Our desktop computer is no longer able to handle modern games, to the point of having to set all the details to the minimum to have a little fluidity "> Optimal configurations for NVIDIA and AMD graphics card How to change video card
Below we have collected all the tips, advice on how to choose the new video card and the steps to be followed for the replacement inside the computer, so as not to neglect any detail.After when should I change the video card?
The video card is one of the components that "ages" faster, so we will have to think about replacing the one previously installed on the PC every 2 or 3 years, especially if we are hardened players or often buy new games.
If we occasionally play or use the video card for video-editing or for other purposes, we can also consider a replacement every 5 years, but this is a borderline case: the video card is likely to become too obsolete even for new versions of Windows and for the hardware acceleration offered by browsers and video players, therefore it is always advisable to plan a change in the recommended times.
Which video card should we choose?
There are many video cards on the market, but to be on the safe side we have to choose a model that has a modern video chip, fast and capacious video memories and has an optimized cooling system, so that it can even work without the need to operate the fans (thanks to the large heatsinks positioned on the board).Wanting to synthesize to the maximum, the series to be considered for gaming are:
- NVIDIA RTX series (newer and more expensive)
- NVIDIA GTX series
- AMD Radeon RX
- AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
By focusing on video cards that have these abbreviations we will be sure to buy modern cards and able to (more or less) hold all the games, also based on the resolution that we are going to exploit (and this also depends on the type of monitor we intend to use for the purpose). To know all the features to consider for a new video card, we refer you to read our in-depth analysis on How to choose the video card for PC graphics .
Motherboard and power supply compatibility
Even before seeing the new models of video cards, we must check if our motherboard and the power supply included in the computer are compatible with it, or we risk finding ourselves with a non-functioning card or with sudden blockages (due to the inadequate supply of electric energy). The program we recommend to use to control the motherboard is Speccy, available for free for Windows.
Once installed on the computer to be updated, let's go to the Motherboard menu and check the presence of a PCI-E x16 slot, with all the necessary information (for modern video cards you need the PCI-E x16 2.0 version or better yet the PCI- E x16 3.0 ). If the motherboard does not have this type of slot or is available in an too old version, the PC probably cannot be updated with the new video cards: in this case we will have to assemble a new PC, as seen in the guide on How to choose the parts of the new computer to be assembled .
For the power supply instead we will necessarily have to turn off the PC, remove the power plug and remove the side panel of the case, so that we can directly check the power value (expressed in Watts) on the power supply label.
If we do not find a label or we do not know how many Watts the power supply expresses, we recommend replacing it with one of at least 550W, as seen in the guide Which power supply to choose for the PC and how many Watts are required .
The best video cards on the market
After these important premises, below we have collected some of the best video cards that we can buy on Amazon, so as to also have full warranty support (in case of problems just send it back and choose another one).NVIDIA RTX series
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 GAMING OC (€ 419)
- MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Video Card (€ 539)
- Asus ROG STRIX RTX 2080 OC Edition (€ 839)
NVIDIA GTX series
- Zotac GeForce GTX 1060 Amp Edition (220 €)
- MSI Nvidia GTX1660Ti (324 €)
- Asus GeForce GTX 1070 DUAL (€ 476)
- Gigabyte NVIDIA GeFoce GTX 1080Ti OC (€ 892)
AMD Radeon RX
- XFX video card Radeon RX 590 (209 €)
- MSI Radeon RX Vega 56 Air Boost (€ 297)
- Asrock Radeon RX Vega 56 8G Phantom Gaming X (€ 358)
How to replace the old video card with the new one
In this last chapter we will show you how to physically change the new video card, so that you can continue playing without problems. First of all get a set of screwdrivers of various sizes, since it may be necessary to unscrew some anchor screws. After getting everything we need, we turn off the computer, pull out the power socket and remove the side panel of the case, helping us with our hands (just turn the screws on the edge of the panel).
We will thus have access to the inside of the case, with the video card in the central part; to remove the old card, remove any additional power cable present immediately in front of us, then unscrew the anchor screw on the back of the video card, which holds the card firmly.
After removing this screw, we pull the old card upwards until it comes out of the PCI-Express slot; we don't have to force or push, just pull it gently upwards. Now that we have removed the old card, let's get the new video card, remove all sorts of seal or protective adhesive (they can be anywhere, better to check well!) Then place it in the place of the old one, in the PCI-Express x16 slot.
After positioning, screw the fixing screw of the video card back to the case, reconnect the additional power cable (or the two additional power cables, in case of particularly powerful video cards) and replace the case panel and the power outlet . At the next reboot the card will signal the presence of new hardware and Windows will start with the installation of the new driver.
If the card is not recognized or the PC starts with too low a resolution, we can install the new video driver as seen in our guide on how to download and install updated NVIDIA and AMD video card drivers .
Conclusions
Switching your video card is not a walk, even if it may seem simple at first! We will have to check the compatibility of the motherboard and the power supply, choose the right model and, only then, proceed with the change of card (that is really simple and affordable for everyone).In another guide we showed you all the Best PC video cards, while if we are looking for a way to overclock the video card and its components, we recommend you read our article on the best GPU Overclocking Programs (video card) .
