I don't know anything about computers, so if u reply talk to me like I'm retarded please. I'm using my computer for gaming so i started by getting a graphics card and I'm gonna build my computer around that (don't know if that's a good or bad idea ). I just bought the "EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512-P3-N871-AR Video Card". 512MB, GDDR3, 256-Bit, 2200MHZ, 675 MHZ coreclock, PCI Express 2.0 x 16, Direct x 10, Shader 4.0. just so everyone knows the card. I have a few questions. 1) Can i buy any hard drive on the market or does my hard drive and graphics card have to link up in one of these (512MB, GDDR3, 256-Bit, 2200MHZ, 675 MHZ coreclock, PCI Express 2.0 x 16, Direct x 10, Shader 4.0)? 2)Same at first but for my motherboard?
3)is my graphics card my GPU or is that totally different and if totally different what is it?
I would like to buy a whole new computer so if I'm leaving any parts out (that i may not know about) please LIST them.
Thank you so much for your help and your time 1) You have to buy a hard drive that is compatible with your motherboard. Most newer motherbords support SATA and PATA drives. The interface of the hard drive is important as you cant use a SATA drive with a PATA controller and vice versa.

If you are going to buy a new board I would suggest getting a SATA Hard drive. Sata is new faster technology. You may see PATA referred to as IDE or EIDE.

2) Your video card will only fit in a motherboard that has a PCI express slot. Most newer boards have that slot but some do not. Your card will not work with a motherboard that has an AGP video slot.




See the difference?

3)Your Graphics card is your GPU.hey m8. if ur only gonna use the comp for gaming, and you are an amature when it comes to comps, ( no offense lol ) id just go out and buy one m8, trying to build one your self, from scratch, will be evil, most shops u go to can custom build to your perferd specs,

recomened minimum spec for a gaming pc, i would go for,

processor - 2.4gig duel. ( id prob choose intel )
graphsics - nvidia 512mb pci, dnt use agp, there almost obsolete,
memory - 2gig, ddr
harddrive - at least 160gig
soundcard, dnt really matter, for most games, the INBUILT one will do fine
motherboard - again dnt really matter, just make sure it compatible with a pci graphics.

thats pretty much all you need for a gaming pc m8.. u should be ABLE to pick it up for around 3/350
if ur willing to spread out more, recomend upgrading the top 3, there the main hardware for smooth gaming..

the spec above will pretty much run anygame available, hope this helpted.IsuckATcomputers,

I would disregard the info given by Scooby. I applaud the fact that you are wanting to build your own comp and you have picked a great site to ask for help.

The motherboard does matter because if you get the wrong one you will be limited to what you can do.

What I would suggest you do is let the people here know how much you are willing to spend and what you already have.

As a minimum for the comp this is what you will need.

Case
Power Supply
Fans
Mother Board
CPU and Heatsink
Ram
You already have a video card
Hard Drive
CD/DVD drive
Mouse
Keyboard
Operating system
Monitor

I think that is it. Please forgive me if I have forgotten anything. I am sure some one will point out if I did.

Like I said earlier just post how much you are willing to spend and what of the above you have and I am sure you will get some responses that should help you put TOGETHER a system.
I agree with mroilfield

Building a computer is not that hard

Just to expand that list a little more...

ATX Case
600W or higher Power Supply
Rear case Fan
Front case fan
Side case fan (if case supports one)
Socket LGA 775 Mother Board, with SATA2 and PCI-e 2 support.
Socket 775 CPU (these are intel) I recommend for a lower price the Core 2 Duo E8400
Heatsink/Fan (should come with the CPU)
Ram - This should be at minimum DDR2 PC6400/800mhz
You already have a video card
Hard Drive a 1 TeraByte drive is quite cheap these days.
CD/DVD drive - You will want a CD and DVD writer combo drive
Mouse
Keyboard
Operating system - XP still provides a faster gaming platform, however with your specs, Vista will perform just fine.
Monitor - whatever size suits your wants/needs/money left.Thank u all for HELPING me out so much, i really appreciate it. i'm not gonna be able to get all the parts at once because of money issues. when i get money i'm gonna buy one part at a time just like the video card. but i would like not to have to buy another part when its all said and done for a good 2-4 years so even though money is an issue it's worth it if i don't have to worry about anything for 2-4 years. with my video card what would be the best parts that would fit my 2-4 year criteria from the case to the motherboard, if u can. thank u very much for all the help guysThe next part you should get is the motherboard. Then you will know what you need for the rest of your computer. The form factor is important. ATX is the most popular form factor and the easiest to find compatible parts for.

I like to use http://www.pricewatch.com/public/ to shop for computer parts.Actually the better way is to pick a CPU first...then select the components around it next.
Obviously the MBoard would be #2...I always thought the mouse came first!