driver from the desktop, than if necessary, go into the Display Properties to reset the monitor resolution after it reboots. You are almost done. Now restart the Anti Virus program, and connect the modem.

Wow ! Thanks very much for the reply.  I was kind of expecting a "Yes" "No" response.  I will order the beast soon and have a go at the install process. 

 

Cheers - most kind

 

 

:smileywink:

 

If you go for the 7950 GT card instead, you will need a 6 pin power molex cable.   The card may or may not come with the cable, but if it does, it will be of the Y type that you have to connect two 4 pin power inputs that you may or may not have handy.   Or......

 

Get....

 

A 6 pin molex connector, which eliminates the need to connect two 4 pin power connectors and only need to connect one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812201004  I like this approach better. 

Or…..

A SATA to 4 pin adaptor to convert those unused SATA connectors on your PSU to the 4-pin Molex connector instead.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20580

Good price on one of those now:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150197