Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 550 Ti User manual

GEFORCE®GTX Ti
GRAPHICS CARD
INSTALLATION GUIDE

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
GEFORCE GTX 550 TI INSTALLATION GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
About This Guide 1
Minimum System Requirements 2
Unpacking 3
Equipment 3
Hardware Installation 5
Safety Instructions 5
Before You Begin 6
Installing the GeForce Graphics Card 6
Driver Installation 11
Configuring SLI 15
Accessing the NVIDIA Control Panel 15
Enabling SLI 16
Configuring HDMI 17
Enabling Audio Over HDMI 17
Features 19
Compliances 23

TABLE OF CONTENTS


INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing the NVIDIA®
GeForce®GTX 550 Ti graphics card.
Built from the ground up for DirectX 11
tessellation, the GeForce GTX 550 Ti delivers
revolutionary geometry performance for
the ultimate next generation DX11 gaming
experience.
With full support for NVIDIA 3D Vision the
GeForce GTX 550 Ti provides the graphics
horsepower and video bandwidth needed to
experience games and high definition Blu-ray
movies in eye-popping stereoscopic 3D.
About This Guide
This installation guide discusses the installation and operation of
the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphic solution.
Note: It is important to register your product in order to
receive online and phone support. Consult the registration
card included in the retail packaging for more information on
registering your product.


INTRODUCTION
 Minimum System Requirements
>Motherboard
PCI Express®or PCI Express 2.0-compliant motherboard
with one dual-width x16 graphics slot. For a 2-way SLI
configuration, you need an SLI-ready motherboard with one
dual-width x16 graphics slot for each graphics card.
>System Power Supply
Minimum 400W or greater system power supply (with a
minimum 12V current rating of 24A) with one 6-pin PCI Express
supplementary power connector for each graphics card.
For power supply recommendations for SLI configurations, visit
www.slizone.com and check the Certified Products section.
>Operating System
zMicrosoft Windows 7, 32-bit or 64-bit
zMicrosoft Windows Vista, 32-bit or 64-bit
zMicrosoft Windows XP, 32-bit or 64-bit
zLinux, 32-bit or 64-bit
zFreeBSD x86
>System Memory
2 GB system memory (4 GB recommended)
>CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive or internet connection for driver
installation
>200 MB of available hard disk space


UNPACKING
UNPACKING
Prior to unpacking your new NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card, it is important
to make sure you meet all the system require-
ments listed on page 2 for a smooth installation.
Be sure to inspect each piece of equipment
shipped in the packing box. If anything is missing
or damaged, contact your reseller.
Equipment
The following equipment and documentation are included in the
GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card box.
NVIDIA Driver Installation CD
Contains:
• Windows 7, XP, and Vista (32/64-bit) drivers for
the GeForce graphics card. For other operating
systems and to keep your drivers current, visit
www.nvidia.com/drivers and download the
latest drivers
• Digital version of this Manual, the NVIDIA Control
Panel User Guide, and Driver
Quick Start Guide
Fast and easy steps to install the GeForce
graphics card(s).


UNPACKING
 WELCOME
Registration Card
Register to gain priority access to online and
phone support.
4-to-6 Pin Adapter (Optional)
Use the 4-to-6 pin adapter to convert two 4-pin power
supply connectors to one 6-pin connector.
DVI-to-VGA Adapter (Optional)
Use to connect a VGA monitor to the DVI connector or a
DVI monitor to the VGA connector.
Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI Adapter (Optional)
Use to connect the mini-HDMI connector on the card to
a regular size HDMI connector.
GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card
Power connector
Mini-HDMI
connector
DVI
connector
DVI
connector
SLI
connector


HARDWARE INSTALLATION
HARDWARE INSTALLATION
Installing the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
graphics card hardware involves opening up your
computer. Follow all of the safety instructions
provided here to ensure that there is no damage
to you, your computer, or the graphics board.
Safety Instructions
To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury, always follow basic
safety precautions.
Note: All hardware must be installed prior to installation of
the drivers.
>Remove power from your computer by disconnecting the AC main
source before installation.
>Do not operate this product near water or when your hands or
body are wet.
>Do not place this product on soft surfaces that could block the
ventilation slots and cause overheating.
>Do not place this product near a heating register or radiator.
>Place this product securely on a stable surface. Serious damage
to this product may result if it falls.
>Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not place
this product where a person can step or trip on the power cord.


HARDWARE INSTALLATION
 Before You Begin
The GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card is a PCI Express 2.0 ×16 graphics
card. Your computer may already have a graphics card installed in the
PCI Express slot. If so, you will need to remove that graphics card and
replace it with the GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card.
If you do not have a graphics card, this means that your motherboard
has on-board graphics (there is a graphics chip installed on your
motherboard or integrated in the motherboard chipset). If this is the
case, there is no action that needs to be taken before installing your
new graphics card.
Installing the GeForce Graphics Card
Because there are so many different computer systems on the
market, the procedure to install the GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics
card can vary from system to system. Use the following
instructions as a guideline and consult the documentation for
your computer system for any further information on your
individual system.
Note: It is important that all power to the computer be
disconnected before you install the graphics card.
Discharge your body’s static electricity by touching a grounded
surface before touching the graphics card. A grounded surface is the
computer chassis, or some other surface you know to be grounded.
Use the following procedure to install the GeForce GTX 550 Ti
graphics card into your computer system.
1 Turn off your computer and monitor and disconnect the power cord.
Depending on your computer system, you may need to disconnect the
cable going to the back of your system. Mark the cables so you can
make sure you reconnect them properly.
2 Open your computer by removing the cover/side panel. Refer to
your computer documentation from the original manufacturer
for assistance.

