First off:

Emachines C2280
Windows XP (service Pack 1)
AMD Athlon 2200 XP (1.79 ghz)
256 MB DDR RAM
32MB S3 Pro Savage 8
1 Available AGP slot

I am planning on ordering an ATI Radeon 9000 64MB AGP graphics card on Staurday. I have never installed anything on a computer, never even opened the case on this one, so I need to know what needs to be done to preform the installation without fail. I contacted Emachines tech support about this. They said:

1.) Open the case, install the card into the AGP slot. The on board graphics card (pro savage) will be automaticaly disabled.

2.) Seal the case and start the computer.

3.) Install the drivers from the CD and that's all.

I asked the same question with 2 different support people and got the same answer. Do any of you guys see anything wrong here? The Radeon 9000 64MB card is the one I will buy. All I want it to do is outpreform the Pro Savage which has disapointing graphics.

Those intructions that they gave are exactly right.

OK, Thanks because I read in these forums about having to change BIOS and disable parts of the mobo, so I thought I was in over my head.

Also, I read on sites that you need an anti-static wrist strap. Is it critical to the installation, or just a percaution?

I'd put it in for you without a notch in no time for a small fee.......

well if you dont put a ESD strap on or disperse the ESD then you are like to easily corrupt the memory modules and worse on the card. your pc will hang and you will get alot of bizzare errors and gpf faults (general protection), even the slightest ESD contact will render your card usless because ittermittent problems will start which will cause nasty faults that will result in total pc failure with the damaged modules. to diserse the ESD plug your PC's power cord in without the PC being on and touch the un-painted medal voltage box. dont move around because that generates static, and take off that wool fleece or your asking for trouble, dont stroke cats either!
, I recommend you buy a ATI 8500 128MB version, or the LE version. I use the 8500 128mb and it works a wonder, its faster then the 9000 too and can do all the tricks that Radeon 9800 can do, (appart from the gpu being slightly slower)

well i would just scrap any ati suggestions because i hate thier drivers, go with the geforce 4 ti series, 4200 or 4600, both awesome, but yeah that is about all you have to do to install the cards

Update you driver after you get things running!

Where can I buy an anti-static strap?

The reason I'm not going to get a Radeon 8500 is because I found a much better deal on a 9000 and all I want is my graphics to look normal, if any of you guys with Pro Savages' know what I mean.