Putting in a New Video Card

[bjornaz]

Hello,

I've had this Gateway computer I purchased a couple months ago at Bestbuy (Link): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+-+Desktop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/5424601.p?id=1218644416142&skuId=5424601&st=gateway%20dx&cp=1&lp=3

I want to take my GeForce 8800 GTO from my previous computer and insert it into this computer. I already have the card removed, but I am not sure if after I plug it into my new Gateway will it cause any problems? I've never done this before so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[captaincharisma]

what problem woulld you think you would experience? as long as you uninstall the video drivers before installing the new card you will not have to worry about anything. do you know what video card is in the computer now?

 

[bjornaz]

I dunno, the computer will blow up? ha ha. I just hope the computer wont permanently lock up. The video is a Integrated Intel HD Graphics Cards. The specs should be on the Bestbuy webpage.

So I just go to the Hardware Manager and uninstall the Intel HD ?

 

[captaincharisma]

i would look first in "add/remove program" option in control panel and if you see it in there uninstall it there and then check device manager to make sure it is no longer there. but if you don't see it there then go into device manager and uninstall it there. after doing that shuutdown the computer. don't restart it because it will just reinstall the driver again. once the card is installed it will disable the onboard video

 

[bjornaz]

Then do I first install the drivers from the Nvidia webpage prior to putting in the GeForce card? Or will it automatically install the drivers upon boot? Thanks a lot!

 

[captaincharisma]

no because the drivers will just error out because you do not have the card in your computer yet

 

[bjornaz]

Alright, thanks. Hopefully I will be back with my video card working

 

[tsnor]

1. Power Supply. GeForce 8800 GTO? You sure its not an 8800 GT? The 8800s were 100-150w video cards. You need to make sure you have a power supply with enough room. This ref says you have 300W power supply which shoudl be enough. http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/model/DT.GDDAA.004

2. Drivers. Coming from integrated this is not a problem. Just install card and then download the latest nvida driver for 8800 from their site for win7 64bit.

3. Nice PC, you could get a stronger card. Compare newer cards at price points to your current card by looking at the chart on the last page. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

enjoy