video card suggestions

[Naylia]

If it's still returnable....please reconsider. Not for this game, but for the fact that you are making an investment for a couple years. I'm sure you can find a good alternative that also has reasonable financing terms for you.

[ScipioCaesar]

Well i have until Saturday left on my return; at least i think so, because I've already returned one once a few days ago for this one! So if i were to go through with this what would be a good website to find decent computers or what exactly is it i'll be looking for? The thing with Best Buy is the pay over time thing, i can afford probably up to $100 a month but I really don't wanna go that high. Not sure if i'll go that route but any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated. And thanks for all the help so far.

[Coldfire]

Since I don't live in the u.s. I'm not too fond with the shops there but I heard newegg has decent hardware. Well whatever shop you pick these are important requirements:
-at least quadcore with 2.5Ghz per core
-64bit Windows 7 (Home Premium or better)
-4GB DDR3 RAM
-a fast dedicated GPU (GTX460, GTX560, HD5870, HD6870 or better for high settings in all games, the second number in the name is important and shouldn't be less than 5 for nv and 7 for AMD, so GTX550 is fine but 540 is not)
-PSU with at least 400W (and maybe a brand people know like Corsair or OCZ)
-at least the size of a midi tower so you can replace/add parts
-you should also google for tests and customer reviews before buying to see if theres problems with the product (like bad quality of loud noise)
-the HDD is not that important since it's an easily upgradable part (and pretty cheap)
-stuff like 7.1 surround, hdmi, Gigabit lan is in almost every mainboard so don't get blinded by big texts announcing "this amazing feature"

If I forgot something feel free to add xD

[Khalus]

Yeah, you gotta return that PC, erm monitor with PC built-in crap. Not only is that a joke of a PC for the price, but its also Sony, and they overprice everything. Build yourself a custom PC, its cheaper, you get to select the parts, it'll be upgrade-able, and it'll last for 3-4+ years. What you there, is more or less a browser PC, and capable of playing/streaming HD video, but its not a gaming PC.

Even if you only plan to play FFXIV at this time, its best to go all out and build a gaming PC just in case.


Anyway, I always use Newegg and you can also pay monthly with Bill Me Later. So the question now, if you want a good PC and plan to return that 'thing' you bought, how much are you willing to spend?


An example of a high-end gaming PC. I just put this together for a friend today thats buying a new PC. You don't have to go this expensive, and could easily chop a good $6-700 off this price going with a mid-range PC: {this is basically the PC I have too, minus the new Sandy Bridge CPU...}


CPU: Sandy Bridge 2600K 3.4ghz
MB: EVGA 1155 Intel P67
Case: Antec 1200
GPU: EVGA GTX 580
PSU: Antec 750w 80 Plus Bronze 'Modular'
RAM: A-DATA 8GB {2x4gb} DDR3 1600
HDD: Hitachi 1TB
DVD: ASUS 24x
Audio: Creative X-Fi Extreme Audio 7.1
Heatsink: Thermaltake SpinQ

All that for about $1600 w/ shipping

[Naylia]

Well i have until Saturday left on my return; at least i think so, because I've already returned one once a few days ago for this one! So if i were to go through with this what would be a good website to find decent computers or what exactly is it i'll be looking for? The thing with Best Buy is the pay over time thing, i can afford probably up to $100 a month but I really don't wanna go that high. Not sure if i'll go that route but any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated. And thanks for all the help so far.

So I'm guessing based on your original purchase that you are looking for something prebuilt with a smaller form factor. I don't have time now, but I'll post a couple similar options (hopefully also cheaper) that will perform better in the morning (PST).

[ScipioCaesar]

Wow thank you guys so much for the help. So it looks like price-wise the two places where i can cut the most are the CPU and the GPU yes? Even if i individually purchased each and every piece, however, i have absolutely no idea whatsoever how to put the thing together. I don't need the 'perfect pc' but i would like to be able to play ffxiv on it...and really, outside of xiv, wow, and eventually tor i don't plan on playing too many other games.

Ideally something around $1000 would be ideal but i can go a bit more, i just want a good computer i can still upgrade and that isnt gonna be overpriced

EDIT

Re: Naylia -- Yeah that's what I've been looking for pretty much but I'm open to building my own as well if i'm sure i'm capable of doing so. I just need to move fast before i'm past the return date on this PC, IF they even let me return another one

[Coldfire]

Lol it's really easy to put a PC together if it's a midi tower or bigger. There's detailed instructions with the mainboard. You can also just ask some nerd you know xD
For $1000 you get pretty highend stuff already.
But be careful that the stuff you buy fits together: the mainboard has to support the RAM and CPU, the GPU needs to be PCIe. Some shops even put the stuff together for you for ~$60.

[ScipioCaesar]

Lol it's really easy to put a PC together if it's a midi tower or bigger. There's detailed instructions with the mainboard. You can also just ask some nerd you know xD
For $1000 you get pretty highend stuff already.
But be careful that the stuff you buy fits together: the mainboard has to support the RAM and CPU, the GPU needs to be PCIe. Some shops even put the stuff together for you for ~$60.

Ah that'd be awesome finding someone to piece it together for me. Seriously though you guys have been awesome, thanks so much, I just have to figure out in the next day or two exactly what parts to get so i can throw it all together, because obviously once i return my pc i won't be able to use the internet to do anything with it. i guess my biggest problem from there is once everything is physically put together ill have no idea how to configure it all into a functioning desktop! And I'm sorry if my complete lack of knowledge is annoying, computers are just something i know nothing about

[Coldfire]

You don't have to configure much. After the windows installation you just update drivers and directX and should already be able to play the game.

[Khalus]

Yup, there is very little initial-configuration with PCs anymore. Windows 7 pretty much does it all for you, sans the driver updates for your GPU, and audio, but thats simple.

There is of course a slew of fine tuning for the enthusiast that wants every drop of performance a custom build can muster, but thats more or less targeted at the overclocking elitists. Its totally unnecessary for the average gamer.