READ before you ask for video card purchase advice!

[RavenSEAL]

Many of the fine folks here @ Anandtech forums love to spend our time helping people solve issues with video cards and help folks make the right decision for a purchase that will benefit their game performance as much as possible for a reasonable price.

There are several request per week and sometimes without knowledge, people tend to make our help a bit more difficult to distribute. That's what this thread is here to address.

There are several factors that play in when purchasing a new video card!

Constant changes in technology, drivers, requirements and performance are important!

So, before you ask for help, please take the following template into consideration to make our time more efficient and allow us to get advice to you at a much faster rate. Feel free to name the thread as you wish, but when it comes to the actual post, the following template will make things much easier!

Feel free to copy and paste the format below! Make sure you simple quote the post below, select all, copy and then paste into your new thread!

If you wish to contribute or feel anything needs to be changed or taken into consideration, please contact me!


Stickied temporarily for two weeks to see how it goes.

Super Moderator BFG10K.


Unstickied as not worthwhile to keep stickied any longer.

Super Moderator BFG10K.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Purchase Details:

I. Budget? Please be sure to include currency if not USD & specify whether rebates are a viable option.


II. Any particular preferences(Manufacturer[nV or AMD], Brand[XFX, Sapp, EVGA, etc], non reference cooler)[/I]?


III. Do you plan to have any Multi-GPU solutions such as Crossfire/SLI?


IV. Have you previously looked at a product which you feel would fill your needs?


V.Which games (If any)do you plan to play and @ which desired detail levels? Please be sure to also specify the resolution.


VI. Do you plan on overclocking?



System Specs:

I. Processor:


II. Power Supply Unit:


III. Case Dimensions(Length, Low Profile, Cooling):

 

[RavenSEAL]

Thanks for the sticky BFG, i'll be sure you do my best to keep up with the thread!

 

[RavenSEAL]

Thanks to overlordi for pointing out a grammar error and zagood for adding case dimensions.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Under system specs you should have a "Prebuilt (Dell, HP, etc) Model number:"

Also need to know if the card needs to be low profile or not.

Also the user should note whether or not they will be upgrading the rest of their system, and when. Basically, what the overall plan is for their computer is something we need to know, if they have one.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Under system specs you should have a "Prebuilt (Dell, HP, etc) Model number:"

Also need to know if the card needs to be low profile or not.

Also the user should note whether or not they will be upgrading the rest of their system, and when. Basically, what the overall plan is for their computer is something we need to know, if they have one.

Advise noted, changes made.

 

[Zargon]

I'll see how it works

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=31016458#post31016458

 

[Mistwalker]

Nice idea, would add "Is running multiple cards (SLI/Crossfire) something you would consider?"

 

[Zargon]

maybe make it #5 in part and bump 5 6 7 to 6 7 8...

 

[RavenSEAL]

I'll see how it works

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=31016458#post31016458

Very nice, love how the answers just popped up in the first few post!:thumbsup:

 

[RavenSEAL]

Nice idea, would add "Is running multiple cards (SLI/Crossfire) something you would consider?"

Noted, added.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Perhaps a reseller they prefer? Newegg/Microcenter/Fry's/etc?

 

[Zargon]

Very nice, love how the answers just popped up in the first few post!:thumbsup:

yes

it helps reduce the first page of what could be a very vague ' iwant a new gpu what should I get' threads

 

[RavenSEAL]

yes

it helps reduce the first page of what could be a very vague ' iwant a new gpu what should I get' threads

Indeed, i think we have about 5 threads(that i've seen)using the format and it works very well, usually gone to the back room very quickly because the answers are just there. Kills the need for fanboism and destroys the excitement. Perfect if you ask me! :thumbsup:

 

[bryanW1995]

Perhaps a reseller they prefer? Newegg/Microcenter/Fry's/etc?

I think better is "prefer amd/nvidia" or maybe "board partner preference yes/no".

 

[RavenSEAL]

I think better is "prefer amd/nvidia" or maybe "board partner preference yes/no".

Change applied!

 

[BFG10K]

Unstickied as not worthwhile to keep stickied any longer.

Super Moderator BFG10K.