Whether you plan to build a new gaming PC from scratch or only upgrade your GPU to enjoy the improved graphic feature, you should know how to install a graphics card in your computer. In this post, MiniTool will give you a detailed guide for the video card installation.
If you are a gamer, installing a new and more powerful graphics card or GPU can be a good choice since this can improve your FPS and in-game visuals. If you haven’t built your PC, you can prepare such a video card. If you plan to upgrade your old graphics card, replacing it with a powerful GPU is necessary.
No matter which situation you are encounter, you need to know how to install a new graphics card on your PC. This could be a bit complicated since if you never open the case of the PC. But don’t worry; here is a guide for you.
Purchase a Proper Graphics Card Before Installing It
It is important to choose the right graphics card and how to choose it? Here are some things you should pay attention to:
- The GPU should match your monitor resolution and you should consider the refresh rate of the monitor.
- Make sure the computer case has enough room for the card and the power supply is also enough.
- Don’t count on GPU overclocking for performance boosts.
- When choosing a graphics card, consider these important specifications – its memory card, form factor, Thermal Design Power (TDP), power connectors, ports, clock speed, memory speed/bandwidth, and more.
To know the details, refer to this forum – How to Buy the Right Graphics Card: A GPU Guide for 2020.
The next is installing a graphics card and now let’s see the steps.
How to Install a Graphics Card
Step 1: Power off your computer and open the computer case.
Step 2: If you don’t have a video card installed, move to Step 3. If you need to upgrade the graphics card, remove the old CPU:
- Remove all the power cables connected to the graphics card.
- Remove the screws holding the card to the PCI-Express backplate and put them to the side.
- Unlock the PCI-E slot clip and remove the GPU.
Step 3: Install your new graphics card to the PCI-E x16 slot.
Step 4: Push down the plastic lock on the end of the PCI-E slot and hold it in place.
Step 5: Screw the rear bracket down and secure the graphics card to the computer case.
Step 6: Connect any required power supply cables and reattach the case.
Now, you can use the new graphics card. But to ensure you can use the computer with a new video card well, there is another thing you should do: installing the latest driver for your graphics card. This is because if the driver is not compatible with your computer, some issues may happen.
Three related articles are for you and you can choose one based on your needs:
- How to Update AMD Drivers in Windows 10? 3 Ways for You!
- Update Your NVIDIA GPU Display Driver Now to Fix Five Vulnerabilities
- Full Guide: How to Update Radeon Drivers
Bottom Line
How to install a CPU in your computer? After reading this post, you know the detailed operations and just follow the guide to install your graphics card.