Periodically, every computer needs an upgrade. Parts get old and, as software becomes more sophisticated, that old gear just doesn’t cut it. Trust me, I know the feeling. I went through this process last February. My main PC came with an nVidia 7300 LE graphics card – just barely better than having an integrated graphics chipset at the time and absolutely useless by today’s standards. I wanted to play HD video without overworking my processor. I wanted to play the latest video games without having to set them at minimum resolution and low detail. Oblivion and Bioshock are fun at 640X480, but they rely on more than their storyline to create a quality experience. For example, I can either tell you about a magnificent painting, or I can show you the Mona Lisa. One option has decidedly more impact than the other.
The steps by which I upgraded my card were relatively simple. First, the obvious – pick a card to buy. I went with a PCI-Express card. PCI-Express is currently the standard port for graphics cards; older computers may use an AGP port. The card I purchased was the nVidia 8800 GT, which offered excellent value for its price. It gave me an exponential performance increase without breaking the bank, and would last me at least a year or two. When purchasing a card, I recommend avoiding brick and mortar stores. Go with an online vendor such as Newegg, Tiger Direct, or Zip Zoom Fly. They offer better prices and often have specials such as sales, instant rebates, or free shipping.
After my new card arrived, I went through the process of preparing to install my new card. I went into the Device Manager feature of Windows (for XP: Start > Settings> Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager; for Vista: Start > Control Panel > Device Manager) and selected Display Adapter from the drop-down list. I highlighted the 7300 LE currently in place and selected Uninstall from the toolbar at the top of the window. Uninstalling the current card’s drivers is the best way to avoid problems later. You don’t want them conflicting with the new card (if you’re using integrated graphics, you don’t have to worry about this step, but you will need to take an extra one later). Afterward, I shut down the computer and unplugged all the cords from the back of the PC.
Once everything was unplugged, I opened up my computer. Most have screws on the back panel that allows the user to get inside the tower; others have some sort of “easy-open” feature. Mine had the latter. After opening my computer, I made sure to ground myself against a metal surface. This eliminated risk of electro-static discharge when touching PC components, which can destroy fragile computer hardware. Toward that end, your new card will come packaged in a static-free bag. Keep this so you have something to store your old card in. You’d be surprised how many situations there are where a backup card can come in handy.
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