Want Better 3D Display? Change Your Graphics Card!

The new Vista operating system and a plethora of advanced games make it virtually impossible to ignore the need to upgrade your graphics card. Failure to heed this encouragement will render your screen results as "flat" and not using the maximum 3D potential programmed into the display or game, to an out-and-out screen failure.

Almost all of the motherboards in a computer that is available for purchase today have a graphics card built in. The graphics is usually better than a standard graphic's card used in the past, but is not the top of the line either. Rectifying this problem and placing a graphics card in your system is probably one of the easiest things you can do. You do not need to have a degree in computer science, and you don't even need to really know anything about computers to complete this task if you follow these instructions.

RESTORE WINDOWS CONFIGURATION

Before we get too far into this project, we should make a backup of our current operating system settings.

- To do this go to START -> RUN.

- A box will appear with the word OPEN: at the left side.

- In the box type the word MSCONFIG.

- At this point a box will open that reads SYSTEM CONFIGURATION UTILITY.

- Toward the bottom right, press the "button" that reads LAUNCH SYSTEM RESTORE.

- The next box that opens is entitled SYSTEM RESTORE and WELCOME TO SYSTEM RESTORE.

- The box is split in half and on the right side near the top are two "radio buttons" - one entitled RESTORE MY COMPUTER TO AN EARLIER TIME, and CREATE A RESTORE POINT.

- Click on the last one "Create A Restore Point" and click the NEXT button at the bottom right side of the page.

- This box will now be named CREATE A RESTORE POINT, and will have a box near the top that is named RESTORE POINT DESCRIPTION.

- In the open box beneath this title, enter something you will remember such as today's date, then press the CREATE BUTTON at the bottom right side of the page.

-A new box will appear named RESTORE POINT CREATED.

- Press the CLOSE button at the bottom right, the RESTART your computer.

DISABLE GRAPHICS CARD:

The next thing you want to do is to disable the graphics card that is already in your computer. NOTE: Don't worry if this all sounds confusing. If you follow my directions and take one step at a time, you will see this is pretty easy and should only take ½ hour or so.

- On your desktop or in your START menu, you will see the option for MY COMPUTER.

- Press this and the box will open.

- In any clear part (not on any option) place your mouse cursor and do a RIGHT CLICK. - Next go to the bottom and select PROPERTIES.

- A new box will open named SYSTEM PROPERTIES, that contain several Tabs.

- Click on the HARDWARE tab and the first button under this title will be one named DEVICE MANAGER.

- Click on the Device Manager button and a new window named DEVICE MANAGER will appear.

- Usually the third item in this box is entitle DISPLAY ADAPTERS and should contain only one item - the name of the graphics card built into the motherboard.

- Double click your mouse on this name and another box will appear with the name of the graphics card.

- At the bottom of the GENERAL tab, you will see the words DEVICE USAGE with a drop-down box below it. The box will probably say USE THIS DEVICE (ENABLED).

- Press the drop-down arrow on the right and select DO NOT USE THIS DEVICE (DISABLED).

- Shut your computer down, and when it stops, remove the power and the monitor cables.

Now we are ready to install the new card.

PCI OR AGP GRAPHICS?

In today's computers, there are two possible type of slots for graphic cards - PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port). The AGP type has taken over the market, in fact finding a PCI graphics card is getting harder and harder. Soon, the only place to find one will be online auction sites or yard sales.

Determining which type you will need, you could refer to your computer/motherboard owner's manual, or simply open the computer case. The latter is easy and don't worry, it wont bite you.

OPENING YOUR COMPUTER:

Most recently released computers have two screws in the back and a lever in the back or front to open the side of the "tower" case. Note that if you take one of the sides off and a flat wall is facing you, try the other side. If you have an older tower, there will generally be six screws in the back that need to be removed and the whole top of the tower comes off with the top and sides joined together.

Now that your computer is open, lay it down so that the open side is facing up. Looking down into the computer - if this is an older computer - you will see anywhere from 3 to 5 white rows of slots - equal in length, and you will need a PCI graphics card. If this is a newer computer you will generally see 3 rows of white slots, and one slot row offset back from the white rows, and will be brown. This will be the AGP slot.

If you have never had an AGP card in the computer, there will be a metal slat that will cover the whole where the card should fit. This slat is preformed in the factory and will be tacked at several spots to hold it to the case. Pry it off of the case and set it aside. There will probably be a screw in the top of the new opening, that you will use with the card. Take this screw out and set it aside for the moment.

If it is dry weather and you have noticed some static electricity in the air, you probably will save yourself a lot of trouble by running back down to your computer store and purchasing an ANTI-SHOCK strap.

CARD INSTALLATION:

Now, carefully open the foil package and remove the new card. At one end there will be a bracket that looks like the number 7 (or something like that). That end will go to the back of the computer.

Place the card over the brown slot and working from the rear, carefully push the card into the slot, first with your had at the back of the card and then working toward your other hand. This card may require a little pressure, but be warned not to use too much pressure.

One the card is seated in the slot, pick up the screw you used earlier and place it back into the AGP end slot that will hold the card in place.

Look around the inside the computer and make sure nothing was knocked out of place.

CLOSE COMPUTER:

Now replace the cover and the screws. Next, replace the power cable, and plug the monitor into the appropriate jack on the new card. You will no longer need the jack that you used previously for the monitor.

Read your installation manual about the installation of the software and follow these directions.

INSTALL SOFTWARE AND CONFIGURE CARD:

After the full installation, you should be enjoying the full capability of your new card and the rich graphics that it offers.