Upgrading your video card provides a reliable but expensive way to boost your computer's graphics processing power. Instead try linking together two older video cards to save money. While this method won't offer as much improvement as a brand new card, it will provide an immediate benefit at a discount rate. Linking two NVIDIA cards requires that both have the same GPU, identified by the card model number. Linking two ATI/AMD cards only requires two cards from the same generation. Your computer also must have room for two cards on the motherboard.
Instructions
1. Turn off your computer and remove the power cord. Take off the side panel of the computer case to access the motherboard. Each case's side panel opens differently, but usually is attached by two rear screws and slide off horizontally.
2. Unscrew and remove the metal tab located on the rear of the case adjacent to the second "PCI-E x16" slot. This slot is usually colored blue and is the only slot the same size as the connector on the card. Set aside the screw. Insert your second old video card into the slot. Push straight down on the edge of the card until it locks in place.
3. Insert the screw from the metal tab back into the same hole and screw it in to hold the card in place.
4. Attach the 6-pin power cord connector to the end of the second video card. Look for the cord coming out of the power supply unit. The end may be tied down somewhere inside the case.
5. Slide the SLI or CrossFire connector cable over the connector tab on the exposed edge of each video card. Use an SLI connector for NVIDIA-based cards or a CrossFire connector for ATI/AMD-based cards.
6. Reattach the side of the case, plug in the power cable and boot your computer. The system will automatically recognize the additional video card.
Tags: video card, your computer, CrossFire connector, power cord, second video