How-To Upgrade Your Video Graphics Card

Upgrading your video graphics card may look like a daunting task if you do not know much about computers. The truth is anyone can upgrade their video graphics card easily. This guide is designed to help you upgrade your video graphics card easily and hassle-free.

Step 1 - Determining which cards are compatible

There are two types of video graphics cards for computers: PCI (personal computer interconnect) cards and AGP (accelerated graphics port) cards. Most computers come with slots for both PCI and AGP cards. In order for you to determine which type of slots you have available on your computer you will have to remove the case. PCI cards are usually white in color and are longer. There is usually a bank of PCI slots and your current graphics card may be installed there already. The AGP slot is smaller and is usually brown in color. The AGP slot is usually closer to the back of your PC. If you have both types of slots, you can choose to buy either type of card.

Step 2 - Buying a card to fit your needs

There are many video graphics cards for different needs. If you are a gamer, you will typically want to purchase an AGP card, as these are faster than the PCI cards. AGP cards come with three dimensional capabilities and enhance your gaming abilities. If you just want a card for a computer for school or office work, you can purchase either type of card as long as your computer has the slots available.

Once you determine the type of card you wish to purchase, you will need to decide how much RAM you want the card to have. Typically, you will want to purchase a card that has at a minimum of 256 megabytes of RAM. The more megabytes the video card has, the better it runs.

Step 3 - Uninstalling your current graphics card