How to Install a graphic card

Gamers take notice: Installing a new graphics card is one of the easier PC upgrades you can make. As PC games continue to get more complex (and more fun to play), you need a bigger, more powerful graphics card to push all those pixels. The latest cards from ATI and Nvidia deliver nearly cinematic effects. Once you decide on which card you want, it should take less than half an hour for you to be up and gaming.

Before you start, you'll need to gather these elements:
New graphics card
Phillips screwdriver
Antistatic wrist strap (optional)
Required attention span: 20 to 30 minutes

Step 1:-

Uninstall current graphics card drivers. Before you install your new card, you'll need to uninstall your current graphics card's drivers to avoid any potential conflicts. Right-click My Computer and select Properties. Under the Hardware tab, find the button to open the Device Manager. Your graphics card should be listed under the Display Adapter heading. Double-click the name of your graphics card to open a properties window for your current card. Still with us? We're almost there (it takes longer to describe the path than it does to actually click your way though it). Last step: Under the Driver tab, click the Uninstall button.

Step 2:-

Remove old card. Turn off your PC and unplug it from the wall. Open the case and locate the AGP slot--it's the brown-plastic slot typically found above the white-plastic PCI slots. Make sure you first ground yourself by first touching a metal part of your PC case or by wearing an antistatic wrist strap. (Grounding yourself will prevent you from getting shocked and from unintentionally damaging your PC's components.) If you are replacing a graphics card, you'll need to remove a small screw attached to the back plate prior to taking out the card.

Step 3:-

Install new card. It wouldn't hurt to page through your new card's instruction manual at this point. Then, take your new graphics card out of its foil wrapper and slide it into your motherboard's AGP slot. Press down firmly with even force until it is securely in place (your system won't boot up unless the card is in all the way). Screw it into the back plate and close up your case.

Step 4:-

Install new drivers. Turn on your PC and install the drivers. Windows XP should automatically recognize the new hardware and walk you through the installation wizard. If Windows doesn't detect the card, click Settings from the Start menu. Open the Control Panel and click Add Hardware. From there, a wizard will help you install the new drivers from the CD that came bundled with your new card. It's a good idea to check the graphic card vendor's Web site for more up-to-date drivers, just in case the vendor has released drivers since manufacturing your card. Once you've downloaded the drivers, simply restart your PC. Now, you're ready to start gaming.