Many inexpensive computers have a chip on the motherboard which handles the video processing for the computer. This chip reduces the cost of the computer by eliminating the need for a separate video card. However, an on-board video chip generally does not offer the kind of performance in games that can be achieved with a video card. Disable the on-board video on your Gateway computer if you install a video card to conserve system resources and eliminate hardware conflicts.
Disabling On-board Video on Newer Gateway Computers
Most Gateway computers manufactured since the late 1990s have a single expansion slot on the motherboard devoted to video cards (AGP or PCI Express). Therefore, if a card is inserted into a slot, the motherboard assumes that it is a video card, disabling the integrated video chip automatically. If your Gateway computer uses an AGP or PCI Express slot for video card upgrades, nothing else needs to be done to disable the on-board video.
Disabling On-board Video on Older Gateway Computers
If you have an older Gateway computer with a 486 or Pentium OverDrive processor, the on-board video must be disabled using a jumper on the motherboard. While the computer is open and you are upgrading the video card, look for the jumper blocks on the motherboard. This is a small bank of metal pins with small plastic pieces bridging two pins out of each set of three. Each group of three pins will have a number printed on one side, and a semicircular outline on the other side, indicating pin 1.
Find the jumper numbered "J16." If you are upgrading the video card on a computer that previously used on-board video, the plastic piece for this jumper will be bridging pins 1 and 2. Move the plastic piece so that it bridges pins 2 and 3 to disable the integrated video on your motherboard.
Tags: video card, Gateway computer, on-board video, bridging pins, Disabling On-board