Can't remove video card

TennysonXII · 11-20-2008, 07:34 PM

I opened up my case to install some RAM, and noticed that video card was too big to undo the clips on one side. I tried to remove the video card, but I can't do it. I've unhooked all the wires, removed the screw in the back, and there's no clip holding the card in place; as far as I can tell, it should slide right out.

One side does slide out (the one with the ports and whatnot in the back), but the other won't move. Someone suggested that video cards sometimes get stuck, and if I pull hard enough it will come out. Can I hurt my video card or my motherboard doing that?

If it helps, I'm using a BFG GeForce 8800 GT card and my motherboard is an Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)

**magnethead** · 11-20-2008, 11:54 PM

If it's PCI-e, there's a clip you have to release at the very end of the slot nearest the hard drives.

The clip is MUCH easier to see on AGP slots, but they decided to get sneaky on PCI-e.

Once you can see it, it's another pain to get to it, especially wih a dual slot card. You kind of have to prob around blindly since you don't know where it is.

Habing googled, looks like your board is AGP? Therefore it should be much easier to get to, you just push down.

on PCI-e, the lever is about 7 mm long, and you push up.

**emosun** · 11-21-2008, 02:31 AM

His board looks to be pci-e. I see where the clip is , Its the kind that's hard to remove with dual slot videocards. Usually that have a little slider on the top where you can remove it from either side.

systemErr · 11-23-2008, 10:17 PM

Likely there's a plastic locking mechanism holding your card in the slot. If you don't care about "clips" or "locks" just give your card a good pull, freeing it and thus breaking anything that's keeping it stuck in the slot. Yes, you may also cause enough force or if your hands slip, for example, you can possibly cause mobo damage. Although I haven't used PCIe, I know AGP slots do require some force on the cards to insert them and take them out.

11-20-2008, 07:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
TennysonXII Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Vista Home Premium	Can't remove video card I opened up my case to install some RAM, and noticed that video card was too big to undo the clips on one side. I tried to remove the video card, but I can't do it. I've unhooked all the wires, removed the screw in the back, and there's no clip holding the card in place; as far as I can tell, it should slide right out. One side does slide out (the one with the ports and whatnot in the back), but the other won't move. Someone suggested that video cards sometimes get stuck, and if I pull hard enough it will come out. Can I hurt my video card or my motherboard doing that? If it helps, I'm using a BFG GeForce 8800 GT card and my motherboard is an Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)

11-20-2008, 11:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,568 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Can't remove video card If it's PCI-e, there's a clip you have to release at the very end of the slot nearest the hard drives. The clip is MUCH easier to see on AGP slots, but they decided to get sneaky on PCI-e. Once you can see it, it's another pain to get to it, especially wih a dual slot card. You kind of have to prob around blindly since you don't know where it is. Habing googled, looks like your board is AGP? Therefore it should be much easier to get to, you just push down. on PCI-e, the lever is about 7 mm long, and you push up. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

11-21-2008, 02:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,737 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Can't remove video card His board looks to be pci-e. I see where the clip is , Its the kind that's hard to remove with dual slot videocards. Usually that have a little slider on the top where you can remove it from either side. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

11-23-2008, 10:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
systemErr Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 62 OS: Win XP Home SP2	Re: Can't remove video card Likely there's a plastic locking mechanism holding your card in the slot. If you don't care about "clips" or "locks" just give your card a good pull, freeing it and thus breaking anything that's keeping it stuck in the slot. Yes, you may also cause enough force or if your hands slip, for example, you can possibly cause mobo damage. Although I haven't used PCIe, I know AGP slots do require some force on the cards to insert them and take them out.