Installing a new Graphics Card

[PC Fanatic]

I was thinking about getting a new graphics card at some point in the near future, and I was wondering if people would advise the use of anti-static equipment such as http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stripe-Electric-Working-Static-Gloves/dp/B00542WLRY to ensure that damage to components did not occur while installing.

Thanks.

 

[Craigsup]

I've built a few PCs and never had a problem however for only £1.49 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercury-Ant...8002/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339421089&sr=8-2) you may as well ensure that you don't ruin the components.

 

[PC Fanatic]

I've built a few PCs and never had a problem however for only £1.49 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercury-Ant...8002/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339421089&sr=8-2) you may as well ensure that you don't ruin the components.

So would that do the same thing as the gloves that I linked to in the OP? Just seems like the gloves are easier to use (i.e. just put them on, don't have to look for a grounded surface/object). As you can probably tell, I'm a complete noob when it comes to PC building, so the help is much appreciated.

 

[Craigsup]

Yeah they'd both do the same job. It's totally up to you which you use.

 

[steaky360]

This could be a hideous error but I was always told the case tends to be a good place as it should be grounded if its plugged in (switched off still obviously).

Although I imagine I will be swiftly corrected if this is wrong.

 

[vanthus]

Personally I use an antistatic wrist strap,but if you simply ground yourself first,you should be ok,cant be too careful though.

 

[Buzz]

This could be a hideous error but I was always told the case tends to be a good place as it should be grounded if its plugged in (switched off still obviously).

Although I imagine I will be swiftly corrected if this is wrong.

This can work if the case is not painted. You would really need to touch a non painted part for it to work. The straps are really the best thing. If your going to spend a couple of hundred quid on a GPU then why take the risk.

 

[Corfate]

Agree with others, use the wrist strap. Though it is slightly annoying when it catches on stuff, or you have to reach for something far away, being tied down to something

 

[PokerFace]

Agree with others, use the wrist strap. Though it is slightly annoying when it catches on stuff, or you have to reach for something far away, being tied down to something

You could always connect the 'wrist' strap to another body part

 

[PC Fanatic]

Another question: If I was to buy another GTX 570 and run an SLI system, would it matter if the 570 was from a different manufacturer? (I think I have a Palit one in my rig just now, so say I bought a Gigabyte one, would it matter?)

 

[Corfate]

You could always connect the 'wrist' strap to another body part

Hahaha! Thats class!

 

[Corfate]

Another question: If I was to buy another GTX 570 and run an SLI system, would it matter if the 570 was from a different manufacturer? (I think I have a Palit one in my rig just now, so say I bought a Gigabyte one, would it matter?)

Would work fine, just may look abit odd having 2 diff looking cards

 

[ThomasM]

Im not 100% certain but i don't think the maufacturer matters when choosing an SLI, just means it won't look as pretty as it could

 

[PC Fanatic]

Would work fine, just may look abit odd having 2 diff looking cards

Tbh, I don't have a see-through side panel, so as long as it functioned properly I couldn't care less what they looked like.

Makes things easier though, now I don't have to trawl the internet looking for a Palit GTX 570.

 

[baron75mk2]

Another question: If I was to buy another GTX 570 and run an SLI system, would it matter if the 570 was from a different manufacturer? (I think I have a Palit one in my rig just now, so say I bought a Gigabyte one, would it matter?)

short answer - no doesn't matter , however with nvidia SLI you MUST make sure they both have the same amount of RAM exactly !!
(with radeon its more flexible , but with nvidia its much more strict)

 

[slane]

I've built a few PCs and never had a problem however for only £1.49 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercury-Ant...8002/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339421089&sr=8-2) you may as well ensure that you don't ruin the components.

What do you attach the other end to?

 

[keynes]

What do you attach the other end to?

I attach it to the back metal part of the case

 

[Corfate]

Ideally an unpainted part of the case

 

[Rakk]

however with nvidia SLI you MUST make sure they both have the same amount of RAM exactly !!

I was under the impression that as long as its the same model of NVidia card, you could SLI two cards with different amounts of VRAM, but it will then only make use of the lesser amount of VRAM.

 

[baron75mk2]

I was under the impression that as long as its the same model of NVidia card, you could SLI two cards with different amounts of VRAM, but it will then only make use of the lesser amount of VRAM.

No that's radeon , different cock speeds & ram speeds (Slightly) yes for nvidia , but for amount & type (DDR 5 or whatever) of vram , everywhere i have read has always made a point of stating that they must be the same exactly for nvidia. , seems to be a driver enforcement by nvidia that was implemented before 2009 (judging by the dates on the posts)

Check this thread out from the nvidia forums

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=148839

Toms hardware;

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/347698-15-tomshardware

Another interesting thread;

http://www.trubritarforums.com/index.php/topic/7843-mixing-two-different-types-of-gtx-580/

It seems that years back it was possible (although obviously not officially) by using a software called "coolbits" to hack the registry to enable it , but even that has not worked for some years now.