Extra gaming PC stuff

[Shaggin Wagon]

Is a silver tag, usually on the back of the case. It's a 5 or 6 digit code that you can look up drivers and it will also give you the specs that the PC came with. You can get the latest BIOS update from there too.

dell.com/support

Cool...if I can get online tonight, Ill try to do the Bios update and then hopeful change that Processor this weekend...Just realized I forgot the thermal paste.

[GeorgeG.]

What is that and where do I find it?

I just got back from Frys and the guy said the same. I said the router is going to be 10ft way and he said I should be okay being that close. Just the way the room is set up, its on another wall and there's not room for the computer over there.

Is a silver tag, usually on the back of the case. It's a 5 or 6 digit code that you can look up drivers and it will also give you the specs that the PC came with. You can get the latest BIOS update from there too.

dell.com/support

[Shaggin Wagon]

I have 50/50 nets and with the below wireless card I get steady 15 down from steam. it's also the only device that's connected to my route via wireless or wire, so there's that, too.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

I saw the usb ones and wasn't sure how good they'd be. I ended up getting this for now to get online and download the drivers and stuff I need. I saw I need to update my Bios before I swap out the processor, so I'm really wanting to get online to get this moving along.

Wireless-N Speed Up To 300Mbps
TP-link 300mbps Wireless N Pci Adapter

Frys #: 8604320Brand: TP-LinkUPC : 845973050641Model: TL-WN851ND

[Craizie]

What is that and where do I find it?

I just got back from Frys and the guy said the same. I said the router is going to be 10ft way and he said I should be okay being that close. Just the way the room is set up, its on another wall and there's not room for the computer over there.

I have 50/50 nets and with the below wireless card I get steady 15 down from steam. it's also the only device that's connected to my route via wireless or wire, so there's that, too.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-ac1200-dual-band-wifi-usb-3-0-adapter-black/8860004.p?skuId=8860004&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1260672&ds_rl=1266837&ref=212&loc=BM01&ds_rl=1266837&gclid=CjwKCAjw9sreBRBAEiwARroYm9GlI9lJlaz9DMvpxkMdcMhBevsj91ubciR3APW_DunfYbnMmfZWbBoCUL8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Shaggin Wagon]

no worries, the way your going is the way to learn fo' sho'. What's the service tag on the Dell?

What is that and where do I find it?

TBH man, I'd run a cat5 cable to the desktop, wireless can be flaky. I only use wireless where I have to or where potential problems won't matter. But that's just me...

I just got back from Frys and the guy said the same. I said the router is going to be 10ft way and he said I should be okay being that close. Just the way the room is set up, its on another wall and there's not room for the computer over there.

[Tx Redneck]

TBH man, I'd run a cat5 cable to the desktop, wireless can be flaky. I only use wireless where I have to or where potential problems won't matter. But that's just me...

[Craizie]

I'm pretty sure the USB ports on that OptiPlex 380 aren't 3.0 so that would be pointless.

And Shaggin, you mentioned replacing the motherboard in the future... I think the mount points for the Dell cases are proprietary sorta so your off the shelf mobo's aren't going to fit.

There was a time where I had an old OptiPlex. I liked the size of the case over some of the monster cases at Fry's and this is what I kept hearing when I had the same idea of upgrading the internals.


And I'm not sure how I missed this thread but my daughter has actually expressed interest in buying a prebuilt gaming console for Fortnite as well. Being in IT, I kinda want to use this as an opportunity to bond with her and let her get her into pc's a little by building one with her. But as mentioned before, $800-$1k to play fortnite is a little obsurd.

Ahh, I didn't know that.

For what it's worth, I run a 3.0 wireless card for gaming.

[GeorgeG.]

no worries, the way your going is the way to learn fo' sho'. What's the service tag on the Dell?

[Shaggin Wagon]

I'm pretty sure the USB ports on that OptiPlex 380 aren't 3.0 so that would be pointless.

And Shaggin, you mentioned replacing the motherboard in the future... I think the mount points for the Dell cases are proprietary sorta so your off the shelf mobo's aren't going to fit.

There was a time where I had an old OptiPlex. I liked the size of the case over some of the monster cases at Fry's and this is what I kept hearing when I had the same idea of upgrading the internals.

I've seen on YouTube that there's some decent cases for like $50 which will probably be in future when I get the mother board and processor. Today I'm going to Fry's to see if I can find an adapter or a PCI wifi card. I have a ASUS card coming that I ordered before I realized my mistake and hate that I cant use it...maybe save it for the next mobo.

Yeah, I could have just bought a computer, but since Im so ignorant about them, I just wanted to see if I could do it myself and learn something new. I do see what seems like some pretty decent ones from $350 to $500 on CL.

[GeorgeG.]

Pretty sure that's a PCI E card.

Send it back and get a USB 3.0 wireless card.

I'm pretty sure the USB ports on that OptiPlex 380 aren't 3.0 so that would be pointless.

And Shaggin, you mentioned replacing the motherboard in the future... I think the mount points for the Dell cases are proprietary sorta so your off the shelf mobo's aren't going to fit.

There was a time where I had an old OptiPlex. I liked the size of the case over some of the monster cases at Fry's and this is what I kept hearing when I had the same idea of upgrading the internals.


And I'm not sure how I missed this thread but my daughter has actually expressed interest in buying a prebuilt gaming console for Fortnite as well. Being in IT, I kinda want to use this as an opportunity to bond with her and let her get her into pc's a little by building one with her. But as mentioned before, $800-$1k to play fortnite is a little obsurd.

[Shaggin Wagon]

Pretty sure that's a PCI E card.

Send it back and get a USB 3.0 wireless card.

I saw the USB adapters, but I heard the cards run faster and Id like to get as fast as I can for online gaming

[Craizie]

Pretty sure that's a PCI E card.

Send it back and get a USB 3.0 wireless card.

[Shaggin Wagon]

http://imgur.com/NzOy491

http://imgur.com/lHCEwW3

I cannot get the pictures to post so here's the link to the pictures of what I'm working with... Also, I do realize one of the wires is broken, I did that while messing with it.

Edit: After more research, Craize is right....figured out the card is a PCI Express card and I have regular pci slots. I looked up adapters, but I don't see how the adapter and my wifi card will have enough room to fit in the back back wall of the tower...

[Shaggin Wagon]

I'm confused, I ordered a wireless Wi-Fi card (pci) with the 3 antennas to put in my computer and it's the Mini version. My PCI slot is a full size... Do I need some kind of adapter to go from the mini to the larger one? I stuffed the little one in the large PCI slot and the computer won't boot so I'm figuring I'm doing something wrong...help!

[Tx Redneck]

You need hug?