Updating your video card driver is a relatively easy process that can often times optimize your computer’s graphics performance and fix compatibility issues with games and other applications. Whether you have an integrated or dedicated graphics card, updating your driver can help to ensure that your PC is running at its peak performance.
1. Check what type of graphics card you have:
If you are unsure what type of graphics card you are using, you can find this out by opening up the Device Manager found in the Control Panel. This will let you know the name of the card and make it easier to look up the proper drivers.
2. Locate the latest driver:
Once you have identified the type of graphics card you have, you will need to locate the proper drivers. This can be done by visiting the manufacturer’s website (e.g. NVIDIA, AMD). On the manufacturer’s website, search for drivers that match the model of your graphics card and the version of Windows installed on your system.
3. Backup the current driver:
Before installing the new driver, it is always a good idea to backup the current driver just in case any issues arise. To do this, open the Device Manager, select your graphics card, right-click and select “Update Driver”, select “Browse My Computer” and then “Let me pick from a List”. Select the “Have Disk” option, browse to the folder where you downloaded the driver and select it.
4. Install the new driver:
Once you have the new driver ready, you are now ready to install it. Open up the Device Manager again and select your graphics card. Now right-click and select “Update Driver” and then “Browse My Computer”. Select the “Have Disk” option and browse to the folder containing the driver. Select the new driver and click “Install”. The driver will now be installed and may take a few minutes to complete.
5. Reboot your computer:
After the driver has been installed, it is recommended that you restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect. After restarting, you should see a noticeable improvement in your graphics performance.
6. Update regularly:
It is important to keep your graphics drivers up to date in order to maximize your experience with graphics-intensive applications. Your graphics card manufacturer may offer periodic updates and it’s a good idea to check for them regularly. It is also a good practice to make sure the graphics card is compatible with the version of Windows that you are running.