Installing updated video or audio card

[wumply]

I'm running XP Home edition.

I'm wondering with the install of either board (audio or video) if I am likely to need to tweak my bios as currently my video and audio "cards" are onboard.

The reason I was thinking I might have to tweak the bios so that the S/S would know NOT to use the onboard cards.

wumply

[Reverend]

You will need to go into the BIOS and disable the onboard sound and onboard video.
The onboard options should be under the "Integrated Peripherals" menu.

[wumply]

OK.
I have to go into the bios.
I have to physically install the new board.
I have to run the software that came with the new board.

What is the preferred order in which I should do these 3 steps?

wumply

[phishhead]

here you go
1. disable the onboard vid and sound
2. boot up...then shut down, unplug.
3. install cards in slots.
4. xp should pick up the cards and install the drivers for you

the extra stuff on the cds are optional:p

[Big Booger]

After you have finished phisheads guide,

Go on the net, and find an updated driver, catalyst for ATI products, and Detonator for Nvidia products.

Same also for audio cards Creative, Turtle Beach, etc... they all update their drivers quite often.

You will see better performance once you have updated your drivers to the most recent available.


It really is an easy upgrade. Just make sure to discharge static electricity by grounding yourself to a metal component (usually your PC case) before touching any of the internal components, and be very careful when inserting the cards, don't force it, but sometimes you have to kind of be firm.. but not overly so. :p

If you have any more questions about this, please ask. That is what TZ is all about :)


Below is a guide for video installation. If you have onboard video, then you may disregard the step that deals with removal of the old card :p.
http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1018-8-20822063-1.html

Another more in detail guide that also refers to the antistatic wriststrap:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,724928,00.asp

ANd yet another:
http://www.directron.com/howtovideo.html

[wumply]

Thanks Everybody. Would have sent this reply sooner but some hacker got into my cable provider's system and changed the MAC # on hundreds of computers which meant they could not get on the net. (IDK what MAC stands for--it's like a serial #).

It makes me mad--those damned hackers. The indifference, the inability to get on the net, the cost to my internet provider and society at large. But it's life on the net, I guess. Like those people who increase insurance costs because they lie about the cause of the damage or get a friend's damage fixed by claiming the damage as occurring to them.

wumply

[FastGame]

LOL wumply, guess you were so upset over the hackers you forgot to tell us how the audio\video update went...

So how did things turn out ? and what audio card & video card did you get ??

[wumply]

Fastgame: Yeah, I was bugged by those hacker thugs; still am. Wankers...that's what they are!! They are also a comon word beginning with B_______!!! (NB: I have to LOL at myself for these feelings!)

Proabably going to install an audigy gamer card my son gave me Sunday or Monday. As far as video card goes, not for a while anyway. Egghead pointed out that the picture my son sees of me did not depend on my video card but on his AND on the settings of our cameras. So now my camera is set the same as my son's, and we'll probably get to check the changes out Sunday or Monday.

I'll let you know. It could take longer simply because things do not always go as planned.

wuimply