All you really need to do is a little research, go to your local electronics store (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc.) and pick out a good card.

It's pretty simple to install one. They come either in PCI-slot-configured (a bit lower on the motherboard) or AGP-slot-configured (usually the highest port, designed specifically for a graphics card). It might take about 15 minutes of your time, and anybody can do it.

Double-J's How-To, Volume #1: Graphics Cards

What you will need:

  • Anti-Static Wrist Band (under $5 from a PC store, you don't have to have one, but it's a good idea. Even if you do have one, make sure you open your PC on a tile/wood floor, no carpet)
  • Screwdriver (most PC cases are screwed together, although some, especially Dell's, have a nice pop-and-lock design where you just have to press a button to open it. Consult your user-manual)
  • New Graphics Card
  • Vaccuum/Compressed Air (Yes, it gets dirty in there, and it's always a good idea to clean it out)




Step 1: Uninstall the previous drivers for your old graphics card/adapter (if you don't have one, skip to step 2). You can look up your card in the Start > Programs > Accessories > System Information. After you've confirmed that, go to Add/Remove programs, which will allow you to remove the drivers.

Step 2: Disconnect your PC's cables and such, and move it (if necessary) to a static-free surface (put on your wristband if you have one). Open that sucker up, and remove any dust/debris.

Step 3: Removing the old card. Find your old graphics card, which isn't too hard. It helps to look on the back of your PC and find where your monitor plugged in at. If you don't have a card, skip to step 4. If you do, you will have to press the little plastic notches at each end of the card. This will pop the card out of position, and allow you to pull it out. Don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease, those things are stuck in there good.

Step 4: Installing the new card. Here's the fun part! Wherever you just removed the old card from, put the new one in, and slide those plastic notches back in so they lock (if there are any). You might need a different slot if your new card is an AGP and the old one was PCI - the AGP has a bit different configuration on the bottom where it fits into the conductor, you can tell pretty easily which is which. Anyways, stick it in, and reconnect all the cables you previously removed. Also, some cards require a bypass to your PC power supply, which is no big deal (most of the high-end new cards have this). You just plug it in where the diagram shows you in the box, or on the manufacturers website.

Step 5: All is well! Turn on your PC, and pray to God that you can see picture on your monitor, everything should run properly. If the card came with a CD, install any software and drivers it may have. You will most likely have to go to the manufacturers website for the latest drivers (including the latest DirectX supported). Once you've installed the drivers, you are set to perform higher levels of gaming, image editing, and DVD playback! Hope this helps!

Enjoy!
Double-J