Hardware Information |
Upgrading, Adding or Removing a Video Card, Sound Card, or Other AGP/PCI Card
For Video cards - Most PC video cards these days are AGP. But you COULD be working with PCI, or PCI express. If you're not sure which you have (more then 75% of the time it will be AGP) consult your motherboard manual. If your video card is AGP, you should see a slot smaller then the other slots on your board, and it will be a different color. You can likely also tell your video card if it has a GPU (a processor with a fan on top of it) or a video card company printed on it like Nvidia or Geforce. To take out your video card in order to switch it for a newer one, or if it simply is not working, remove the screw first that holds it to the case. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE CARD UNTIL YOU HAVE UNSCREWED IT. You will damage, maybe even destroy your card, and you may damage your AGP, PCI or PCI express slot as well. Your board may then have a simple switch that holds the socket down. Flick this switch up. After the scrue is removed, and the switch is flicked up, pull the card away from the board. Pull it on one side first so when it comes out it comes out on a slant, kind of like a car reversing. It should come out quite easily. To put in a new card, make sure the card you're putting in is properly lined up in the slot, then press the card into the slot. If it dosen't seem to be going in, you may be putting it in the wrong way. The pathways on the one side of the card should be the side that goes into the motherboard slot (these pathways looking like small lines going up one side of the card). Once the card sinks in with almost a click (like RAM), flick the switch down and scrue the card into the place you unscrued it. Start up your PC, make sure the card is working, then put your case back on. Sound card - Sound cards are pretty easy, and the method for these can be used for any other card, such as network cards and the like (assuming they are all PCI. PCI are the black slots on your board). For installing/removing a PCI card, just unscrue it from the board, pull it out, then put the new one in, and scrue it in. Pretty easy. If you are having troubles, make sure the lines running up one side of the card is the side going into the slot. If you still have troubles, try turning the card around (but still make sure the pathways are facing the slot). I am a young, aspiring computer engineer into Internet Marketing, hardware, software, web design, SEO and just about anything related to computers. Please come check out my growing PC forum at http://www.markspcforum.com
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Power and Your PC The power coming into a computer is the most critical component, and it may be one of the most overlooked. It is just taken for granted that it will always be there and working properly. Used Laptop Computer: Your Quick Purchase Inspection Guide - Part 2 Used laptop computers are everywhere these days. How can you sift through the mass of available used laptop computers to narrow your search down to the right laptop for you? This is the second part of a series of articles designed to give you a few suggestions for your next purchase. 10 Things to Ponder Before Moving Your Office Network Moving the office network? How hard could it be? Anybody who's ever moved the office network knows the risks and challenges associated with this colossal task. This mighty endeavour is not merely a case of logging-off, shutting down and pulling the plug. Laptop Computer Extras for the Mobile Traveler A laptop computer certainly provides you with an unprecedented level of freedom and mobility away from the office. However there are a few extras you might want to bring along on your laptop travels:Extra 1: portable printerIf you travel a lot, you never know when you might need to commit one of your digital documents to paper. USB Key Drives - Useful Tool There are many different names for these drives, just so we are all on the same wavelength about what I'm talking about, here are a few of the other names:USB Key Drives, Thumb Drive, USB Pen, Key Drive, Microdrive, Flash Drive.These drives, regardless of what you call them, are an extremely handy tool for anyone who uses computers at different locations. Adding Serial Ports to a Computer with Only USB Ports So you bought a new computer but you don't have serial ports?It's surprisingly common these days - you find an awesome machine that does everything you want it to do, but then you get home and find out that amongst the lightning-fast processor and terabyte hard drive, you're missing something - a serial port.Most laptop manufacturers have killed RS-232In an effort to enforce newer standards, such as USB and FireWire, many laptop manufacturers have let serial ports fall by the wayside. Flyback Transformer-How to Locate the ABL Line Whenever there is a complaint about monitorcontrast problem I will check on the flybacktransformer ABL (automatic blanking limiter)circuit.Sometimes a weak picture tube might causedcontrast problem. Rear Projection TV Facts - Understanding the Pros & Cons of Rear Projection in the Home Theater Rear Projection Television - An Affordable OptionA great deal of consumer appeal for Rear Projection TV systems arise out of the shear simplicity that this product offers as an immediate solution to getting a bigger TV.No mess, no fuss, if you have the space, either visit your local big screen retailer - or better still, check at your favorite online electronics superstore - to order your product and get it delivered in just a few days; unpack the product and there you have a big screen TV in your living room ready for immediate use!Rear Projection TV Facts:As already stated, rear projection offers a most immediate solution to getting a bigger TV. Motherboard Basics A recent Tech Tip covered the basics of selecting a computer case and made mention of the various sizes that correspond to motherboards of different form factors. A few people wrote in expressing interest in understanding more about the basics of motherboards, and that's exactly what this Tech Tip intends to address. Learn to Find Cheap Laptop Computers on the Internet Cheap laptop computers are coming to a store near you. In fact, there are many there already. 5 Ways To Backup Your Data... The data on your hard drive is the most critical item inside your computer, and the only item which can not be replaced. It may be an unwanted hassle and expense to replace a defective memory module, monitor, or processor, but there is no replacing data once lost. Refurbished Laptops are the Real Deal! Laptop computers have found usefulness as portable media devices.Even refurbished laptops can be used as DVD players, stereos, and recording devices. Security Risks and Ways to Decrease Vulnerabilities in a 802.11b Wireless Environment IntroductionThis document explains topics relating to wireless networks. The main topics discussed include, what type of vulnerabilities exist today in 802. Buying a Refurbished Dell Laptop Dell offers a full line of refurbished laptops on their website, dell.com. To Upgrade or Not? To upgrade or not? That is the question. At least, since the release of the new Athlon 64 FX-57, that is the question I have been pondering. Easy to Execute! Plug and play equipment or hardware solves the problem of driver installation, re-starting routines, and generally speaking, "hassle", for those who are not technically proficient.If your computer supports "Plug and Play", then, as the name suggests, you simply plug it in and play. When Good Color Goes Bad... Even with the popularity of digital technology, and the availability of equipment and software associated with it, many printing firms are still slow to make the changes needed to upgrade their business. More so when it comes to digital photography. What is Blu-Ray DVD Video technology has increased significantly over the past years, and is continuing to grow at an incredible rate. Digital Video Disc's aka DVD's are the most likely the last big jump in consumer video technology that everyone is familiar with. The Top 10 Must-Have Laptop Accessories You've laid out good money for your laptop computer, but you're not done spending just yet.There are a few more laptop accessories you may want to consider to make the package complete. The Printer Cartridge Game Think you got a great deal on a printer? Like the rest of us, you probably paid $50 to $75 for a decent Epson or Lexmark printer. What's the catch, you might have asked? Most salesmen would say there is no catch. |
home | site map | Contact Us |