the graphics card is for many gamers the most important piece of hardware in their computer. Without them it is incredibly hard to run performance intensive games smoothly. But even graphics cards can get old and no longer keep up with their performance. Now if you want to install a graphics card for the very first time, or replace your old one, then many imagine this to be extremely difficult. This tutorial will prove you wrong and show you that it’s easier than you think it is.
What to look out for when changing and buying graphics cards
Many people nowadays want a graphics card that not only has a lot of power, but also looks good. The most important factors are the fan and the lighting, and here the motto is often: the more impressive and bigger, the better. But be careful! It is always recommended to check the size of the graphics card before buying and to see if it fits into your case. If you know exactly which case you have, or want to buy, it is recommended to check the Max. check the graphics card length and compare it with the GPU.
If you don’t know how much space is in your case, you should simply put a Folding rule or Tape measure take and from the Back side of the Cases up to next point with which the Graphics card collide could measure. Mind you inside the tower. It is also advisable to see what you want a graphics card for and what price range is suitable for it. For this it is recommended to have a look at the graphics card comparison of 2020, there the function of each price range is explained.
Change/install the graphics card
Step 1) Open the case and remove the old graphics card
To get to the old graphics card or to insert the new one you usually have to remove the left wall of your case. This is usually fixed with a thumbscrew, or a normal screw. If this or more is solved you can remove the door/wall.
Before touching any components inside your PC, be sure to turn off the power supply or unplug it from the wall socket after the computer is turned off.
If you have an old graphics card still installed, it is best to check if it is screwed to the back of the computer and still has monitor cables connected. Powerful graphics cards usually have additional PCI-E power cables connected (6- or 8-pin), be sure to remove these as well.
If everything is solved, you can loosen a small tab on the PCI-E slot where the graphics card is located. After a short jerk, the old graphics card should be in your hands quickly and without any problems.
But it is always recommended carefully proceed in order to neither the Old graphics card still other hardware to damage! Once all screws are loosened and the lever/tab is released, the GPU should be easy to remove.
Step 2) Install the new graphic card
If the new graphics card fits into your new case, nothing should stand in the way of it. Just repeat the procedure backwards. First insert the graphics card into the PCI-E x16 slot until the lever clicks into place and the GPU connectors protrude from the back of the case. Then attach the graphics card to the case and connect the PCI-E cables to the selected slots of the graphics card. Once this is done you can reattach monitor cables. As soon as everything seems to be connected correctly you can reconnect the power supply and switch it on.
If there is no picture on the screen, check all connectors and connections. If a picture appears you can close the case again.
Step 3) Adjust display settings and graphics card drivers
If everything is connected correctly, it is possible that the wrong resolution is displayed on your monitor and everything seems to be a little bit strange. If this is the case, you should download the correct driver for your graphics card from NVIDIA or AMD. This is generally worthwhile, since you can only get the maximum performance out of your GPU with these resolutions. If this still does not solve the problem you should try the Windows settings. For this right click at the Desktop and on display settings click. There select the screen and further down select the appropriate resolution.
If everything seems to be correct, it probably is. Have fun with your new graphics card and enjoy it for a long time.
I hope our guide could help you. If you still have questions, click on the contact form above and we will try to help you as soon as possible.
Video tutorial
To underline all this visually: Here still a current video on the subject