Let’s discuss a procedure you’ll have to go through repeatedly, especially if you’re a gamer: removing a graphics card from your computer.
If you’re not an experienced techie, you’re undoubtedly intimidated whenever you peek inside a computer, whether it’s your own or someone else’s.
Thankfully, there’s no need to worry. Whether you’re aware of it or not, everything inside a computer has a very specific purpose.
Since they are efficient instruments that have aided us in both our personal and professional efforts for decades, computers probably will continue to play a significant role in our lives for many more years and decades to come.
Is It Complicated to Open a PC Case?
In no way!
Your PC’s interior will either be neat and minimalist depending on the parts you have and how everything was first set up, or it will be a complete mess.
We’re talking exposed cables, dust everywhere, objects whose origins you don’t know, and a number of sharp objects that may or may not be the cause of the poor condition of your index finger.
PC building can be a beautiful thing and an enjoyable hobby that will keep you busy for years to come, but it can also be very painful, and we mean that in the most literal sense.
The majority of items are pointy, there are numerous screws, and you frequently need to use some force. And, well, if you choose a smaller casing, things become even more difficult.
We’ll work to be as direct as we can in this particular item.
Covering all your bases is preferable to assuming you already know something and leaving you without the information you might truly need.
For the purposes of this post, we’ll suppose that you’ve just started fiddling with your PC (congrats, by the way!) and have opened it up for the first time with the specific intention of removing/replacing your graphics card.
How to Remove a Graphics Card from Your Computer
GPUs, also known as graphics cards, are simple to identify since they all have a fairly similar form factor and are consistently placed in the same location. To put it another way, you can’t miss them.
A Step-by-Step Guide
Your motherboard and graphics card are always connected directly. It is designed to fit into the PCIe x16 slot alone.
The x16 suffix on this particular connector indicates that it has sixteen data lanes, making it the port on your motherboard with the maximum possible data throughput.
You must take the following actions in order to remove your graphics card safely:
- Turn off your computer entirely.
- Then, shut off your power supply as well, and unhook the back of its lone dedicated wire.
- Make sure to unplug any connectors on the back of your monitor that are used to connect your graphics card, if any are present.
- Open the computer case.
- The next step is to cut any cables that may be connected to your GPU. There is probably at least one power wire present. Low-end graphics cards can consume up to 75W from the PCIe slot, which may be sufficient in some circumstances.
However, any GPU designed for gaming or content creation will need far more power than any motherboard can offer. Your power supply will be useful in this situation. A multi-pin PCIe power connector is employed to give it additional “juice.”
A 6-pin connector will add an extra 75 watts of power to your GPU, whilst an 8-pin one triple that. These days, the majority of graphics cards need at least one of these connectors, if not more (in case you have a truly high-end, power-hungry GPU).
Pull out the PCIe cable by depressing the small plastic clip/latch on the side. It could need a little pushing and wriggling.
6. You’ll need a suitable screwdriver and some physical work for this portion of the procedure because your GPU is almost certainly tightened for additional support on the back end (where its ports are located).
7. The right-hand/back side of the PCIe x16 slot, or underneath your GPU, has a rather small retention clip that must be depressed in order to remove the GPU.
In essence, it acts as a locking mechanism. Despite being intentionally simplistic, it performs its function flawlessly. Touch the protruding element (it can be a bit tricky to reach).
Although the look of these retention clips varies, they all function in the same way.
8. You may now easily remove your graphics card because all the cables and screws have been unplugged.
FAQs:
Can a graphics card be removed?
That’s for sure! If you later decide to purchase one that is more powerful or, God forbid, if your current one breaks down, you’ll need to take it out.
Your graphics card is only one of several parts in your computer that may be improved, modified, and replaced in various other ways.
Can all graphics cards be removed?
They certainly can! Those connected to your motherboard via the PCIe slot are, at the very least, standard ones.
This is unaffected by how they seem on the outside; your GPU can be removed regardless of how it looks.
Triple fan designs can be intimidating, but don’t let them put you off—you can also remove them whenever you like!
What happens if I remove my graphics card?
Okay, nothing damaging or serious.
A graphics card’s primary function is to provide a video signal to your monitor and so enable you to interact with your computer. In the absence of it, your PC won’t function unless your processor has an integrated graphics card (or iGPU, for short).
Can I break my PC when opening it up?
Unfortunately, you can, but only if you’re careless.
There is really no chance for anything to go wrong or damage your components if you follow our step-by-step instructions.
Simply exercise caution, patience, and restrain your use of force. You should absolutely keep in mind that your gear is far more delicate than it might first appear to be.
My graphics card is stuck, what do I do?
To start with, you must determine the cause of the problem.
The method itself shouldn’t be that difficult because there are only a few potential causes.
- Have all the cables been cut off? the ones inside the casing and on the GPU’s back?
- Have all the screws been removed? Depending on the size of your graphics card, you’ll likely need to remove one or perhaps two screws.
- Did you engage the built-in safety latch, which is located on the PCIe slot’s right side?
If you’ve thought of everything, you’ll probably need to exert a little more pressure to get it out.
Just remember that your graphics card is perpendicular to your motherboard, so be careful to retain its angle if you remove it. You run the risk of hurting it if you tilt it in any other direction.
Building a PC is easier than pulling it apart, which frequently involves more power and finesse (a odd combination, we know) than one might anticipate.
Conclusion
How is a graphics card removed? Even though it might appear like a simple task, careful planning is required in order to complete it safely and efficiently. Making sure the computer is unplugged and switched off is the first step.
Next, remove the screws holding the GPU in place from the case’s back. Because they can be tricky to locate once they’ve been tucked away inside the case, be very careful not to lose any of these screws. After the screws have been taken out, carefully remove the GPU and unplug any connections that are connected to it. Finally, reassemble everything in the opposite direction, and you’re done!