FInal Update: Ok holy hell i got it all together, that thing is just a little tight for my comfort, but oh well, i got it! I ended up grabing an NVIDIA brand GTX 970. I have a 45 day return policy with Best Buy, so I may wait a month, evaluate if I really need it, and possibly spend the ~130 dollar difference to get the 980 model (now that I know how to do all this.
My big regret right now is I did not take any photos or videos as I did this. What i may do is take someone elses (with credit given) and simply draw and write on the pics so people know exactly which screws are references, what direction pieces should be moving in, etc.

EDIT UPDATE: WTF, this plastic case is just NOT going back together properly Also i thought i had two extra screws (greatest fear) but they were from the plastic bracket from when I removed the smaller 760 card.

edmak1804 wrote:
FInal Update: Ok holy hell i got it all together, that thing is just a little tight for my comfort, but oh well, i got it! I ended up grabing an NVIDIA brand GTX 970. I have a 45 day return policy with Best Buy, so I may wait a month, evaluate if I really need it, and possibly spend the ~130 dollar difference to get the 980 model (now that I know how to do all this.
My big regret right now is I did not take any photos or videos as I did this. What i may do is take someone elses (with credit given) and simply draw and write on the pics so people know exactly which screws are references, what direction pieces should be moving in, etc.

EDIT UPDATE: WTF, this plastic case is just NOT going back together properly Also i thought i had two extra screws (greatest fear) but they were from the plastic bracket from when I removed the smaller 760 card.

If you had done a search you would of found the procedure that I wrote up, which includes pictures.

I actually did use yours, and its probably the only reason it took me 2 hours instead of 3-4 haha! So a big thank you, but because my desktop was in pieces and my laptop was at my office, i was forced to use my phone to view, was pretty hard to see.. My big concern is I didn't realize there was an L shaped PCIE adapter, kinda worried me taking it out (was confused as to what is was when looking at the system before taking it apart). Then lining it up to put it back in was a maddening process in itself. And finally, that dammed plastic cover, it took two people to screw it in, one person to squeeze and hold the case on while the other to use the screw driver.

edmak1804 wrote:
I actually did use yours, and its probably the only reason it took me 2 hours instead of 3-4 haha! So a big thank you, but because my desktop was in pieces and my laptop was at my office, i was forced to use my phone to view, was pretty hard to see.. My big concern is I didn't realize there was an L shaped PCIE adapter, kinda worried me taking it out (was confused as to what is was when looking at the system before taking it apart). Then lining it up to put it back in was a maddening process in itself. And finally, that dammed plastic cover, it took two people to screw it in, one person to squeeze and hold the case on while the other to use the screw driver.

No problem, I'm glad it helped.

The cover is actually easy. You have to line it up w/the base and slide it back to lock it in. The reverse w/removing it, slide it towards the front, and lift it off.

I too had problems installing my video card as well, for the same reason. I think removing the system cooling fan assembly would help, allowing move room to get the video card plugged into the m/b PCIE slot.

Did you remove that grill on the cover which lies adjacent to the video card. It allows direct access to air for the video card's cooling fan? Some systems have it installed. My system did. I don't know why Asus even installed it. It restricts the air flow to the video card.