By: Mark N

Mark N — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:58 +0000

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182030 550W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121290 4870
Don’t just half measure and buy something that will not perform, spend just a little and be happy… Be sure and go to the ATI website and download the latest ATI drivers, not the one’s one the disc… Power supplies are very self explainitory in disconnecting and reconnecting plugs. The drivers themselves is the biggest pain. You need to uninstall your old drivers from Add/Remove programs then let the system reboot, upon rebooting go into bios and select PCIEx16 slot as primary VGA. When you reach desktop shut the system down. Go in and unhook your power supply and install the new one, Take two of the PCI slot covers off the back of the case, being that the 4870 is a dual slot card, one slot is for allowing the cards fan to breathe exhaust out the back of the case. Now install the 2 6pin plugs into the card, and insert it into the PCIEx16 slot and close the case. Restart the system and when you reach desktop install your downloaded drivers. Now the ASUS card has a utility tool that I like called SMART DOCTOR that has fan control on it, even though the new ATI drivers have fan control, you can only control the % you are running. The SMART DOCTOR lets you set a % for what temp your card is running at. That is the one advantage of the ASUS cards. This card will run very hot until the fan speed is bumped up, so be aware…

Comments on: What does my computer need?

By: Mark N