Make sure you get a compatible one for your motherboard. There are sites that will help you. Currently the going standard is PCI express but you may have an older setup like AGP and there were different ones. If you have onboard video now, you may have to manually disable it or it may be set up where the new card takes presidense. You have to have the new drivers ready to go on restart. Always make sure the power cord is unplugged before doing anything and make sure the card you get is the proper one for the board.

Step One: Identify the type of video card in your system. It may be PCI, PCI-e, or AGP. Check your power supply, make sure it is at least 430 watts or more and has a PCI-e power connector. Step two: Visit nVIDIA.com or ATi.com and download the newest driver. Save it to the desktop, but do not install it. You will need it at the end of this short tutorial. Step three: Uninstall and remove the old driver. Step four: Shut down your computer. Remove all video cables from computer, then open (or remove) the side panel. Inside you will find the video card, it will most likely be the slot furthest away from the bottom of the tower. Use a screwdriver and remove the screw holding it in place. Then check to see if there is a tab holding the card in place, usually on the motherboard. While holding the tab in, gently pull out the old video card and instert the new one; replace the screw, connect the PCI-e power cable to the graphics card or white molex plug for AGP. If you have AGP, make sure nothing else is connected to that power cable (like drives, fans, etc), the graphics card should be the only thing drawing power off of that line. Step Five: Put the cover back on. Step Six: Reconnect the monitor cable and turn the computer back on. Windows will boot up and the colours will look funny in a low resolution kind of way. Step Seven: Find the driver you downloaded to your desktop, install it and reboot. Step Eight: Enjoy. NOTE: At all times while working inside of a PC or electronic device, you need to have the same electrical potential as the computer or you will fry with static electricity any thing you touch. Make sure you wear an esd wrist strap or keep one hand in constant contact with the unpainted metal computer frame/case while the other does the work- do not let go for any reason. Do not unplug the computer while you do this. http://www.computerhope.com/esd.htm http://www.ehow.com/how_2054968_protect-computer-from-esd.html http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/Computer-Systems/A-Computer-Builders-Guide-to-ESD/ http://www.wikihow.com/Ground-Yourself-to-Avoid-Destroying-a-Computer-With-Electrostatic-Discharge http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_ESD_precautions ESD Writst Straps, buy only straps with a megaohm resistor. It's important to GET ONE: Exceeds IBM® and U.S. military static control standards- http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2260808&cp=&sr=1&kw=wrist+strap&origkw=wrist+strap&parentPage=search http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=wrist%20strap&origkw=wrist%20strap&sr=1 -Top of the line ESD protection: Speidel Twist-O-Flex bands(W/Desco Cable) http://www.staticspecialists.com/personalgrounding.htm NOTE, this moron does not take proper ESD precautions and his video card may live a short life of a few weeks to a few months. But he does show basics of what is inside:

Well in general I kinda agree with most of the steps of Anonymous Coward but there is a few parts I have a problem with like not unplug your PC as even if its turn off there is still 5 amps still going to motherboard and also not mention of not to touch certain parts of card etc. I found this set of instruction for Heliumn.com by BOFA http://bofanet.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-to-install- video-card.html How to install a video card! (Written for Helium.com, currently ranked #1 article for specific title!!) Installing new hardware in your computer can be a scary thing to do at first; all those wires, all those chips! But don't worry, follow these simple steps and you'll be introduced to a whole new world of visual effects on your computer! 1) Before you even consider buying a new video card, there are some things you need to know. - First of all, what are the connectors on your pc's motherboard. So open up your computer (after printing out this article and unplugging your pc of course...safety first!). - Now locate the series of connectors (they look like long slots). The smallest ones are the PCI slots...no need to worry about those! The longer and inlaid one(s) is your AGP or PCI-Express slot (depending if you have a newer or older pc.) Now here is how to check what you currently have: - i) If the slot has a small plastic break towards the top (towards the outside of the board) you have a AGP 2x. ii) If the slot has a small plastic break towards the bottom (towards the inside of the board) you have a AGP 4x/8x. iii) If there is no plastic break, you have a universal AGP slot, meaning you can use both. iv) Now if you have a newer PC, you'll have a PCI-Express slot. They look just like the PCI slots mentioned earlier but have the plastic break on the opposite side and will be differently colored. 2) Now that you know what type of slot you have all you need to do is decide what buy! The top of the line at this time is the nVidia Geforce 8800GTX. However ATI's rival card is rumored to be coming out soon. For those who are more money conscious, the line of ATI 1K and nVidia 7 series offer good power at a reasonable price. However make sure you buy a card that fits your slot (so thats either AGP or PCIe). Unfortunately most high-end cards are no longer available in AGP. 3) After you've purchased your video card, you need to install it (don't worry it is the easiest part!). First, locate the drivers in your Add/Remove programs (they all start with either ATI or nVidia) and uninstall them all (don't worry if your resolution goes down really low, its normal). Now, unplug your computer and open it (make sure you are well grounded). 4) Now locate your old video card and remove it from your computer. In its place, put your new one! When you power on your computer, it should automatically recognize the new hardware and prompt you to install something. However, if you have an Internet connection, ignore it. Go to the ATI or nVidia site(depending on your video card maker), download the drivers and install them. After you restart your pc, everything should work fine! If you don't have an Internet connection, then use the CD included with the card and update your drivers as soon as you have access to the Internet! Resolution should go back up to its previous size and your computer should now be improved! Good job!

But though out the complete book it says PC should by UNPLUGED when working on it, never any mention of way you describe it. That would be why I use a static mat to stand on & one for PC to rest on also.Granted general public do not have these. So if the person would writes one of the main books that 1000,s read to take there test for A+ & N+ from (Micheal Meyers) I feel little more comfortable telling people UN plug, its the way I've been trained in my A+ & N+ class and CompTIA A+ essentials. again these are the the facts you can't always see something but its there, this also test material on the A+ test. ESD Ground cords serve one purpose, to connect a conducting surface to the same potential as ground. A "soft ground" is a ground cord with a built-in series resistance, typically 1 Megohm, designed solely to limit any potential current the operator may come in contact with when exposed to 110 VAC and up to 250 VAC maximum. Underwriters Laboratories recommends that the electrical current that the operator be exposed to be limited to 0.25 milliamp At 250 volts, the 1 megohm resistor does this The formula used is Ohms law E = IR, so 250 volts = 0.25milliamps times 1,000,000 ohms and/or 500 volts = 0.50 milliamps times 1,000,000 ohms. A nominal 1 megohm resistor is commonly used in wrist straps and to ground work surfaces. In the event of an operator touching an energized conductor, for the normal mains electricity supplies this resistor will limit the current flowing through the person to less than 0,5 mA. Current limiting or cut-off devices should also be considered and in some areas may be demanded by legislation.

In trying to avoid dropping a manual in your lap as an answer, I would say that the video card should be, or at least, often is on the bottom left corner of the motherboard. Nothing personal, G-tech, but I think that you need to consult an expert, someone who not only speaks geek but is one!

Well I think you should read my profile at the very least, and granted I haven't been in the PC world as long as some of the other guys but I do have access to those who have. And if you had taken any time to read any of my other answer you would find I speak geek just fine. The whole point of the question is A-unplug PC or not and ESD.