Part 2: Graphics Card

The graphics card takes care of rendering and displaying images on your monitor. If your
PC isn't going to take more load on the graphics card than playing the older games and/or watching DVD quality videos,integrated graphics such as nVidia GeForce 6100/7025/7050/7100/8200/9300, ATi Radeon 3100/3200/3300 and Intel X4500 etc. should work. If your mainboard does not come with integrated graphics, consider GeForce FX5200, 6200, 7100GS, 7200GS, 7300GS, 8400GS, and 9400GT. On the ATi side, consider Radeon X1550, 2400PRO, 3450, and 4350. If you want a card that can play most games at bearable quality/res. at decent frame rates, consider the following: Geforce 9500GT, 9600GT, 8800GS, 9600GSO, 8800GTS G80, 8600GT, and 8600GTS. On the ATi Front, a Radeon 3650, 4670, 4650, and 3850 should work fine. For a gaming PC that will play pretty much anything on respectable quality and frames, consider these:
GeForce 8800GTS G92, 8800GT, 8800GTX, 8800Ultra, 9800GT, 9800GTX/GTX+, GTS250, GTX260/260c216, GTX275, GTX280, and the 9800GX2. On ATi territory, go with these offerings:
Radeon 3870, 3870X2, 3850X2, 4830, 4770, 4850, 4870, 4890, and 4850X2. If you want an ULTIMATE GAMING PC, get one of the following multiple/ single cars setups. ATi first this time; 3-4 4850s, 2-4 4870s, 1-2 4870X2s, 2 4850X2s, 2 3870X2s, 2-4 4890s and many more since all 4800 series cards can be coupled with another from the same group as they use the same architecture. For nVidia; 2-3 GTX <260,>, 3 <9800gtx+,>, 2 9800GX2, 3 8800 Ultras, and 1-2 GTX295.

Some common questions:

1. What is the best graphics card as of now?
A: GTX295.

2. What is the best single GPU graphics card?
A: GTX285 2GB

3.What is the best vendor?
A: Opinion. Also depends on where you live.

4. What are some recommended vendors? (USA)
A: XFX, EVGA, BFG, Diamond, Visiontek

5. Best setup for gaming?
A: 4XRadeon 4890 for ATi, 3XGTX285 2GB with a 9800/8800GT for physX

6. ATi or nVidia?
A: ATi has better value for money, while nVidia offers better developed drivers but ATi has a better overclocking interface. You can download EVGA Precision OC tool, which beats ATi CCC, though and also RivaTuner which, IMO, is the best option for OCing, and can be used with both nVidia and ATi cards.

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PC Part Shopping 1: PSU

Welcome to my blog! The first article is about the power supply unit, which powers your PC. Buying a good PSU isn't easy for most and requires some time to determine the best for your case. Cheap PSUs tend to conk out easily, and there is an easy way to tell how good the quality is: weight. The heavier the power supply is, the better. Also, you will need to find the amperage. The more amps, the better. You can find this information on the side or back of most PSU boxes. For example; my Corsair 650TX (650W) PSU has 52a on the +12V rail(s), usually the most critical rail. It is rated at 50 deg. C.
Most "cheap" power supplies are rated at 25C or lower and ones with questionable quality at 25C or higher and the best are rated 40C or higher. Here are some brands/ lines of power supplies that are very good in my honest opinion. There will be a star next to the best of the best.

Performance: For the ultimate gaming rigs and workstations. Also for people who hate fixing computers.

Corsair (all)*
Enermax (all current)
PC Power and cooling (all)*
Tuniq (all except for ensemble)
ThermalTake Toughpower*
Antec (all exept for basiq)
Seasonic (all)
In Win Commander*
ULTRA X3*
Mushkin (all)

Value: Quality Units at a good/great price

OCZ (all)*
Sunbeam eco
Coolmax Green Power
FSP Blue Storm
Sparkle Power Inc. also known as SPI (most)
Topower (most)

Mostly any PSU with 80+ certification is a quality product as 80+ tests not only operating efficiency but also quality and stability.

Power supplies with high amperage on a single rail are more stable and more efficient than the equivalent with multiple rails, but this is only minor, so don't let this steer you in the wrong direction.

Here is a power supply calculator. Remember that it assumes that you have at least a decent quality PSU.

http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Use that to determine the approximate wattage of the PSU to use, if the power supply is rated at 40C. (Most good brands)

NEVER go cheap on a power supply or you could fry multiple components if the case is severe. Keep in mind though, even in the best power supplies, rough shipping *cough* UPS *hack* could dislodge caps and other things in the PSU. Test it with the wiring technique; with a wire, on the Mainboard 20/24 pin header, connect a black wire (GND) with the green wire. Then, you should be able to use the power switch on the back of the PSU to turn it on. You can use a PSU tester or old fans, an old PC, etc. to test it. Once you think it isn't DOA, start building your PC, or repairing it, and have fun!

Some good places, in my opinion, to purchase PSUs are:
TigerDirect.com, Newegg.com, Zipzoomfly.com, compUSA.com, Frys Electronics, and Micro Center, among others.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for more guides on technology in the future!

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