If you purchase and install a third-party graphics card, what must you do to ensure its proper operation?

When installing a third-party graphics card, it is crucial to disable the onboard graphics card to ensure that the new card operates correctly without conflicts. Most motherboards are designed to prioritize the onboard graphics when they are enabled, which can lead to the newly installed graphics card not being recognized or utilized properly by the system.

By disabling the onboard graphics in the BIOS settings after installing the third-party card, you direct the system to utilize the new graphics card exclusively. This separation helps avoid resource allocation conflicts and maximizes the performance benefits of your upgraded hardware.

While updating graphics drivers and managing system restarts can enhance performance and stability, they do not directly address the potential conflicts arising from having both graphics adapters active. Keeping the onboard graphics active can hinder the performance of the dedicated graphics card and is not necessary; thus, disabling it is best practice for optimal operation.