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Li-rocchi

Joined: 29/03/06
Posts: 919
Loc: Norwich, UK

Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

#981366 - 10/04/12 05:25 PM

Hi all

My nVidia Geforce9600GT recently died. I swapped it for a 8600GT as a temporary measure... Did not install any new drivers or anything; just plonked it in and all seemed well.

I now have my permanent card: an XFX Radeon HD5450.

I just wondered whether there are any procedures for a clean install, in terms of when and how to uninstall the old drivers, and likewise the new ones. As ever, trying to keep the machine as clean and trouble free as possible.

Cheers

Max

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TheBev

Joined: 23/06/08
Posts: 91
Loc: London

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981407 - 10/04/12 09:33 PM

Sorry no answer to this but will be watching with interest as I have the exact same card which I suspect has (thankfully seems to have stopped for a week now) giving me random BSOD's.
The answer despite trawling the fora(?) out there was elusive. Although not installing the catalyst software & only installing card drivers was mentioned a few times.

The Guardian website seemed to cause particular issues.

Anyway sorry, not a hijack just an interested fellow user.

--------------------
"The tech gets better, the user error remains the same.." Roberts Plant

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Jumpeyspyder

Joined: 20/01/06
Posts: 1237
Loc: Yorkshire

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981431 - 11/04/12 12:19 AM

You can normally get away with a straight swap and windows will ask for a driver or try to find one for you.

If you wish to play it safe (highly recommended) :-

1/ Back up all your data files
2/ Go to Device Manager and change your existing card to use the standard VGA driver.
3/ uninstall any software that relates to you old graphics card
4/ Download a copy of the latest driver for your new card (with or without catalyst) and save somewhere easy to find.
5/ Shut down your computer and unplug the Mains Plug
6/ Swap the graphics cards (don't forget that some powerful cards require an extra power connection)
7/ RePlug mains and start system
8/ Install latest driver from step 4

Hope this helps

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FreQnic

Joined: 05/07/10
Posts: 216
Loc: Brighton UK

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981436 - 11/04/12 12:53 AM

As Jumpeyspyder has stated above, but with one addition. After you have uninstalled the Nvidia drivers and rebooted, run this utility to clean up any loose ends. You will need to select the "Display" and the "Physx" options.

Driver Sweeper

Then you can boot down again and replace the GeForce card with the new Radeon.

And remember... stay calm, yet be firm.

--------------------
I have a very special mic placement for stroppy divas.

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Li-rocchi

Joined: 29/03/06
Posts: 919
Loc: Norwich, UK

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981457 - 11/04/12 07:23 AM

Thanks for the advice guys - very helpful.

One thing though... Do they rely upon me having graphics on board (as per Step 2)? If so, that will unfortunately not be possible as my motherboard does not have onboard graphics. So.... will change what I should do?

Cheers

Max

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DGL.

Joined: 28/10/11
Posts: 239

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981459 - 11/04/12 07:27 AM

Won't be a problem, so long as there is a working graphics card in the system windows can use it. If this were a problem you would never be able to install windows on a new computer (did the same (roughly) when I upgraded from my X1550 to my HD6450 with no probs.

The standard VGA driver is a basic compatibility driver when the proper driver for a graphics card is not installed.

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Li-rocchi

Joined: 29/03/06
Posts: 919
Loc: Norwich, UK

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981466 - 11/04/12 08:12 AM

Ahhh - that makes sense. Don't know why I didn't think of that.... Maybe in future I'll wait until I've been awake a little longer and had a couple of cups of coffee before posting my questions!

Cheers

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Madman_Greg

Joined: 07/12/06
Posts: 707
Loc: The back of beyond

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? new

[Re: Li-rocchi]
#981473 - 11/04/12 08:38 AM

Plug and Pray it works

put the new drivers onto your disk in advance or have the CD at the ready

then clean up the old drivers afterwards

--------------------
Madman_Greg

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Pete Kaine
Scan Computers

Joined: 10/07/03
Posts: 3158
Loc: Manchester

Re: Swapping from a nVidia to AMD/Radeon Graphics Card... Anything to watch out for? Best way to install drivers? [Re: Li-rocchi]
#982801 - 18/04/12 08:53 AM

Best course of action.

Remove drivers for current card
Remove current card
Install new card
Install latest drivers

If you've already swapped the cards then download and use CCLeaner to nuke your old driver set.

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ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

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