Graphics cards

[enjoy_eels]

How hard is it to insert a graphics card into a computer?

[MrDT]

Not at all difficult. Remove your case cover (about 4 screws probably), earth yourself (I usually touch a copper ipe on my nearby radiator), then dive in! The card will be secured to your case by one screw. Remove this screw and gently waggle (it's a technichal term LOL) the card from the slot it's seated in. Next just put your new one into this socket (provided they are of the same type eg AGP) and replace that screw. Boot your PC and see if all's well. If everything's ok, replace the case cover, job's a good 'un!

[enjoy_eels]

thanks , i think i can handle that. But being the untechnical person that i am, what is this earthing stuff. Is that so i dont get shocked and if so why cant i just turn off the power?

[mattie]

The reason that you earth yourself first is so that you discharge any static electricity that you have built up. A small static charge is enough to destroy video cards, memory etc, if you are unlucky. Always hold the card by the metal strip at the back. As for changing a card, before you undo a screw, read the instructions, specifically those on unloading the old card's drivers and installing the new ones.

[enjoy_eels]

Sorry to be a pain, but could you give me instructions on how to do the earthing bit, such as what do i touch the copper pipe to etc?

[Bosco]

Earthing. Earthing is as simple as touching a piece of metal before you touch inside the computer. I touch my guitar strings, but you can touch anything that conducts electric. All this does is to suck the static electricity out of your body (it's true, i'm not making it up!). You could go to your PC store and buy a static discharge wristband, but there really is no point. I've been discharging myself on my guitar for years and I haven't needed a wristband. On a final point, and this sounds stupic, but always take your shoes off. Rubber soles, especially on carpeted floors, are the main cause of static electricity. That's why you may get a shock when you touch a metal rail while out walking, that's static electricity discharging. There really is nothing to worry about, just touch metal first. Bosco (on the jazz)

[mattie]

You can earth yourself simply by leaving your pc plugged in to the mains, but switched off at the socket and touching the power supply, any static build up will be taken to earth via the mains lead.