How do I disable my intergrated graphics chip?

Question

Im upgrading my computer and I just ordered my new graphics card. But I need to know how to disable my intergrated graphics before it gets here. Does anyone know how to do this. Please if you do please tell. Thank you.

It is going to be a PCI graphics card. Not AGP or PCI-Express. Just PCI a regular PCI. Thanks

Answer 1

Butchell is right. Modern motherboards disable the onboard integrated graphics when it detects a video card either on AGP or PCI Express. I just did an install on my machine 2 days ago and I just plugged in my graphics card on the NForce motherboard and the onboard graphics disabled itself without me doing anything.

In fact you won't even find it in device manager because this is done on BIOS level and Windows will not see the device at all. Just proceed at this point as though you are installing a new hardware and you are set.

If your motherboard doesn't do this automatically then you do need to disable it in BIOS or else during the bootup process, long before Windows driver and etc even come into play, you might not get video from the new video card that you installed.

It's really simple. It took me about 3 minutes to do the install.

"Just go to your add/remove programs menu and uninstall your card. You don't have to go into BIOS because, if you have Window's XP, it will disable the card in BIOS as soon as the card is uninstalled, including the drivers." WRONG!!

BTW "Add/Remove Programs" is used to uninstall drivers and programs. Typically, Windows XP will not load drivers for devices not detected or reported by the BIOS. That is why when you physically take out a video card, the driver won't give you an error saying that it couldn't find it, while loading itself. When it doesn't find it, it simply does not load the driver at all. (Miracle of Plug and Pray!) This is why you won't find the driver for the integrated video card when it is disabled by the motherboard. The copy of the driver is in your computer but Windows XP does not load it because it won't detect the hardware.

Addendum: While I do not think it's so wise to upgrade any system that does not have at least an AGP card, considering new entry level systems can be purchased for about $200-$300, using a PCI or AGP or PCI-Express shouldn't make a difference. If your BIOS detects and it has a function to disable onboard it will disable it. If not then you will have to disable it in BIOS manually and choose a setting to check the PCI for video graphics.

Answer 2

Actually, neither of the answers above me is correct. I've done this same thing for more than one of my friends who had bought pre-built computers. What you'll want to do is leave it just like it is now, until after you've installed the new video card, and the driver for the new card.

Then, all you'll have to do is disable it in Windows. Here's how to do that:
Right-click on My Computer, then select "Properties" from the box that will drop down. Now, click on the "Hardware" tab, then click on "Device Manager" (under Device Manager!), and under "Display Adapters" (you'll have to click on the little "+" sign to the left of it), right-click the one that isn't related to your new card, and select "Disable".

If you select "Remove", then you'll have to do all of that every time you turn on the computer, since it isn't a card that can actually be removed, and Windows already has the driver for it. Selecting "Disable" let's Windows know that you know it's there, but you don't wish to use it, for now.

Answer 3

Just go to your add/remove programs menu and uninstall your card. You don't have to go into BIOS because, if you have Window's XP, it will disable the card in BIOS as soon as the card is uninstalled, including the drivers.

Answer 4

unless it is a pretty old motherboard, it will disable itself. If it is is, there should be a setting for onboard or agp, select agp

Answer 5

you have to go into the bios to do that. go through the menus until you find the menu to disable the video