Video Card

[Eriol]

Hello,
I am just starting my first build and here are the pieces I already picked up

Case: Raidman Horizon 380W

Mobo: Asus A8N-E Athlon64 nForce4 Ultra Socket 939 4DDR Audio Gbe Lan PCI-E x16 PCI-E x3 PCI x3 SATA Raid ATX

Processor: AMD Athlon 4000+ San Deigo Core

HD: Seagate 300GB Serial ATA 7200rpm

Memory: 2 sticks 512MB DDR400 Kingston

Optical Pr: DVD Rom Sony 16X
Optical sec: Sony 16X Double Layer DVD+/- RW

My question is what video card to you recommend, I'm not doing any video/graphic editing, but I will be using it for games. I am looking for the best quality I can get between 150-200 (although I am willing to raise the 200 slightly if there is a great card for a little bit over)
Also, I'm not using a dual display

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Dark Nova]

That mobo supports PCI-E so i suggest the 7800GT, but i dont know how much it is in US dollars, so if its a bit to much you can go for the 6800GT

[flanzig1]

You will probably will want to get a good PSU that is ATX 2. The one with the case is a bit under powered for your setup and who knows what brand.

[Eriol]

could it be dangerous to the components to use an underpowered psu. Could I try and see if it works first or would you recomend just getting a better one. Are they hard to change out of the case?

[RJ]

could it be dangerous to the components to use an underpowered psu.

Yep. If you overload a PSU, it will either blow or become unstable. In either case, the PSU, being the source of power, has the power to destroy every single component of your PC. Usually it won't blast all components, though. Usually you'll lose the board, maybe the CPU, and probably a drive. . like the hard drive or something.
If the PSU only becomes unstable rather than blow up, it can take a while until it starts killing components. Random restarts are a sign of a weak PSU, for example.

I've experienced them both. And I gotta say . . I wouldn't really want to try out if it's enough or not. I'd go with a know good quality PSU.

RJ

[Eriol]

do you have any recommendaitons on brands or what watage I should use

[Eriol]

I just pulled the PSU out of the case and found the model on newegg

http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...W+Power+Supply

[nicolaus corelius]

it is highly reccomended that u buy PSU from this list

[nicolaus corelius]

this is a "best for the bang" card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130258
you biuld has quite a power requirment, so im gonna reccomend this PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189003

[Eriol]

Thanks nicolaus for your help,
I have a few questions about the PSU though, will it fit in my case also, I'm not familiar with the acronyms in the description.
I will be using a Sata drive, 2 optical drives and a fan inside the case that uses a connector that looks like an optical drive connector.
I just want to make sure its compatible before I buy.
I really do appreciate the help

[nicolaus corelius]

yes the PSU is fully compatible

[Eriol]

One more question,on the video card what does GDDR3 mean. Does that mean its compatible with DDR memory

[Amazin Caucasian]

that is the graphics card memory, you will want it but dont worry about it, also for 150-200 US you will be looking more towards 6600gt...check out the BFG 6600gt PCI-E x16 its 194 on newgg.

[blue60007]

It's the type of memory used on the graphics card. It has nothing to do with the sytstem memory (the Kingston in the first post).

[Eriol]

Thanks for everyones help and thanks for the suggestions nicholaus, the parts are on their way from newegg.
Since this is my first build, should all I need to do is plug it into the PCI-E slot or their additional cables I need to power it up(ie. fan)

[jayb1234]

Depending on which graphics card you get, it may need to have a power cable connected directly to the card.

You are likely to need a floppy drive at some point in the setup to install drivers, sata controller etc.

You left the operating system off the list. The OEM version of XP home will be about 80-100 dollars

.

[Eriol]

I have a copy of XP pro retail I'll be using. Is a floppy necessary, I was really hoping I didnt need to use one?

[Amazin Caucasian]

its 10 bucks...i dont know why people are so against floppy drives, they come in helpful if you get stuck, and they may be necessary for drivers.

[blue60007]

Keep in mind that you can only use one copy per computer, so if that copy is being used, it won't work.

Do you have a floppy drive in an old computer you could borrow for the time being?

[Eriol]

Its a new copyof XP.
I'll probaly pull out the floppy from my old unit. I dont think I ever used the drive during the 4 years I had it =)
Can I just pull it out or will it cause an error in the old computer during bootup?

[Amazin Caucasian]

depends, what kind of computer do you have?

[nicolaus corelius]

probably not

i remember the time, which wasnt long ago when floppies were 30 bucks. external floppies like like $50-80

[Eriol]

its a 4 yr old prebuilt hp pavilion 752n. I dont use the floppy in the computer at all so if I can pull it out I will, but I would still like the computer to work

[Amazin Caucasian]

if its a dell you might get an error, but all you have to do is fix it in the BIOS...you should be fine

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by Eriol Its a new copyof XP. I'll probaly pull out the floppy from my old unit. I dont think I ever used the drive during the 4 years I had it =) Can I just pull it out or will it cause an error in the old computer during bootup?

Yeah, you'll probably only need during set up (possibly for installing SATA drivers), so you could put it back in the old computer when your done if you want. Hopefully you won't need it for diagnostics.

Shouldn't hurt the old computer any, but you won't really need it once you get the new computer up and running, so you can always put it back.

Originally Posted by Amazin Caucasian if its a dell you might get an error

Why? If it doesn't find a floppy drive, it should just move on with the boot.

[Amazin Caucasian]

well, you are using A8N-e, has native sata control and raid then you sohuld be fine without the FDD. you would only need a FDD for diagnostics, or ASR, or updating BIOS.

[Eriol]

Thanks again guys. My parts arrive on Monday so I'm sure I'll be back with a million more question.=)

[blue60007]

If the board has native SATA support, you won't need to install the drivers. If it doesn't have native SATA support, they will be on the CD that came with the motherboard - you'll have to put it in another computer and copy the drivers over, or download them from the website and put them on a floppy.