- Aug 21, 2021
- 6
- 1
- 15
Hello. This is my first time attempting to upgrade a computer part, so it is probably that I missed something that would be obvious to veteran PC builders.
My computer is an ASUS M32 series, unmodified before this new card. The original graphics card is an AMD Radeon R9 370 2GB, and the new one that I'm trying to upgrade to is a GTX 1660 6GB. I think that I did the hardware part of the swap correctly and that my problem is software, but I'm not positive. In regards to the power requirements, the 1660 only requires 10 more Watts than the R9 370 does.
I turned off my computer and disconnected it from everything, then took the side panel off, removed a metal plate that was screwed to brace the R9 370 in place, disconnected the 6 pin connector from my old card, unscrewed the part that was holding it in place at the back of the computer where the upgrade slots are, and then I pushed down on the clip where it connects to the motherboard until it clicked and the card slid right out pretty easily.
Putting in the 1660 was also fairly easy. I took the black cover sleeve off of the gold bit that connects to the motherboard and it slid right in and the clip clicked into place. The bracket that secures it to the back of my computer where the upgrade slots are doesn't quite match up with the holes for the screws, but I was still able to make sure it was firmly secure by putting a screw in the hole for one slot below it, which pinches the bracket and holds is securely with no wiggling or anything. The 1660 requires an 8 pin connector, but my computer has a 6+2 pin connector, which I was told means it can work for both 6 and 8. I attached the 2 to the 6 and they clicked into the connection port easily and securely. I did not replace the metal plate that was securing the R9 370 because there was nowhere to attach it to the 1660, but apart from that, everything went back into place. I put the side panel back and connected my computer to my monitor with an HDMI to HDMI cord.
When I tried to turn it on though, my monitor wasn't receiving anything. It acted like it wasn't connected. I tried another monitor with an HDMI to DVI cord, and still nothing. Neither monitor was receiving anything to display. I could hear the new card inside though, because the fans sounded different from my old card.
I was lead to believe that a new graphics card would be able to run in a very limited capacity to display what I'm doing so that I could install the new drivers. But instead I'm effectively blind. I tried inserting the driver CD that came with the new card, thinking that maybe I was wrong and that it would install the drivers from the CD automatically. That didn't happen.
I ejected the CD and turned off my computer, opening it up again and swapping back to my old R9 370. Everything is working as normal with the R9 370. I thought maybe I had to install the drivers before the new card, so I tried inserting the CD again. But it won't let me install them. I think it said that it requires the card to be inside the computer in order to install the drivers.
The above is every step I took in the process to replace my graphics card, without leaving anything out. Some of my terms may not be the correct technical terms, and for that inconvenience I apologize. I am currently still using the R9 370, and will probably continue to do so until I know what's going wrong.
My computer is an ASUS M32 series, unmodified before this new card. The original graphics card is an AMD Radeon R9 370 2GB, and the new one that I'm trying to upgrade to is a GTX 1660 6GB. I think that I did the hardware part of the swap correctly and that my problem is software, but I'm not positive. In regards to the power requirements, the 1660 only requires 10 more Watts than the R9 370 does.
I turned off my computer and disconnected it from everything, then took the side panel off, removed a metal plate that was screwed to brace the R9 370 in place, disconnected the 6 pin connector from my old card, unscrewed the part that was holding it in place at the back of the computer where the upgrade slots are, and then I pushed down on the clip where it connects to the motherboard until it clicked and the card slid right out pretty easily.
Putting in the 1660 was also fairly easy. I took the black cover sleeve off of the gold bit that connects to the motherboard and it slid right in and the clip clicked into place. The bracket that secures it to the back of my computer where the upgrade slots are doesn't quite match up with the holes for the screws, but I was still able to make sure it was firmly secure by putting a screw in the hole for one slot below it, which pinches the bracket and holds is securely with no wiggling or anything. The 1660 requires an 8 pin connector, but my computer has a 6+2 pin connector, which I was told means it can work for both 6 and 8. I attached the 2 to the 6 and they clicked into the connection port easily and securely. I did not replace the metal plate that was securing the R9 370 because there was nowhere to attach it to the 1660, but apart from that, everything went back into place. I put the side panel back and connected my computer to my monitor with an HDMI to HDMI cord.
When I tried to turn it on though, my monitor wasn't receiving anything. It acted like it wasn't connected. I tried another monitor with an HDMI to DVI cord, and still nothing. Neither monitor was receiving anything to display. I could hear the new card inside though, because the fans sounded different from my old card.
I was lead to believe that a new graphics card would be able to run in a very limited capacity to display what I'm doing so that I could install the new drivers. But instead I'm effectively blind. I tried inserting the driver CD that came with the new card, thinking that maybe I was wrong and that it would install the drivers from the CD automatically. That didn't happen.
I ejected the CD and turned off my computer, opening it up again and swapping back to my old R9 370. Everything is working as normal with the R9 370. I thought maybe I had to install the drivers before the new card, so I tried inserting the CD again. But it won't let me install them. I think it said that it requires the card to be inside the computer in order to install the drivers.
The above is every step I took in the process to replace my graphics card, without leaving anything out. Some of my terms may not be the correct technical terms, and for that inconvenience I apologize. I am currently still using the R9 370, and will probably continue to do so until I know what's going wrong.
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