Install the Video Card Drivers

If you are using an NVIDIA based video card, such as GeForce4 Ti 4200 or GeForce4 MX 440 then you do not need to install the video card drivers as a separate step. The nForce Unified Driver Package for the EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard includes the video card drivers. They were installed automatically when the nForce Unified Driver Package was installed. Those with an NVIDIA based video card can skip to the bottom of this page to the section Now That The Drivers Are Installed.

Update: It looks like NVIDIA has stopped including the video card driver in the nForce Unified Driver Package. The last Unified Driver Package that included the video card driver was version 3.13 dated November 3, 2003. If you need them, the steps for installing an NVIDIA video card driver are on the MSI K8N Neo Platinum Video Card Driver Install page.

But if you're using an ATI based video card like me then the video card drivers do need to be installed. The drivers can be retrieved by starting at the ATI home page. I need the drivers for the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB video card. Here is how I navigated to find them.

On the ATI home page, click on "Drivers & Software".	Select the OS - "Windows XP" for me.	Click on "Graphic Driver".
Click on "Radeon Family".	Click on "Go".

The "Driver Download and Installation" page appears. The downloads are available either as one big package listed under "High Speed" connections or as individual downloads listed under "Low Speed" connections. The driver package consists of four parts, the Display Driver, the Control Panel, the CATALYST Control Center and the WDM Capture driver. I downloaded from the "Low Speed" section and placed each download in its own directory. I won't be installing the CATALYST Control Center since it is optional. It provides a more polished user interface than comes with the Control Panel.

If you have an All-In-Wonder type ATI video card then locate the WDM Capture driver where it was downloaded. Install the driver following the Windows XP WDM Capture driver installation steps from ATI. Notice that the computer is not restarted after the capture driver is installed.

Next, or first if you're not installing an All-In-Wonder type video card, locate the Display Driver where it was downloaded.

Double-click on the file.	The InstallShield Wizard starts. Click the "Next" button.	Click the "Next" button to use the default location.
The files are decompressed and the install steps begin. Click the "Next" button.	Click the "Yes" button to accept the license agreement.	Click the "OK" button for the "tests will be run on restart" message.
The files are quickly installed and this "InstallShield Wizard Complete" window appears.	Change to the "No, I will restart my computer later" option...	...and click the "Finish" button.

And finally, locate the Control Panel where it was downloaded.

Double-click on the file.	The InstallShield Wizard starts. Click the "Next" button.	Click the "Next" button to use the default location.
The files are decompressed and the install steps begin. Click the "Next" button.	Click the "Yes" button to accept the license agreement.	Click the "Next" button to install the files into the default location.
The files are quickly installed. I clicked the "No" button for the shortcut.	This time, leave the "Yes, I want to restart my computer now" option selected and click the "Finish" button.

Remember above when you clicked the "OK" button for the "tests will be run on restart" message? It seems that when the tests run on restart, what happens is the computer reaches the desktop and then the screen goes black for a few seconds. Then the desktop is visible once again. But no informational message is given at that time to indicate that the tests are being run or to otherwise explain why the screen suddenly went black for a moment. So don't be surprised when that happens.

Now That The Drivers Are Installed

After the restart, things are looking much better. The computer is no longer sluggish and the images look crisp. The Device Manager still looks good, too.

Navigating through the Display Properties as we did before shows the results of the install. As before, start by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Properties" from the popup windows.

Click on the "Settings" tab.	Click on the "Advanced" button.	And look at all the tabs that are there now for the ATI video card!

You can take a moment and look through the tabs if you like. Return to the desktop when you're done.

Next: Computer Assembly - Install the Sound Card and Speakers

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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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