Just got R9800 Pro, do I need to reformat?

[CrazyFunkyTown]

Hello I currently have a GF3 Ti500 in my computer (WinXP) with the latest Nvidia drivers. I just got my R9800 Pro in the mail today, what is my best option. Will I lose any performance if I simply use detonator destroyer and then put the card in and install ATI drivers? Thanks for the help.

 

[CraigRT]

some people will say there is more to it, but i simply uninstall all previous drivers, install new card, and install new drivers.
never ever had a problem doing this.
the answer is no you should not have to format for only a videocard. something like a motherboard you might have to format. (likely)

 

[CrazyFunkyTown]

Alright I normally wouldn't just go on one person's advice, I like to post a few responses and eventually an argument will break out to amuse me and others but in this case since you have over 18000 posts (holy crap!) I will go blindly forth on your advice. Thanks.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
some people will say there is more to it, but i simply uninstall all previous drivers, install new card, and install new drivers.
never ever had a problem doing this.
the answer is no you should not have to format for only a videocard. something like a motherboard you might have to format. (likely)

Well I will back it up, since I did the same going from 4200Ti to 9800pro

Originally posted by: CrazyFunkyTown
Alright I normally wouldn't just go on one person's advice, I like to post a few responses and eventually an argument will break out to amuse me and others but in this case since you have over 18000 posts (holy crap!) I will go blindly forth on your advice. Thanks.

He could have gotten all of those in ATOT

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
some people will say there is more to it, but i simply uninstall all previous drivers, install new card, and install new drivers.
never ever had a problem doing this.
the answer is no you should not have to format for only a videocard. something like a motherboard you might have to format. (likely)

Even that's not really true (the motherboard thing, at least in WindowsXP); I recently swapped MBs with a "Repair Installation", and it works fine. You *certainly* don't need to do it for a video card upgrade.

However, you might want to look into a utility called 'Driver Cleaner 3', especially if your old video card was an NVIDIA product. It will eliminate any stray video drivers still hanging around on your system after you uninstall the old card.

 

[CrazyFunkyTown]

Thanks, will do. If I use Driver Cleaner 3, do I need any other programs like Det Destroyer?

 

[movingincircles]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

I recently swapped MBs with a "Repair Installation", and it works fine.

did you get in error during the repair installing process (the one where you had to click ok for about a couple hundred times)

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: CrazyFunkyTown
Thanks, will do. If I use Driver Cleaner 3, do I need any other programs like Det Destroyer?

Probably no. Driver Cleaner 3 will do the job nicely.

 

[Jayczar]

linkified just in case

driver cleaner

 

[Todd33]

Everytime I install anything, hardware or software I reformat.

 

[Jayczar]

Originally posted by: Todd33
Everytime I install anything, hardware or software I reformat.

so you reformat everytime you install a game or program?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: movingincircles

Originally posted by: Matthias99

I recently swapped MBs with a "Repair Installation", and it works fine.

did you get in error during the repair installing process (the one where you had to click ok for about a couple hundred times)

No, I didn't. Went without a hitch.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: Todd33
Everytime I install anything, hardware or software I reformat.

Dayum you have a lot of free time :Q

 

[oldfart]

I've been messing with PC's for ~ 10 years and have never reformatted to install a new video card. WinXP is pretty forgiving. My current install of XP (which I did an upgrade install over Win2k) has been through 3 motherboard changes, 3 CPUs, 3 video cards, a few different HD and optical drives and other misc small HW changes. Reformat and installing all my junk takes a lot of time. Only if absolutely necessary.

 

[White Widow]

Reformat for a new video card? You'd have to be a glutton for punishment to do that. Just kill the Nvidia drivers (DC3 works very well), swap the cards, and intall the latest CAT's (I like the Oemga modded CAT's myself). You should be fine.

 

[Ninjazx]

EDIT: I meant to quote the above post about his upgrade from a TI4200 to radeon 9800... not to seeminly start my own thread.


My TI4200 is going out on me (I believe- full screen of garbage requiring the power be shut of, and turned back on (simple restart doesnt work), slowly having to keep underclocking it farther and farther to keep it semi-stable)

My question is, how much do you like your 9800 compared with the ti4200. I've read all the reviews, and seen the benchmarks, I mean as an opinion, should i wait a month or 2 and get an X800/geforce 6800, or get the 9800pro/xt now and save some $?

 

[anthrax]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
some people will say there is more to it, but i simply uninstall all previous drivers, install new card, and install new drivers.
never ever had a problem doing this.
the answer is no you should not have to format for only a videocard. something like a motherboard you might have to format. (likely)

Reformat even when you get a new Mobo? Are u sure you have to? .Can't you just install the new Mobo...boot into safe mode, and delete every item in the "Device manager" and reboot. Windows will do the rest for you...

This can save you alot of time... If you reinstall windows XP., you are gonna have to install 47 "critical security patches from MS...and that takes alot of time..

 

[Todd33]

It was a joke, I would never reformat just from a video card install, not is it required.

 

[stevty2889]

No need to reformat for changing you video card, I went from a geforce 3 ti 200 to a readeon 9600 pro with no problems, just uninstalled old drives, swapped cards, and good to go.

 

[NOX]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
some people will say there is more to it, but i simply uninstall all previous drivers, install new card, and install new drivers.
never ever had a problem doing this.
the answer is no you should not have to format for only a videocard. something like a motherboard you might have to format. (likely)

I agree, I did not format when I upgraded my Ti4200 to my 9600XT. I haven't had any problems, and all my games etc., run smooth.

If I were changing motherboards then I would do a clean install, but not for a video card.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

No way...

I can see doing it if a ton of problems arise somehow, but if you just fully uninstall the old drivers and then install the latest new ones you should be fine.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Has anyone had any success, running both an ATI Radeon-family card, in a multi-monitor setup alongside an NVidia card, with *both* Cats and Dets installed together? (I would assume leaving the bundled desktop-management features disabled on both, as that would probably conflict.)

My reasoning behind this is, is it really necessary to un-install NV drivers before installing ATI, and vice-versa? Or can you just install the card, and install the drivers, and go?

I currently have Dets 56.72 installed, and had a PCI TNT1 card in here, but the card was removed. I purchased a Radeon 9200 64MB AGP, and downloaded the newest Cats 4.6, so I was planning on just dropping in the card and installing the ATI drivers, and then if I ever get my PCI TNT1 back from my friend, plugging that back in and running a tri-monitor setup. Is that doable?