how do you install a videocard on your computer?

[reezy718]

I ws thinking about buying a video card with more memory space so I can play dreamcast games with a dreamcast emulator on my computer.however I need a video card with more space for it to run with no slowdown or anything.
Only thing is that when you buy a video card you gotta go inside your computer.I dont know how to put a video card in my computer and I dont wanna risk ruining my computer by trying.Does anybody know how to install a video card?

I have one of those stand up computers,here's a similar pic to how mines look:http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/dynaweb_docs/hdwr/SGI_Admin/books/Origin200_OG/sgi_html/figures/Spdo.rmv.side.panel.deskside.gif

does anybody know how to install video cards

[StarXS]

thats the "other side" of the computer... you have to open the left side (when facing the computer) to get to everything... gimme a minute and I'll post pics

EDIT: this is what my computer looks like with the side off... (sorry bout the huge scale, I only shoot @ 6MP)

the white slots towards the bottom are PCI slots, the orange slot is a PCI-Express 16x  (or PCIE) slot and the tiny one below is a PCIE 1x slot. check to see if you have any of these slots... if you dont have the latter 2 (usually they're included in PCs from 2005 on) you might have just PCI & AGP (which is a long brown slot, which would be located where the orange slot is on mine.)

All you would do to install, is just make sure the PC is off, and unplug the psu cord from the pc/wall (your choice) the you would slide the card into one of the available slots and screw it in (where those holes are on the bottom right of the pic) and plug in your vga plug from the monitor and you should be good to go! I also recommend checking your specs at the manufactuers' website to confirm everything 

[reezy718]

Can you tell me which slot do I put it in and where do I take out the old video card

[StarXS]

ok... what kind of card are you trying to add? Also can you tell me where you plugged in the vga port to? if its near the top then its onboard video, you'd have to disable it in the bios. if its lower, you'd have to open the side and gently pull it out.

[reezy718]

Im not even sure what video card I need.Im not too good with this computer stuff .Can you tell me which plug is the vga port?The card Im getting is gonna have 128 mb.Im probably gonna get one from radioshack.Im post some of my computer info so you can tell me which card will work with my computer


   
Motherboard   
CPU Type   AMD Sempron, 1400 MHz (7 x 200)
Motherboard Name   Foxconn 755A01/K8S755A Series  (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DDR DIMM, Audio, LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset   SiS 760, AMD Hammer
System Memory   224 MB  (PC2100 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type   Award (09/06/04)
Communication Port   Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port   Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port   Printer Port (LPT1)
   
Display   
Video Adapter   SiS760  (32 MB)
3D Accelerator   SiS 330 Mirage Integrated
Monitor   HP D8901  [17" CRT]  (MY94809521)
   
Multimedia   
Audio Adapter   SiS 7012 Audio Device
   
Storage   
IDE Controller   SiS 5513 IDE UDMA Controller
IDE Controller   Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller   D347PRT SCSI Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller   SCSI/RAID Host Controller
Floppy Drive   Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive   SAMSUNG SP0411N  (40 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Optical Drive   Generic DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive   LITE-ON CD-RW SOHR-5239V  (52x/32x/52x CD-RW)
Optical Drive   TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SDM2012C  (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status   OK
   
Partitions   
C: (FAT32)   38192 MB (11301 MB free)
   
Input   
Keyboard   Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse   PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Game Controller   Microsoft PC-joystick driver
   
Network   
Network Adapter   SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter  (24.90.4.64)
   

[StarXS]

see the blue plug near the top? if it looks like that then you have onboard video

from you specs it looks like you have onboard video... the vga port, is where you plug your monitor into the computer... you can use either agp or pci video card, I usually place the video card near the top.. after installing, you'll have to disable/switch your video to pci/agp (depending on which card you get)

[reezy718]

see the blue plug near the top? if it looks like that then you have onboard video

from you specs it looks like you have onboard video... the vga port, is where you plug your monitor into the computer... you can use either agp or pci video card, I usually place the video card near the top.. after installing, you'll have to disable/switch your video to pci/agp (depending on which card you get)

ok so which card do you recommend for me?which one would be easier?the agp or pci?Also can you explain to me exactly where would I put the video card?I didnt see the orange slot.Would I have to take the video card I have now out?Was the orange slot the one you colored red ?Also how do you disable/switch your video to pci/agp?

[♦ßlôödÑinjå♦]

you can always get help from youtube I'm sure there;s a vid for this  .

[StarXS]

see the blue plug near the top? if it looks like that then you have onboard video

from you specs it looks like you have onboard video... the vga port, is where you plug your monitor into the computer... you can use either agp or pci video card, I usually place the video card near the top.. after installing, you'll have to disable/switch your video to pci/agp (depending on which card you get)

ok so which card do you recommend for me?which one would be easier?the agp or pci
I think you'd be good with agp...

Also can you explain to me exactly where would I put the video card?I didnt see the orange slot.

im colorblind, its like a burnt orange, looks more red in the pic...

agp would be located where the orange/red slot is on mine, but its brown instead of orange. you'd just open the left side of the case (usually theres 2 screws) gently slide it in and secure with a screw (you can see where in the 2nd pic.)

Would I have to take the video card I have now out?Was the orange slot the one you colored red ?Also how do you disable/switch your video to pci/agp?

From what you've posted, it looks like you have onboard memory. What is your computer? (like mine is a emachine w3622) that might make it easier for me to troubleshoot. And about disabling, usually you'd press F2 or F10, something like that to get into the bios, then you have to go through the menus (different manufactuers have different menus)

also, how much were you planning to spend? Really anything with ATI or Nvidia chipset would work for you, but knowing you PC, and price range would greatly help!

[reezy718]

see the blue plug near the top? if it looks like that then you have onboard video

from you specs it looks like you have onboard video... the vga port, is where you plug your monitor into the computer... you can use either agp or pci video card, I usually place the video card near the top.. after installing, you'll have to disable/switch your video to pci/agp (depending on which card you get)

ok so which card do you recommend for me?which one would be easier?the agp or pci
I think you'd be good with agp...

Also can you explain to me exactly where would I put the video card?I didnt see the orange slot.

im colorblind, its like a burnt orange, looks more red in the pic...

agp would be located where the orange/red slot is on mine, but its brown instead of orange. you'd just open the left side of the case (usually theres 2 screws) gently slide it in and secure with a screw (you can see where in the 2nd pic.)

Would I have to take the video card I have now out?Was the orange slot the one you colored red ?Also how do you disable/switch your video to pci/agp?

From what you've posted, it looks like you have onboard memory. What is your computer? (like mine is a emachine w3622) that might make it easier for me to troubleshoot. And about disabling, usually you'd press F2 or F10, something like that to get into the bios, then you have to go through the menus (different manufactuers have different menus)

also, how much were you planning to spend? Really anything with ATI or Nvidia chipset would work for you, but knowing you PC, and price range would greatly help!

The most I was trying to spend was about $70.Which one is easier to install,ATI or Nvidia chipset?which ever one is easier and cheaper is the one I wanna get