Matrox VS4 - Avoid costly damage; Installing your Matrox VS4 card

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Chapter 2, Installing Matrox VS4 Hardware and Software
Before installing your Matrox hardware
Read the following information carefully before attempting to install the Matrox
VS4 card.
¦NoteUnless otherwise specified, references to the VS4 card in this guide
apply to both VS4 and VS4 Pro cards.
Start with a functioning system
Before attempting any Matrox VS4 installation, you should have a computer with
a supported Windows operating system fully installed and functioning properly.
This will avoid potential problems later on.
Avoid costly damage
Static electricity from your body can damage your Matrox VS4 card or your
computer. Although you may not notice it, static electricity is generated every
time you move. It’s often too small to cause a spark, but it can still cause damage
to sensitive electronic components or at least reduce their lifespan.
To avoid damage, please observe the following precautions:
• Do not remove your Matrox VS4 card from its anti-static bag until you’re
ready to install it. Before removing the card, place the package within easy
reach of the area where you intend to perform the installation.
• You should avoid touching the chips and other components on the circuit
board. Try to handle the card by its edges.
• Try to work in an area where the relative humidity is at least 50%.
• Do not wear wool or synthetic clothing. These fabrics tend to generate more
static electricity than cotton, which is best for this kind of work.
• Turn off the power switches on your computer and its connected
components.
Once you’ve opened your computer, drain static electricity from your body by
touching a bare metal surface on your computer chassis before you install or
remove any parts of your system. If you have a grounding wrist strap, use it while
handling and installing any components in your computer.
Installing your Matrox VS4 card
The Matrox VS4 card is a three-quarter length PCIe card designed to operate in
your computer’s x8 or greater PCIe slot (x8 electrical is recommended for
optimal performance). You can install up to two VS4 cards in the same system.
For detailed instructions on how to perform the following steps, refer to your
computer’s documentation.