Upgrading my 7900GTX Graphics Card

[chewvalleyman]

Hi Everyone!
I am a bit of an old timer at computing. I have a Mesh Elite2 D950 Dual Core 3.4GHz with 4GB of DDR2 Samsung memory. ASUS P5LD2-SE MB. Intel 945P chipset. Windows XP Media Centre 2005 dual booting with Vista Home Premium. In May it will be 2 years old.
My current factory fitted graphics card is a nVidia 512MB Geforce 7900 GTX and I have bought a BFG 512MB OC2 8800GT to replace it.
My question is this, I have had a look at the existing layout in my Cooler Master Mystique case and I cannot figure out how to remove the existing card. My eyesight and fingers are not as good as they were. I removed four very small screws at the back of the card[from outside the case] but I still cannot see how to remove the card. There is one small vertical screw in the rear nearside corner of the card. Should that be removed? The card seems to have 4 what look like aluminium tubes looping along the side of the card what are they?
Can anyone help me? Is there a Mesh manual out there which would explain how to remove this card?
I enjoy my computer and hope to give this one a bit of a boost with the new card. Helpful hints would be welcome.
bye for now,

[DJT298]

Take a look at this tutorial here

It is really quite straight forward but remember to earth yourself first. A simple way is to leave the computer plugged in but switched off at the wall and touch the metal part of the case before you touch any of the components.

[chewvalleyman]

Many thanks for your reply. I have replaced a video card before but this one in this case has me stumped! I now know what the metal tubes are after searching for a picture of my card on the internet. It is part of the attached cooler.
However, the link you gave me seems to suggest that a video card will just slide out but this one can't it seems to be held within a frame of some sort.
Its just knowing which step I take and in what order I do it to get this particular card out of this particular frame within the Cooler Master case.
Anyway thanks again for your kind assistance.

[richieuk]

Hey man, A problem might be the same as with my old GForce 7600, the metal panel with the ports on that you can see out the back of the computer :- My old one sort of hooked around the motherboard a little and when it was pulled upward would catch on it very quickly. It takes a bit of 'jiggling' at funny angles :P but if its that you'll be able to find out easily.

BTW: If anyone wants to explain this better, feel free as I'm terrible with terminolgy.

[Davey W]

Hi chewvalleyman,

I'm not sure what the 4 screws you removed from the back are but I think you should refit them before you go any further.

The card is removed by removing a single screw on the inside of the case, near the back plate. In some cases there are no screws but a single bar holding all cards and back plates in place.

There will also be a catch at the other end of the video card where the card connected to the motherboard that needs to be held open whilst the card is lifted out.

Davey

[CaseSensitive]

Hi chewvalleyman,

If in any doubt my friend then take your box to a 'local' pc shop. They will replace the card for a few pounds I expect and you will be back up and running in no time. The last thing you want to do is damage your motherboard or other components by removing your card incorrectly.

Yes... eyes and fingers get to work less well as time goes on but your brain seems spot on..... "don't do anything I;m not happy with"

Best of luck my friend. Do let us know how you got on won't you.

Paul