Install The Video Card

Here's a picture of the video card before it's installed. It's impossible to install the video card the wrong way around since the notches along the gold connectors key it with the AGP slot. Plus it's clear that the end of the video card with the slot bracket is the end that goes next to the back of the computer. As video cards have become more powerful, they have become more power hungry. As you can see, the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro has a power connector coming off the card. It's becoming commonplace for high performance video cards to require some sort of direct connection to the power supply. Click on the picture to see it enlarged.

Here are the parts that came with the Antec KS282 computer case. One of the bracket screws, which are shown in the lower left-hand side of this picture, is needed to secure the video card to the computer case after the video card has been inserted.

The video card installs into the AGP slot of the EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard. The AGP slot is the reddish-brown slot to the right of the six white PCI slots.

Make sure the white clip on the AGP slot, circled in blue, is in the open position as shown. To insert the new video card into the AGP slot, line up the gold edge connector and notches on the video card with the AGP slot. Keep in mind the slot cover built onto the video card will lay flush against the back of the computer, so it should not be too hard to get the video card properly aligned into the slot. Grasp the video card firmly by the corner and upper edge and push straight down and fully into the slot. After the card is fully inserted, make sure the white clip has moved to close and lock the video card into place. The clip may have moved only partway, in which case you can should be able to easily close it the rest of the way with your finger. Use the mounting screw to secure the card in the computer, but don't overtighten the screw as this can twist the card in the AGP slot and cause it to be not completely connected inside the AGP slot.

I have a tutorial for upgrading the video card at Video Card Upgrade. The page that details inserting the video card into the AGP slot is Video Card Upgrade - Insert The New Video Card. Here's how the computer looks once the video card is installed, including with the bracket screw in place.

Connect the male 4-pin power connector (circled in blue in the picture below) coming off the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro video card and connect it to one of the power connectors coming from the power supply. The power cord coming from the video card is y-split so that the total number of power connections you have from the power supply for connecting computer components is not deducted by one due to the video card. The female 4-pin connector (the one not circled) coming from the video card can be plugged into anything else that needs power, such as the hard drive, but I recommend leaving it unused unless you really need it.

Next: Computer Assembly - Connect the EPoX 8RDA+ Power Supply to the Motherboard
Or:   Computer Assembly - Connect the MSI K8N Neo Platinum Power Supply to the Motherboard

My complete recommendations for building a computer with quality components at unbeatable prices is on my home page at Build A Computer Like My Super PC - Cost To Build A Computer. Here again are the recommendations for a video card! Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments eVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB DDR3 Amazon $158.36 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. A GeForce 8800 GTS like this one is great for demanding graphics environments, including digital video and top-tier gaming, without spending too much. SLI compatible. Fast DDR3 memory. Power supply of 400-watts or better recommended. Does use an extra slot. Uses the 6-pin PCI-E power connector from the power supply. eVGA GeForce 8600 GT 256MB DDR3 Newegg $79.99 Retail box. Click the link to get there. Then find it fast by entering N82E16814130062 in the search bar. Price reflects this $30 rebate good on purchases through May 30. Not the powerhouse of a GeForce 8800 GTS, but a powerful video card nonetheless. This will get the job done and save quite a bit of money if top level gameplay is not one of your needs. It includes a DVI connector for using with a flat panel LCD monitor. Fast DDR3 memory. Power supply of 350-watts or better recommended. Does not use an extra slot. Does not use the 6-pin PCI-E power connector from the power supply.

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How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.

	Parts List [go]
	Tools [go]
	Antistatic Wrist Strap [go]
	Computer Case and Power Supply [go]
	Motherboard [go]
	Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound [go]
	RAM - System Memory [go]
	Video Card [go]
	Monitor [go]
	Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	Floppy Drive [go]
	Hard Drive [go]
	CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW [go]
	Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Modem [go]
	Install the Processor onto the Motherboard [go]
	Install the CPU Cooler [go]
	Install the RAM - System Memory [go]
	Install the Motherboard into the Computer Case [go]
	Install the Video Card [go]
	Connect the Power Supply to the Motherboard [20-pin Connector  or  24-pin Connector]
	Connect the PN1 and PN2 Indicators to the Motherboard [KS-282 to EPoX 8RDA+  or  Sonata to MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Ready the Monitor [go]
	Ready the Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	First Boot [go]
	First Boot Common Problems [go]
	Install the CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW Drives [go]
	Install the Hard Drive and Floppy Drive [PATA Hard Drive  or  SATA Hard Drive]
	Connect the Speakers (if using built-in sound) [go]
	Second Boot [PATA  or  SATA]
	Configure the BIOS Parameter Settings [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Test The Hard Drive [PATA  or  SATA]
	Install a Second SATA Hard Drive For RAID (optional) [go]
	Install the Operating System - Windows XP [on PATA hard drive  or  on SATA hard drive]
	Driver Installation [go]
	How To Copy Big Files From Another Computer Using Just a Floppy Drive [go]
	Install the Modem [go]
	Install the Motherboard Chipset Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Monitor Driver [go]
	Install the Video Card Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Install System Information Utility - EVEREST [go]
	Diagnostic Test - DirectX [go]
	Speed Test - System Memory (RAM) Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Hard Drive Performance [PATA and SATA results]
	Speed Test - CD Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Total System Performance [go]
	Stress/Torture Tests [go]
	Connect Front Panel Ports For Audio, Firewire and USB 2.0 [go]
	Install Rear Panel Ports For Firewire And USB 2.0 [go]
	Install The Computer Case Fans [go]
	Post Assembly Needs [go]
	Graduation [go]
	Video Card Driver Settings [go]
	BIOS Flash Update [go]
	BIOS Settings [go]

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