HARDWARE INSTALLATION 
3 Remove any existing graphics card (if there is one). Save hardware
(such as screws and brackets) to use when installing the NVIDIA
graphics card.
!Attention: If your system has been running for a period of
time prior to opening the panels, it is very important that you
wait until the graphics card in your system has cooled before
taking the card out of the system. Graphics cards get very hot
when they have been operating for any length of time.
4 Remove the slot cover if you do not have a graphics card installed.

HARDWARE INSTALLATION
 5 Plug the graphics card into the Primary PCI Express x16 slot on your
motherboard. This is often the slot closest to the CPU but may be the
second or third slot. Look for the slot labeled ×16. It will likely be the
only PCI Express slot with a retention lever on the end of the slot or
the one closest to the CPU.
Note: It is recommended that you install the graphics card
into the primary PCI Express x16 slot. If you install the graphics
card into the secondary slot, your system may not recognize the
graphics card and there will be nothing displayed on the monitor.
Also note that on some motherboard SBIOS, the physical
location of the primary slot can be configured when there are
more than one PCI Express x16 slots.
If you are installing an additional GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics cards
for an SLI configuration, continue with step 6 (2-way SLI) .
Note: All of the graphics cards in an SLI configuration must
be identical.

HARDWARE INSTALLATION 
6 Two GeForce graphic cards (2-way SLI):
a) Install the second GeForce card into the outer most PCI Express
x16 slot on the motherboard.
b) Connect the two cards together using the dual SLI bridge
connector that came with your SLI-ready motherboard.
7 Connect one 6-pin PCI Express auxiliary power connectors coming
from the computer power supply to the connectors on the top edge of
on the top edge of the GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card.
If your power supply needs an additional 6-pin power
connector, you can use the included 4-to-6 pin
adapter.Make sure to connect each 4-pin connector
to a separate PSU cable.
SLI
From power supply

 HARDWARE INSTALLATION
8 Reinstall the cover on your computer and reconnect any cables
that you removed earlier in the installation.
9 Connect your computer monitor(s) to the GeForce graphics card
using the mini-HDMI and DVI connectors. The GeForce GTX graphics
card can be connected to PC monitors that support DVI, VGA, and
HDMI inputs.
A single GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card can support up to two
displays per card in a multi-monitor configuration.
10 Reconnect your power cord to the PC.
Mini-HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
Connector supports output of both video and audio
from the PC to a high-definition television. Mini-HDMI
is a smaller footprint version of the standard HDMI
connector. A cable or adapter is needed to connect
from the mini-HDMI connector to a display with a
standard HDMI plug.
DVI connector for digital displays.
Using a DVI-to-VGA adapter, you can
connect a VGA display.
2 1


DRIVER INSTALLATION
DRIVER INSTALLATION
With the hardware installed, it is now time to
install the graphics driver. NVIDIA recommends
downloading and installing the most recent
drivers available at:
http://www.nvidia.com/drivers.
Use the following procedure to load
the graphics drivers.
1 Power up your system.
2 Insert the driver installation CD or double click on the GeForce driver
executable file you downloaded from www.nvidia.com/drivers. The
NVIDIA Setup program takes over and installs the drivers.


 DRIVER INSTALLATION
 3 Select the Express Installation option and then click NEXT when the
Install Options window displays.
Note: It may take several minutes for the installation to take
place. Your screen may go blank for a few seconds one or
more times during installation. This is normal. The Install
in progess… screen will let you know when the installation
is complete.

DRIVER INSTALLATION 
4 Click RESTART NOW once the install has finished.
Note: Please visit www.nvidia.com/support to access our
24x7 x365 online support system, where you can submit
questions directly to our tech support staff. Questions may
only be submitted in English. GeForce customers purchasing
NVIDIA-branded products also have access to toll free
technical support at 1-800-797-6530 from 8:00AM-5:00PM
Pacific Time, M-F. The technical support line is accessible
from the U.S. and Canada only.

 DRIVER INSTALLATION



CONFIGURING SLI
SLI is a revolutionary technology developed
by NVIDIA that allows you to connect identical
GeForce graphics cards together to deliver
increased performance.
You can enable SLI by either clicking on the SLI capable system bal-
loon in the system tray or by going to the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Accessing the NVIDIA Control Panel
1 To access the NVIDIA Control Panel, you can right-click the Windows
desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel from the menu. Other ways
to access the NVIDIA Control Panel depends on the operating system.
>Windows 7
Go to Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound and select
the NVIDIA Control Panel icon.
>Windows XP
Go to Start Control Panel and select the NVIDIA Control
Panel icon.

CONFIGURING SLI