Thinking of picking up a new computer (No OS Systems)

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

So, here's a brief story to enable ya'll to understand my situation:

Throughout my whole life I've had to deal with a family computer, the most recent one being unable to even run FFXI. A few months back, I picked up a Gateway for about $500 and was like "1 GIG OF RAM AND 1.6 GHZ DUAL CORE HOLY POOP WHATA MONSTER." On top of that, it had Vista pre-installed and I thought I was a total hotshot with such an updated OS. FFXI was running at 7-11 FPS most the time, new graphics card wasn't cooperating.

Anyway, you get the picture, I was a big fucking idiot who did little research and had little understanding.

Now... I want to start out fresh but don't want it to be a total massacre for someone as computer-retarded as myself. I bought an 8800 Nvidia 320 MB GTS video card and Windows XP Professional x64 bit version and really want to put them to great use. I was poking around and found some seemingly decent stuff:

System:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=336

Monitor:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... No=2881203

The system has no OS pre-installed, but I have the Windows XP Professional x64 bit version ready to install. How would this work? Just insert the disc and let 'er rip? Or maybe something more?

And my old monitor turned a green tint once I started using my new graphics card on the crappy Gateway (which seemed to be due to uncooperative wattage on the monitor). Would that monitor be able to handle whatever I toss at it?

I apologize if it seems like I'm asking for a lot of insight but I'm VERY anxious and don't want to risk wasting money on something I'll have a lot of problems with.

Thanks so much!

[Isiolia]

The system has no OS pre-installed, but I have the Windows XP Professional x64 bit version ready to install. How would this work? Just insert the disc and let 'er rip? Or maybe something more?

The particular system you are linking to has no optical drive or hard drive in addition to not having a video card. So you'd need to put those in from somewhere. I'd say buy them, since it'd be silly to cannibalize your Gateway that sounds like it works fine outside of gaming.

Personally, I'd pick, either build the entire thing from parts instead of the bundle (since -something- is probably crappy, likely the PSU if not the case as well), or just buy a complete system from a good vendor and swap your card in.

But assuming you went with a built system, yeah, generally you boot from the CD to install the OS. Usually is pretty simple, unless you have a problem with the build or you need to get 3rd party drivers in so you can see the HDD. The vast majority of systems will just work fine though.

And my old monitor turned a green tint once I started using my new graphics card on the crappy Gateway (which seemed to be due to uncooperative wattage on the monitor). Would that monitor be able to handle whatever I toss at it?

Generally speaking you shouldn't have problems with monitors with different video cards. Depending on how strong a tint, I'd check for bent pins or just calibration utilities.


If you are primarily looking at gaming, I'd also question putting 64-bit Vista on it. While there are some games that can take advantage of this, generally, 64-bit versions of windows have lower compatibility with programs and drivers. I mean, if you're doing something that will actually really take advantage of it, then it may be worth the hurdles. But it's kinda pointless to use just 'cause.

[levish]

If you want to keep it simple dual Boot Windows XP 32bit which is all you need unless you plan on stuffing over 3GB of ram in the computer

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

The particular system you are linking to has no optical drive or hard drive in addition to not having a video card. So you'd need to put those in from somewhere.

Would something like this work?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... TSD-500AS2

And, are hard drives a bitch to install?

[levish]

Putting together a computer is far from hard to do mechanically.

Typically people get stuck on:

1. BIOS settings set manually in case you have some sort of bad interaction in ram choices or something to that effect.
2. Installing a OS on a RAID hard disk setup
3. Windows Install crashing due to system instability, mostly due to #1

Follow some simple instructions and you can pretty much build a computer from the ground up.

There is nothing really to make installing a cd rom any harder than a hard disk drive if you can follow directions/instructions.

Having a 2nd computer that can get on the internet and a USB stick is really handy though in case you need to work/find something =P

The hard disk drive you linked is a good choice but you will still need a good video card to round out the system and the NVidia 8800GT is the current price/performance champ in that respect. If it is way over your budget (I'd urge you to stretch it since it is such a good value and great performer) the 8600GT would be the next relevant step down.

[Isiolia]

The hard disk drive you linked is a good choice but you will still need a good video card to round out the system and the NVidia 8800GT is the current price/performance champ in that respect.

He did mention already having purchased an 8800GTS 320MB. So I'd assume that's why he was looking at a no-video system.



And yeah, HDDs are typically easy to install. Computer are, as said, pretty simple in terms of putting the hardware together. There can be issues making it all work together, but most of the time things mesh pretty well if you're dealing with all-new stuff and not doing anything tricky like RAID, overclocking, water cooling, etc.
HDD basically is two cables, however you mount it in the case, and then partition/format, which if you are doing a new install the Windows installer will guide you through.