Main  DIY Computer  Site Map  Email:  Webmaster Installing Cards There are three different types of cards that you may have to install on your motherboard. Generally, high performance video cards will be AGP cards. There should only be one AGP slot in your computer, and it will be the one closest to the top of the motherboard, and it will be colored brown. The connector on an AGP card should look like the below picture. The most important thing to remember about installing AGP video cards is to push down firmly until you hear a click. When you power up the computer, if you do not see anything on the monitor, and you are sure that you have the cables properly connected, check to see whether your AGP video card is properly seated. This is a very common problem. After installation, make sure to secure the cards with the proper screw. If you are installing the card into a new case, you may have to remove a slot cover from the case that is designed to keep dust, etc out. Video cards can also be PCI cards. Modems, sound cards, and network cards are generally PCI cards. The connector on a PCI card will look like the below picture. Note the difference between this and the connector on an AGP card. PCI slots are white, and motherboards commonly come with 3-6 PCI slots. Line up the cards with the slots, and push down firmly. Again, if you are installing the card into a new case, you may have to remove a slot cover first. The final type of card that you may encounter on new motherboards is ISA cards. Older network cards, sounds cards and modems can be ISA cards. ISA cards will look like the below picture. ISA slots are black, and are much longer than any of the other types. If your motherboard has any ISA slots, they will be the bottom-most slots. Most new motherboards do not come with ISA slots. It is impossible (by design) to force a card into the wrong type of slot, so you don't have to worry about that. Make sure that the bottom of the card lines up with the slot when the back of the card is flush with the back of the case. If you look at the connectors, you will see significant differences, even if you are not looking closely. In the below picture, the card on the left is an AGP card, and the one on the right is PCI. Back   Index   Next Sections Introduction Selecting the Components Mounting the Motherboard Mounting the CPU Installing the RAM Case Connections Mounting the Floppy Drive Mounting Drives Installing Cards External Connections POST Screen BIOS Setup Windows 2000 Biorobots Home  Site Map      Server Project Main      FAQ      How To      New Account Copyright 2006 Case Western Reserve University, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. All rights reserved.