How To Build A PC: Install the Sound Card and Video Card

Video cards are interesting in the fact that they come in all shapes and sizes. The largest video card I've ever owned was a Gainward 6800GT. That soon changed when I bought an XFX GeForce 9800GTX 512M Black Edition card:



This thing is a total monster - not only is it the longest card I have ever seen (it nearly touched the back of the hard drives!), but its depth completely blocks the unused PCI express slot underneath it. This is an extremely unfortunate circumstance, as you will never be able to use that free PCI express slot as long as you're using this video card. However, if you never plan on using that slot, then you've never lost anything to begin with.



To me, the purchase was worth it - even knowing the size of the card, and the fact that I'd be losing a freed up PCI express slot. It's a 512 MB PCI card that's as top-of-the-line as it gets.

The lesson here: some cards are monstrously big. Make sure you know what you're getting into before you buy a card! If you can't accommodate a large video card, you'll be forced to look at smaller models. Simpler video cards are thin and do not block the slot underneath it when installed. They're also much tinier than the card I've shown you above.

All that's involved in the installation of a video card is to remove the metallic "filler" slot that came with your PC case, plug your video card into an available PCI, PCI Express or AGP slot (check to see which one your card fits into), and screw in the metallic side of the card to the case.

The procedure for installing your sound card is 100% identical to that of the video card, as explained above! Remove the metallic filler slot with a screwdriver, plug your sound card into an available PCI slot, screw it into the case, and it's ready to go!

On to the final step, Powering On your PC for the First Time >>
...or, go back to the main page: How to Build A PC