Descent into computer hardware madness...
A summary of my thought processes today:
- It would be nice to be able to play the FFXIV beta* on my own computer rather than sitting on the floor in front of the TV computer
- I need a new graphics card, since my current one doesn't meet the minimum specs (for any kind of 3D gaming, in fact - the machine was built to be a Visual Studio box)
- It'll need to be an NVidia, because my current is an ATI and the Linux drivers were so terrible I had to disable them
- My power supply is only 350W so I'll need a new one of those
...
3 hours of searching computer sales websites later...
- Why does the local hardware vendor never have the cards I'm interested in in stock?
- Is the GTS 250 okay or should I splurge on a GTX 460?
- What power supply do I need to get to power this card? It looks like it may be more complicated than just wattage.
- What is with all this "mail-in rebate" business?
And then we went out and bought a low-end GTX 460.
*If anyone else is playing, let me know! So far I have managed to fail the tutorial quest by logging out and have no idea how to restart it (something about a 48 hour timer? Maybe?). But I have an adorable catgirl character so that's okay.
- It would be nice to be able to play the FFXIV beta* on my own computer rather than sitting on the floor in front of the TV computer
- I need a new graphics card, since my current one doesn't meet the minimum specs (for any kind of 3D gaming, in fact - the machine was built to be a Visual Studio box)
- It'll need to be an NVidia, because my current is an ATI and the Linux drivers were so terrible I had to disable them
- My power supply is only 350W so I'll need a new one of those
...
3 hours of searching computer sales websites later...
- Why does the local hardware vendor never have the cards I'm interested in in stock?
- Is the GTS 250 okay or should I splurge on a GTX 460?
- What power supply do I need to get to power this card? It looks like it may be more complicated than just wattage.
- What is with all this "mail-in rebate" business?
And then we went out and bought a low-end GTX 460.
*If anyone else is playing, let me know! So far I have managed to fail the tutorial quest by logging out and have no idea how to restart it (something about a 48 hour timer? Maybe?). But I have an adorable catgirl character so that's okay.