How to Install a Video Card

Graphics accelerator card or fondly called as Video card is a computer expansion feature which has the sole responsibility of producing images for display outputs. In early computers, it is normally integrated with the unit’s motherboard and referred to as video controller or graphics controller. Installing or upgrading video cards to high end ones greatly improve gaming and multimedia applications of the computer. Below is a step by step process on how to successfully install a video card in your computer.

1. Gather the required tools.
- screwdriver
- Video card manual
- Instruction manual that comes with your computer
- An anti-static bracelet (optional)

2. Turn off the computer.

3. Remove all the peripheral devices connected to the computer.

4. Using the computer’s instruction manual, follow the correct steps in removing the cover of the chassis or the case. Ground yourself by wearing an anti-static bracelet or by touching the metal part of the chassis.

5. Find the port wherein your monitor cable was attached. Unscrew the metal bracket.

6. Before pulling out the video card, check first if there are wires attached to the central chip of the video card. If there are, unplug them first.

7. Pull the video card out from its slot. Do this gently. Place the video card on a clean paper towel handling only on its edges.

8. Place your new video card’s gold contacts towards its slot on the motherboard. Insert it into the slot. Completing the installation of a video card might vary this is where the video card manual comes in handy. Follow its instructions on how to connect additional wires present in your new video card.

9. Replaced all the remove screws. Connect all the peripheral devices initially connected on the computer.

10. Turn you computer on. If an image is displayed on your screen this means that the video card was properly installed.

11. Instructions would be shown on how to install the driver necessary to run the new video card. Also, check the video card’s manual for specific instructions on how to perform this. Normally, the required driver files are included with the video card in the form of a CD.