Question Geezer needs help with getting a new graphics card

RockyCoast

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Hello helpful folks; I sure do appreciate your being out there. I'm an 80-year-old; had computers from the old CP/M days (Kaypro 26-pound "portable".) Today's problem: I just gritted my teeth and bought a new ASRock Radeon RX 6700 XT video card (because I was advised that my old AMD Radeon R9 380 was dying.) The new one arrived today and it looks like it's a half-inch too long to fit in my ASRock Z97 Extreme6 motherboard. Before I send it back: how do I check to see if it really doesn't fit? (You'd think ASRock would make video cards that fit their own motherboards.) How do I find out if the next one I get will fit?

And, while I'm at it, can anyone recommend a good gaming video card for less than (OUCH!) $400. (When you're my age, everything seems way more expensive than it ought to. I remember when gas was 19 cents a gallon, when Motel 6 cost $6/night.) Thanks again and again for being there.



 
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RockyCoast

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At the inside end of the card there is a row of sockets for other things to plug into the motherboard; those sockets protrude up enough that I think it would prevent me pushing the video card in all the way. Don't want to force anything.
 

RockyCoast

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Also of note, your new video card will pull about 30 more watts than your old one. Hopefully your power supply is up to the task.
Well, I got it in; I'm embarrassed to admit, I didn't see the cover on the pins (or whatever they're called) that prevented me from inserting. And I thank you for mentioning the power. I have a 750W power supply so that wasn't a problem, though I had a heck of a time inserting a second cable. Anyway, the bad news:
The computer boots up but the graphics default to the built-in display adaptor and monitor. Zat mean the computer isn't seeing the new card?
 

Rokinamerica

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Could mean you need to pick which GPU to use, I do apologize because I have not used AMD, also, are you plugging the monitor in to the GPU of M/B?

And a big old shout out to you mentioning KayPro.
 

RockyCoast

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It doesn't see the new GPU. In device manager all I see is "Microsoft Basic Display Adaptor". Did I not push the new card in enough? It didn't come with a drivers disk of any kind... WAIT!
After restarting a couple times, it's suddenly there! This is why I'll always be a perpetual beginner, though willing to try stuff. Now to investigate everything. THANKS again.
 
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letmepicyou

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It doesn't see the new GPU. In device manager all I see is "Microsoft Basic Display Adaptor". Did I not push the new card in enough? It didn't come with a drivers disk of any kind... WAIT!
After restarting a couple times, it's suddenly there! This is why I'll always be a perpetual beginner, though willing to try stuff. Now to investigate everything. THANKS again.
Now make sure you download and install the latest driver for your video card.