Graphics/Video card basic question?

Question

I'd like to purchase NVIDIA's 8600 XFX card,but my computer already has factory installed ATI RADEON express 1100.Do I remove the old card,or just add the new card right next to it?This probably seems like a stupid question,but I need an answer!Thanks for not calling me an idiot.

Answer 1

Radeon Express 1100 is integrated graphics, you can't take it out. BUT once you plug in a graphics card on your PC, BIOS will automatically disable that Express 1100 integrated graphics and not allocate any system RAM to it.

Answer 2

It depends on the slots that the computer has available. You can have multiple videocards in a machine, as long as each is in its own slot.

Most computers have only one high-speed slot meant for a videocard, either AGP, PCIe or PCIx. Slower-speed PCI slots are not ideal for videocards.

Take an inventory of slots available and decide which of the high speed slots are free to install the 2nd videocard.

One tricky thing you will find is that when you have two videocards from different manufactureres, setting the driver up is cumbersome.

You have to install ATI and nVidia drivers and sometimes it's confusing to get things working right. I personally run a 2 videocard, 4 monitor system and I got tired of the ATI and nVidia driver hassle and bought a second ATI card so that I only had to load one driver. BTW, nVidia is better for complex multi-monitor setups in my experience.

Answer 3

To style of proceed on from Mercuri: As he pronounced memory length isn't that important. till you're making plans on making use of the two large video show gadgets or 2 or greater video show gadgets on the comparable time. the recent enjoying cards with extreme quantities of RAM are greater adapted for a particular purpose. The GeForce 9400GS with 1GB could possibly seamlessly run HD DVD's on a show as much as 30" yet would be (somewhat) undesirable at gaming. GeForce 9800GT with 512MBs would be plenty greater appropriate than the 9400GS at gaming; despite the fact that, it ought to conflict while making use of distinctive video show gadgets. As Mercuri pronounced on paper ATI might look greater appropriate than nVidia yet it extremely is in many cases no longer the case. I easily have experienced this in many cases happening hand myself. the reason at the back of it extremely is that ATI CCC (drivers) are plenty greater means hungry than the nVidia drivers and so expend greater of the laptop's components restricing its means. only ATI drivers suck :( and from my adventure reason no end of problems. i could surprisingly recomend going for an nVidea card

Answer 4

No, definitely remove the old card. Unless you have a way to switch over between the two, the processer will get confused and you'll have conflicting feeds. Keep the old card if you need it :)