Upgrade Your Graphics

It definitely depends on what you are using your computer for, as to what may be required to give you the best graphics on it. It is always a good idea to keep your graphics card up to date, and this is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your computer's graphics. If you upgrade your graphics card, you will be able to run all of your multimedia applications quicker. It does not matter if you use your system for basic email and web surfing, your work activities, playing the latest game on it or for creating family albums and movies; you should constantly upgrade your graphics card.

Find your graphic card information. Before you can upgrade your graphics card, you need to know what you have and what your motherboard can handle. Click on “Start," “Control Panel," “Appearance and Themes,” then “Display” and the “Settings” tab. The name of your graphics card will be displayed. Check the graphics card website to find out all of the information pertaining to your card. In addition, check your computer's manufacturers website to find out what cards will work in your system.

Buy a new graphics card that will be compatible with your system.

Remove all traces of the old graphic card. This includes all drivers, software or anything else that is connected to it. Right Click on “My Computer,” choose “Properties,” then the “Hardware” tab and “Device Manager.” Your graphics card's name will be displayed under “Display Adapter” (click on the “+” to the left, to open it). Double click on your graphics card's name, then select the “Driver” tab and click on the “Uninstall” button. Now click on “Start,” “Control Panel,” “Add and Remove Programs” and remove any application listed which is associated with your old card. Restart your computer.

Replace old card. Shut down your system. Ground yourself; remove the cover of your computer. Unscrew the card, and gently remove it. Line up the connectors and lightly apply enough pressure to insert the new graphics card in the slot. Replace the screw(s) to secure the graphics card and, if necessary, hook up power to it.

Restart your computer. Run any installation CDs that came with your new graphics card. Download the latest drivers from the graphics card manufacturer's website for your new card. It is very common for even the newest cards to have updated drivers available.