Tech: A difficult install

It used to be easy to install a new video card. I remember plugging in my VooDoo II without much trouble - open the case, pop it in to an open slot, and plug it into your existing 2D card. Install the drivers and cracka-BAM! - you're running Half-Life in glorious 16-bit color, 800x600 resolution.

The GeForce 8800 GTS proved to be a little more trouble than that.

First, modern GPUs are power-thirsty monsters. The 8800 takes up two expansion slots, and the GTS even requires a separate 6-pin PCIE connection to the power supply. I didn't have that much power to spare - time for another power supply.

Installing the power supply in my cramped case was harder than it should have been. We had to take out the fan assembly from the CPU, install the PSU, and then re-install the fan assembly (this necessitates some thermal paste application - try Arctic Silver). Thankfully, my new Corsair 520W supply is modular, which makes cabling a snap.

Putting in the GTS wasn't easy, either. The card is so massive it barely fits in the case, and I actually had to disconnect a minor connection to enable the card to slide in. The card runs hot - very hot. Typical operating temperatures are well north of 70 degrees Celsius (hot enough to burn your hand, in other words). Using the EVGA drivers seems to introduce some kind of performance problems once it gets hot, but the default Nvidia drivers seem to prevent this. But, it's all worth it, I guess - this thing tears up most of the games on the shelves today.