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How to Replace a Graphics Card?

Go to solution Solved by SansVarnic,
3 minutes ago, NelizMastr said:

Got the order wrong 😉  First delete the drivers, then remove the card. You can's assume onboard graphics nowadays 🙂

 

DDU is the way to go. Run it in safe mode, then shutdown the PC, swap the card, install the drivers again.

AH very true.... Good catch.

 

@KenBytes if you don't have IGPU 

 

  • Remove AMD Drivers
  • Shut down and Remove AMD GPU
  • Install new NVIDIA GPU
  • Boot and install NVIDIA Drivers.
  • Done.

Apologies if I confused you.

Ok this is a boring question and it may have been asked before, but is there a good procedure for replacing a graphics card?  I've been bitten by this before. Computers don't like it when you just swap out a graphics card and they don't like drivers from more than one card at the same time. Surely there has to be a right way to do it.

And don't get me started on the price of cards right now. The card I bought 2 years ago at $360 is now $2,000, OMG!

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What card to what card?

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5 minutes ago, KenBytes said:

Ok this is a boring question and it may have been asked before, but is there a good procedure for replacing a graphics card?  I've been bitten by this before. Computers don't like it when you just swap out a graphics card and they don't like drivers from more than one card at the same time. Surely there has to be a right way to do it.

And don't get me started on the price of cards right now. The card I bought 2 years ago at $360 is now $2,000, OMG!

Simplest way:

  • Remove your card,
  • Boot and remove all drivers for that card [if your changing brands]
    • if you are swapping for an upgrade card to your existing card, say NVidia -> NVidia or AMD -> AMD then there is no need to remove drivers, just update the driver/software and your good. So, skip this step.
    • If your swapping brands AMD -> NVidia, then yes remove the drivers and install drivers after installing new card
  • Install new card.
  • Done.

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3 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

Simplest way:

  • Remove your card,
  • Boot and remove all drivers for that card [if your changing brands]
    • if you are swapping for an upgrade card to your existing card, say NVidia -> NVidia or AMD -> AMD then there is no need to remove drivers, just update the driver/software and your good. So, skip this step.
    • If your swapping brands AMD -> NVidia, then yes remove the drivers and install drivers after installing new card
  • Install new card.
  • Done.

Got the order wrong 😉  First delete the drivers, then remove the card. You can's assume onboard graphics nowadays 🙂

 

DDU is the way to go. Run it in safe mode, then shutdown the PC, swap the card, install the drivers again.

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Just now, KenBytes said:

Radeon R9 390 to to RTX 2060 or 3060/3070 if I can get it.

Yep see my prior post... Remove your drivers before installing new card for zero issue install.

 

Realistically you can do it after installing new card but to keep it seamless if you're not used to doing it. Keep it simple and remove AMD Drivers before installing new NVidia card. 👍

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3 minutes ago, NelizMastr said:

Got the order wrong 😉  First delete the drivers, then remove the card. You can's assume onboard graphics nowadays 🙂

 

DDU is the way to go. Run it in safe mode, then shutdown the PC, swap the card, install the drivers again.

AH very true.... Good catch.

 

@KenBytes if you don't have IGPU 

 

  • Remove AMD Drivers
  • Shut down and Remove AMD GPU
  • Install new NVIDIA GPU
  • Boot and install NVIDIA Drivers.
  • Done.

Apologies if I confused you.

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Spoiler

Character is like a Tree and Reputation like its Shadow. The Shadow is what we think of it; The Tree is the Real thing.  ~ Abraham Lincoln

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.  ~ Winston Churchill

Reputation is a Lifetime to create but takes only seconds to destroy.

Docendo discimus - "to teach is to learn"

 

  

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2 minutes ago, KenBytes said:

Ok, so to boot with the card removed obviously I'd have to have a mobo with integrated graphics and enabled in the BIOS right?

You clean drivers with DDU and shut down PC.

Swap the cards

Turn on PC and install new drivers.

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ALso, OP if you dont know what a DDU is, here is a link for you.

https://www.wagnardsoft.com/

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You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.  ~ Winston Churchill

Reputation is a Lifetime to create but takes only seconds to destroy.

Docendo discimus - "to teach is to learn"

 

  

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1) first find out if you need a special uninstaller for the drivers as older cards used to leave bits behind (just google the uninstall driver xxx) or if just the OS will be ok,

2) uninstall all drivers and programs related to that card currently installed.

3) turn off the computer, remove the old card and the put in the new card

4) reboot the computer and follow the instructions for installing a new card. If it is a CPU with GFx you'll have to turn it on in the bios.

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2 minutes ago, rockyroller said:

1) first find out if you need a special uninstaller for the drivers as older cards used to leave bits behind (just google the uninstall driver xxx) or if just the OS will be ok,

2) uninstall all drivers and programs related to that card currently installed.

3) turn off the computer, remove the old card and the put in the new card

4) reboot the computer and follow the instructions for installing a new card. If it is a CPU with GFx you'll have to turn it on in the bios.

A) if it is the same maker ie AMD or nVidea don't remove the drivers just remove any specialist brand software

 

)) being ultra lazy or still smashed with a hangover just swap the cards the computer will see its a different card on boot up, it will ignore the current drivers and install basic new ones so you need to install the makers drivers afterwards.

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