going from Nvidia 8800GT to AMD?

[Willhouse]

I'm considering upgrading my 8800GT and the 6870/6850 are both attractive options. If I were to switch brands, how should I switch the drivers? Most of what I've been able to find is ~2 years old, and the advice has ranged from fresh OS install to driversweeper (or some such). I would definately prefer not to reinstall the OS. If I were to go to a GTX460, is the procedure different?

As background: This comptuer is used to game, but I don't need to be at the absolute bleeding edge. I do like to be in high detail settings.

BTW, I have an E8400, 4GB memory, 1080p monitor, PC Power and Cooling 610 powersupply

 

[happy medium]

If I were to go to a GTX460, is the procedure different?

Yes, You would just install new geforce drivers and be done.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm considering upgrading my 8800GT and the 6870/6850 are both attractive options. If I were to switch brands, how should I switch the drivers? Most of what I've been able to find is ~2 years old, and the advice has ranged from fresh OS install to driversweeper (or some such). I would definately prefer not to reinstall the OS. If I were to go to a GTX460, is the procedure different?

As background: This comptuer is used to game, but I don't need to be at the absolute bleeding edge. I do like to be in high detail settings.

BTW, I have an E8400, 4GB memory, 1080p monitor, PC Power and Cooling 610 powersupply

You absolutely should not need to reinstall the OS.

Just uninstall the NV drivers, reboot, turn PC off, remove NV card insert AMD card, start PC, install drivers.

 

[Teizo]

If you want to completely remove the nVidia drivers from your system, just uninstall them from Windows Control Panel, reboot into safe mode, run driver cleaner with the nVidia filter (both physx and display), shut off your computer, take out NV card, install AMD card, boot back into windows and install the latest Catalyst driver.

 

[exar333]

If you want to completely remove the nVidia drivers from your system, just uninstall them from Windows Control Panel, reboot into safe mode, run driver cleaner with the nVidia filter (both physx and display), shut off your computer, take out NV card, install AMD card, boot back into windows and install the latest Catalyst driver.

This.

Get either the GTX460 or 6850 (whatever is the better deal at the time). Both cards are great values.

 

[Willhouse]

Yes, You would just install new geforce drivers and be done.

Ok, nice! I thought this might be the case, but some I thought I ran across some advice that I should thoroughly clean the old drivers out as well.

Thanks all.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

If upgrading to any card just install the latest drivers like you normally would. If you run into problems that's when you need to run Driversweeper.

 

[Teizo]

Just noticed something, if you decide to go with the 6850. I'd recommend uninstalling PhysX first since that doesn't require a reboot. Do the display afterwards which will also uninstalls the HD Audio Driver as well.

If you uninstall the display driver first, you have to reboot because the physx driver won't unistall until you boot back into Windows, and it won't uninstall properly in Safe Mode (which is a Windows thing).

You could of course leave the PhysX driver installed and just uninstall it when you boot back into windows and install the Catalyst driver though, just be sure not to run the PhysX filter when you run Driver Sweeper as doing so may interefere with the uninstaller.

So, goes like this, in this order:

1) Unistall PhysX
2) Unistall Display Driver
3) Reboot into Safe Mode
4) Run Driver Sweeper with the NV PhysX and Diplay filter
5) Shutdown, take out NV card, install AMD card
6) Boot back into Windows and install the latest Catalyst driver.

This is of course if you are switching. If you decide to stick with nVidia....just uninstall the display driver...shutdown...put in the 460 and simply update the driver. No need for the extra steps, though you may want to opt for the custom/advanced 'clean install' option.

 

[faxon]

If you want to completely remove the nVidia drivers from your system, just uninstall them from Windows Control Panel, reboot into safe mode, run driver cleaner with the nVidia filter (both physx and display), shut off your computer, take out NV card, install AMD card, boot back into windows and install the latest Catalyst driver.

driversweeper, but yea, this is all you would need to do. i recommend running driver sweeper regardless of if you go to a newer AMD or NV card, i have had many problems in the past from drivers leaving behind random DLLs and crap that caused anywhere from BSODs to some graphical glitches i honestly cant explain without a video, going ATI>NV, NV>ATI, ATI>ATI, and NV>NV.

 

[Attic]

When I went from AMD to nvidia it was very easy and went without issue.

I expect if you move from nvidia to AMD it would be a very simple straightforward process as well.

A reinstall of OS is out of the question for this kind of upgrade.

 

[Arkadrel]

You wont have to use a driver sweep or anything...

go to AMD, look for drivers for your new card (or use ones on cd).
Double click a driver.exe, and click next 2 times or something like that and done.

its not really a science or anything, they re supposed to be easy to install and they are.

 

[Arsynic]

You shouldn't have to do anything with the OS to switch graphics cards. I would first uninstall all graphics drivers, install the card and then install the Catalyst drivers.

 

[n0x1ous]

I'm considering upgrading my 8800GT and the 6870/6850 are both attractive options. If I were to switch brands, how should I switch the drivers? Most of what I've been able to find is ~2 years old, and the advice has ranged from fresh OS install to driversweeper (or some such). I would definately prefer not to reinstall the OS. If I were to go to a GTX460, is the procedure different?

As background: This comptuer is used to game, but I don't need to be at the absolute bleeding edge. I do like to be in high detail settings.

BTW, I have an E8400, 4GB memory, 1080p monitor, PC Power and Cooling 610 powersupply

Shouldn't be a problem. I recently upgraded the card in my HTPC from an ATI 4770 to an Nvidia GTS 450. Uninstalled the ATi drivers then pulled out the card and put in the Nvidia card and installed the latest Nv drivers. Everything went smooth and works perfectly.

I realize you are going the opposite way from Nv to AMD, but I don't think you will have any issues.

 

[Teizo]

driversweeper, but yea, this is all you would need to do. i recommend running driver sweeper regardless of if you go to a newer AMD or NV card, i have had many problems in the past from drivers leaving behind random DLLs and crap that caused anywhere from BSODs to some graphical glitches i honestly cant explain without a video, going ATI>NV, NV>ATI, ATI>ATI, and NV>NV.

Yeah, my bad. I remember the old original when it was called Driver Cleaner back in the day, and I guess I was having some sort of flash back or something

Edit - They are charging $10 for that program now? :O