There are still people who do not suspect that that iron box, called the system unit, is not a computer and, especially, a processor, in the full sense of the word. After removing the side cover, inside you can see many different electronic boards - they all have the capacious name of "accessories". Just from them, as from cubes of the children's designer, the computer also gathers. A television tuner, a sound card, a video card - this is not a complete list of the "inhabitants" of the system unit. Accessories that can be replaced with newer models are called discrete. For example, the ASUS Xonar sound card is discrete, but the popular solution on the inexpensive Realtek High Definition Audio codec is built-in, that is, it is represented by a chip soldered directly to the motherboard. The same can be said about the integrated video - you can disable it and use a discrete graphics card, but not replace it.
Since discrete components are always several times more productive and better than their built-in counterparts, users often carry out upgrades on their own, sometimes called an “upgrade”. That is why many forums ask a logical question: how to change the video card yourself? In fact, there is nothing complicated about this. By doing everything, as will be said below, everyone will be able to understand how to replace a video card easily and simply.
Remember the cartridges from 8-bit set-top boxes? Connecting a discrete video card to the motherboard is carried out according to the same principle: sliding contacts on the card enter a special connector connected to the internal data bus. All modern graphics cards are designed for the PCI-Express x16 bus. Although you can still find models designed to work with classic PCI or even the undeservedly deceased AGP. To figure out how to change the video card, you need to take the instructions for the motherboard and carefully read the technical data: if there is PCI-Express x16 (sometimes written as PCI-E), then the upgrade comes down to going to the nearest computer store and buying a new card. Otherwise, you will have to look for a card for existing tires.
We assume that the user is lucky and his computer has a PCI-E connector. How to change the video card in this case? A new card is bought, carefully removed from the box and lies on a table next to the system unit. Please note: static discharge from the human body can damage sensitive electronic elements, so the card should be kept only from the ends of the PCB, without touching the soldering. Turn off the computer, pull out the power cord: disconnecting the button on the extension cord is not enough, because few people know what exactly it breaks - zero or phase. We disconnect the wire going to the monitor from the system unit and remember which board in the case it was connected to. We unscrew the bolts on the back wall of the computer case and remove the side cover.
To determine how to change the video card, look inside. Sometimes a flashlight really helps out. Here it is - an old map. It is held in the case with a screw or a special lock (in more expensive models of cases). The card needs to be removed from the connector, so we unscrew the bolt (unlock the lock). Sometimes the connector itself has a plastic protrusion that additionally keeps the card from falling out. If so, then gently pry it and remove the old card. By the way, if the card is built-in, then you do not need to remove it (and it is impossible).
We take a new one and attach the contacts to the connector. Then we do a little trick: first we press one side of the card until the contacts enter the connector, and then the other. We check that the contacts are tight and are on the same level. We fix the card. It remains to connect the cable from the monitor to it, return the computer power cord to its place, and assemble the case. Turn on, boot, install the driver from the disk. Now you know how to change a video card.