video card suggestions

[Naylia]

Naylia -- Thanks for looking that up for me but these guys convinced me to build my own since the last time you posted.

I think all I have left is to make 100% sure i can return the desktop i have now, then I'll do that here in the next day or two and hopefully ill have the parts by monday!

Excellent! Just don't let your family know, because you'll become the default tech support guy. Welcome to DIY!!

[ScipioCaesar]

Well it is official everyone; my order has been processed. If I'm lucky I'll have the parts by Saturday, but wouldn't surprise me if i gotta wait until monday. Just gotta return this computer I'm typing from now and I am all set!

[Khalus]

Is Best Buy going to be taking it back, without any hassle? You know I just thought, don't they have a restocking fee on electronics too?

And unless you paid for overnight shipping, more than likely it'll be Mon. Even with 2-day, they'll spend most of today packing it all up, and a 1/2 day in processing waiting for the truck to fill, so it might ship on Fri or Sat, and you'll get it Mon-Wed. At least that how it seems with all my orders of the past...LOL

Anyhow, grats on the new custom-built PC. And do find a way to contact us here if you need help putting it together. Even though its not very difficult, being your first time, it'll look daunting with so many parts and cables.

[ScipioCaesar]

I asked them about the restocking fee and they told me there wasn't one, and I asked if there was any other red tape that could hold me back and they said as long as I was within the fourteen days I would be fine. As for the shipping, I happen to work at UPS so I can flag the boxes and take them home as soon as they get to my HUB =P Of course there may be too much for me to do that but it's a possibility at least. I may take the parts over to my dad's place and use his computer for help putting it together should i need any, although I've had a lot of people telling me it's really quite simple. My only problem in the future will be when the computer breaks down is I have no idea how to figure out which part it is that malfunctioned.

[Khalus]

Well, unless you submerge your PC in the bathtub, they very rarely just break down. Now there are parts that can go out but the signs are pretty evident and easy to figure out. For instance if your PSU is going out, the PC will BSOD often and reset. If you're having trouble loading anything and its taking awhile, or you hear a clicking noise, then your HDD is probably going out. If programs aren't running very quickly or at their best and you get memory errors, maybe even a BSOD, then a stick of RAM may be bad, or all of it...but thats rare.


As long as you take care of your PC, keep it clean by regularly blowing the dust off/inside the components weekly{with compressed air ~ I use Dust Off ~ you can get a 6-pack for $18 from Costco which lasts me a year or so...} There are air-filters over the case fans on the Antec 902 you got, but the dust does build up on them. And it will still build up inside your case, cover everything, getting inside your GPU and all over your CPUs Heatsink. Especially it will build up on the GPUs fan, keep that as clear as possible, and blow the inside of the case out where you see it. {All this only take about a min, once a week or so or as often as needed like if you have pets, dust will build up faster}

Everything will run great and function well for years to come if you keep it cleared of dust building up.



Oh and hopefully this won't happen to you, but on occasion, you may get a part that is DOA, or maybe a GPU that runs ok for the first week, then you start seeing artifacts in games and discoloration here n' there. No worries though as Newegg rocks at replacing parts that are bad, just contact them via live chat support and go from there. The thing that sucks is waiting on the shipping times of getting the parts replaced!

[Coldfire]

I prefer AMD :P

[ScipioCaesar]

Hey guys so I should have all my parts by Tuesday; do you all know of any good places I can research the step by step process of building the computer piece by piece? Anything would be great!

[Khalus]

There will be instructions included with your MB ~ a full color "visual guide" poster, and the instruction manual will tell you in better detail where everything goes, how to install the CPU and Heatsink as well as all the PSU cables. The front panel header, RAM, GPU, etc etc etc.

The CPU only goes in one way/direction, and will drop into place...don't force it in, line up the pins and you're good.

Just take your time and don't plug stuff in somewhere unless you're sure, but for the most part, every plug is unique and only goes where its supposed too. Also be sure to ground yourself to the case. If you don't have anti-static wrist strap, which isn't necessary as I've never used one. Put your shoes on w/ rubber soles, and stand on wood or vinyl....don't put it together over carpet {static...}

Touch your screwdriver to the case before screwing things in, don't have to every time unless you leave the area. Also don't be afraid to apply a bit of pressure to the MB when installing the RAM and GPU...it can take it. Once it clicks in place though, don't keep pushing....lol

You'll get it...but ask again if ya need any help!

[ScipioCaesar]

Thanks again khalus, never coulda done this without you guys. I am wonderi about the Internet though, I have wireless so I've heard I need to buysome kind of little adapter right? And what type of anti-virus do you guys reccommend? I've watched a few YouTube videos and those really seemto help, and I'm glad I heard about the grounding thing as I'd have never thought of that. I'm sure I'll have more questions later on lol but you guys have been great!

[Coldfire]

Good free antivir programs are avira antivir, avast antivirus and mse. mse obviously integrates best into windows but only has basic features. Kaspersky is pretty good if you are willing to pay money for it(theres a free test version).
And yes for wlan you will need an adapter if the mainboard doesn't have it as a feature. You can get those anywhere and for any interface (USB, PCI, PCIe). For you a USB-WLAN stick will probably be best.