Can you put a graphics card in a computer when its on?

Answer 1

Absolutely not - aside from the fact you'd be working on live electronics (meaning live electrical powered circuits), all computer components that are FRU's (Field Replaceable Units) are meant to be inserted into an unpowered unit to prevent firmware and other component damage.

Today's electronics, while sophisticated, are also a lot easier to damage by simple electrical surge, and you'll get a lot more than that if you plug one into a live system.

Simply rubbing your feet on a carpet, touching a component on a board if you're not properly grounded and wearing proper ESD safety equipment, can literally fry it without you knowing about it as well.

Ideally, when you replace any FRU, you should shut the system down completely and replace the card by one of 2 methods (Notebook or Desktop):

1. (Preferred) If you have Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection (wrist grounding strap, etc.) and are properly grounded, unplug the system and hold the power button down for about 15 seconds to completely discharge any residual power left in the circuits. Always hold the card by the edges; never touch components. Replace the unit, ensuring it's inserted firmly into the socket.

2. If you don't have ESD protection available, you can still do it, but you need to be a bit more careful. Shut the system down, unplug it, then hold the power button down to discharge. Plug the system back in, but DO NOT push the power button. This will ground the system through the building while you work on it. Again, handle only the edges of the card, and replace it.

You should test it if possible before you completely close up the system (most notebook replacement GPU's are pretty easy, desktops a little more complicated). If the GPU turns out to have a problem (increasingly more common now that computer manufacturers are outsourcing suppliers from countries that don't have the same level of QA we're accustomed to), it's better to find out before you close it up rather than having to open everything up again.

If you've ever noticed, all modern electronic parts and FRU's are shipped/packaged in ESD protective bags (always keep them - they can be reused if you need to send in a bad part) with ESD warning labels, but without any real instruction on proper ESD handling instructions. This is because the industry knows fully well that the majority of users do not have such training or knowledge, and typically will handle them improperly, usually stressing components in the process which reduces their MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) rate. Simply put, by mishandling parts, you're putting money in their pocket because you'll need to replace it sooner.

There are modules that are designed to be swapped out in a live system (hot-swappable disk drives), but they're not considered FRU's, and are specifically designed to be inserted or removed from a live system, much like a USB powered device is.