Installing PCIe Graphics Card with broken Integrated Graphics

Fume

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Jul 21, 2010
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It's a very general issue.

The Integrated Graphics card on my sister's PC (Dell Inspiron 660) is physically damaged (the port and pin slots are broken).

I suggested to her that we get her a PCIe graphics card to take over the task, because dedicated imo, is better than integrated anyways.

We have several lined up that can do the task, but before we buy anything, I want to ask about the task of installation.

I know graphics cards require drivers or something to work some time, but the thing is, without a visual display to even do that, how can we go about installing one? The integrated is shot.

Is it possible for PCI cards to work right on plug-in? Without the need to see the screen? Cause I don't want to buy a card and then we plug it in and still get no picture because we're unable to install it.

Thank you in advance.
 

Scar89

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Oct 26, 2011
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No you won't need to install the driver first, you install them after. It all depends on how your 'bios' is set-up on the motherboard. Most bios have an option to select which graphics chip it will try to use first. Something like PEG(PCI-E) -> PCI -> Onboard. Seeing as there is no way to check this without a screen, you will just have to put a card in and try it. See if you can borrow a card or just buy a really cheap one to test with. Also make sure the pc can take a card by taking off the side cover and checking for the PCI-E slot.
 
Simply install the new card, hook up the monitor to it, and the BIOS will automatically use it instead of the onboard.
Boot up, and install the drivers that come with the new video card.

On a side note, I am assuming you have researched what cards will work with the power supply in the Dell?

As a bit more help, there is a video that shows the process of installing a dedicated GPU into a Dell 660 on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXQk_UbQbHU