So I'm trying to help my boyfriend install a graphics card. We've disabled the integrated card in bios, and installed drivers and when he switches over to the new graphics card and plugs the cord into the back of the computer, nothing. he says the computer has never recognized it. Help!

The first thing to check: make sure the card is firmly seated in the slot.

It's firmly in and still not working.

What kind of card is it. If its a newer PCI-X card make sure you have connected the power connector to the card.

It's an Nvidia geforce4 8500 GT, connected in the AGP slot.

Ok there is conflicting information in there. If it is a Geforce 8500 GT its not an AGP card its a PCI-X16 card and if its some how in the AGP slot theres a problem. Also if its in the proper slot it should have a power connector on the top edge of the card that needs to be connected. If its a Geforce 4 its not an 8500. Check the Make and model of the card and also list the brand name such as BFG, XFS, MSI etc. Also what kind of computer is it going into be specific with make and model numbers, If it is a custom computer please provide the make and model of the motherboard.

Well, It was announced that there will be 8600 for AGP (I think) as there is still a market for agp. http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37790
I thought it was just going to be the 8600 and not the 8500 though. So you either have a super-rare card not released to the public yet or you typed the wrong info.

It's possible. I'm in Utah and he's in Florida so I'm trying to remotely do this.

Did you check if the graphics card requires a power connector? Does it have a heatsink/fan? Does it spin when you turn it on? Is the motherboard an SLI capable motherboard?

SLI only matters if your using more than one Nvidia card.

But does it matter in which slot you insert the GPU into if you only have one?

we figured it out. the guy that built the computer, who also ordered the graphics card didn't check to make sure they were compatible. So now I'm trying to find one that is compatible. :/

In what way weren't they compatible?

the motherboard is an ASUS P5GZ-MX. it's not on nvidia's compatibility list.

Had a system in the shop recently with no video - it was an Asus SLI board.

The Asus boards require that the single card be in a specific slot, and this board also had a "chip" between the 2 PCI-e slots that had to be changed to set the SLI/non-SLI mode.

Did not know that.

Depending on the make of the mother board Yes it does

Oh really?

The ASUS P5GZ-MX doesn't have the features of the board that I had in the shop (and it doesn't have the card to flip from non-SLI to SLI). I discovered the quirks of the board in the shop by reading the boards manual. Perhaps you could find this information in your manual?