Most of the time this isn’t an issue-a relatively inexpensive 600-watt power supply can handle all but the most power-hungry graphics card plus all the standard PC components. You’ll need enough power coming from the power supply unit to feed the the new graphics card, in addition to all of your current computer components. You’ll usually need an extra half inch of so of clearance for this plug, in addition to the dimensions of the card itself.Īnd speaking of power… Make Sure Your Power Supply Can Handle the Card’s Power Requirements The plug for this cable is either on the top of the card, or on the end of it (the side opposite the monitor connections). Mid- and high-end cards require a dedicated electrical connection to the computer’s power supply. There’s also one more factor to consider: the card’s power inputs. If you’ve already got another type of card plugged in next to the slot you’ll use for your graphics card, you’ll need to take that space limitation into account. There are two primary issues here: card width and card length.Ī lot of the higher powered graphics cards are wide enough that they take up the space of two slots. If you have a smaller case (like a mid-tower or compact), you’ll have fewer choices.

Most full-sized tower cases can accommodate even the biggest graphics cards. The other thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the higher powered graphics cards are wide enough that they take up the space of two slots. If you only have an x8-speed slot, that’ll work too, though performance on the most intense games might be a little limited. The important part is that you need a full-sized slot and not one that’s designed for smaller x1, x2, or x4 cards. RELATED: Why Are the PCI Express Ports on My Motherboard Different Sizes? x16, x8, x4, and x1 ExplainedĪlmost all modern graphics cards require a PCI-E x16 slot, and almost all motherboards that feature any full-sized PCI-E slots at all will have one.

This standardized slot gives high-speed access to your PC’s processor and RAM, and its position on the board allows easy access to the rear of the case, letting you plug one or more monitors directly into the card itself. Today’s graphics cards all use the PCI-E standard for plugging into your computer’s motherboard. Make Sure Your Motherboard Has the Right Kind of Slot

Upgrading graphics card in macbook pro