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Lesson 8: Add-on card installation - How do you install a new graphics card

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Overview

In lesson 8 we'll answer the question "how do you install a new graphics card".  We will install the video, sound, and wireless network cards into the system. 
Types of Slots 

The cards go into the expansion slots on the motherboard. The PCI Express slots are spaced further into the board than the regular PCI slots.

The PCI Express slot closest to the CPU on this motherboard is a 4x slot.  The other 3 PCI Express slots are 2.0 16x slots.

Sound card Installation (PCI Express 1x card)

We'll begin by installing the sound card into the 4x slot at the top.

It's a 1x card so it can go into any of the PCI Express slots.

First, we need to connect the AAFP cable, from the front of the case.  The AAFP header is on the bottom of the card and the connector only goes in one way.

Before we can add the card we have to remove the metal plate just inside the back of the case.

This plate is usually held in place by a screw. On some cases there is a plastic clip that needs to be pulled back.

On some cases the plate comes out by sliding it and some cases you have to pry it out. If you have to pry the plate out, use a screw driver and pliers, because the edges will be sharp.

To install the card, hold it by its face plate and the edge of the board, so that the chips are facing the bottom of the case.

Place the card at the opening of the slot, so that the face plate will go just to the left of the motherboards edge.

Then push the card straight into the slot until it’s seated and the face plate is up against the screw hole

Then secure the card to the case with a screw.

Video card Installation (PCI Express 2.0 16x card)

We'll install the video card into the first PCI Express 2.0 16x slot, following the same procedure.

Remove the plate, hold it by its face plate and the edge of the board, so that the heat sink and fan are facing the bottom of the case.

Place the card at the opening of the slot, so that the face plate will go just to the left of the motherboards edge.

Then push the card straight into the slot until it’s seated and the face plate is up against the screw hole.

Then secure the video card to the case with a screw.

If you need to remove the video card, there is a tab at the end of the slot you need to hold down while pulling the card out.

We'll hold off on installing the 2nd video card into the 2nd PCI Express 2.0 16x slot until after the system is up and running with Windows installed.

We'll connect the power cable to the video card in lesson 9.

Wireless Network card installation (PCI card)

We're also installing a PCI Wireless Network adapter.

We'll install it into the bottom PCI slot to make room for the second video card.

The procedure for adding a PCI card is the same.

Remove the metal plate, install the card and secure it with a screw.

In the next lesson we will connect the cables from the power supply to all of the components.

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