PC Spec any good?

[alewis]

Are you saying that the other 15 pin hd connector need not be there on the motherboard as the graphics card caters for the monitors?

Yes.

If you didnt have a graphics card in the PC, you would use the on-board graphics card thats actually included on the motherboard, this 'inbuilt' graphics card will output its signal to the 15pin connector on the motherboard, near the USB ports.

Other similar examples of this are sound and network cards.

Imagine you have a PC that has a network connector builot into the motheboard, in this case there is no need to install another network card.

Sound is probably a better example...

Nowadays, almost every motherboard in the world ships with built in soundcard, but this sound card is normally pretty basic(as are on-board graphics cards), so many people upgrade the sound capability of their rig by installing a Soundblaster with 7.1 functionality.

When they do this, it renders the sound card built into the motherboard unnecessary. Therefore it wasnt worth buying a motherboard with it in the first place.

However, with sound, you dont really get the option as they all have it, but with graphics there is a wide selection of boards that either have or dont have inbuilt graphics.

When you are building a PC you make the choice at the very beginning... Will I install a graphics card? If the answer is yes, then you dont need a motherboard with on-board graphics. If the anser is no then you get a board with on-baord graphics.

One reason may be that boards without on-baord graphics tend to be marketed more at the higher end, and strangely paradoxically, boards without graphics card are more expensive than boards with. It probably is me being a bit anal, to be honest ive never bought a built PC in my life so this sort of thing could happen all the time and I wouldnt know about it. It just seems a bit illogical.

[leehack]

Right im with you now, i think.

So my motherboard has a built in graphics card that could power my monitor if i did not have a graphics card also installed. However as i have a graphicscard installed, there was no need to have ever installed a motherboard with a graphics card inbuilt as it would never be used.

So if i did not have a graphics card installed, i could actually connect to that port on the motherboard, however as i do have a card installed, all graphics rendering is done by my graphics card. What switches off the inbuilt graphics card, does this happen once a graphics card is added. basically could i enbale that port to work and connect the second monitor to it, or is that unwise or impossible as its much better to have the graphics card doing all of that kind of work.

Its interesting that you touched on sound as this is my next adventure. My motherboard does this already i presume so i just need some speakers for it i hope.

This is probably a motherboard of a shelf rather than something specifically for me and they use it generically, i have no idea to be honest. Is it a crap card then? the box looks very snazzy lol.

Thank you for your patience, its been real helpful.

[alewis]

So if i did not have a graphics card installed, i could actually connect to that port on the motherboard, however as i do have a card installed, all graphics rendering is done by my graphics card.

Yep, you are now hearing on FM

What switches off the inbuilt graphics card, does this happen once a graphics card is added. basically could i enbale that port to work and connect the second monitor to it, or is that unwise or impossible as its much better to have the graphics card doing all of that kind of work.

I think plugging a card in the PCI-e slot will disable the onboard stuff automatically but I cant be sure.


Its definately....., no its infinately better to have the dedicated graphics card doing all the work.

The on-board graphics would be poo. It would also take resources from your system, ie memory - your graphics card has 512MB of memory actually on the card, sat next to the graphics processor zipping along nicely.

Without the dedicated graphics card, that on-board option would have to allocate itself 512MB memory from your 2GB of RAM.


Im not sure about using them both simultaneously, ive never heard of it nor tried it, but I bet someone out there has.

Is it a crap card then? the box looks very snazzy lol.

Far from it, Asus dont make crap, ask any serious gamer or overclocking nerd and they will probably be in their top 2 mobo brands, either Asus or Abit mobo's, however its one of their budget models, £55 on Scan compared to about £140-£170 for top models.

[leehack]

Well i have certainly learnt some stuff tonight, youve been great and patient - really appreciate it.

To be a workhorse in my office, im chuffed with it all for £800, in fact im more than chuffed, performance like this is something i have not seen before personally. That may be a reflection that i havnt bought a desktop for 3 years though.

I just noticed some little speakers on the 17" monitor, so maybe when thats connected i will get what i need, basically just an email notification etc.

If i want something better, i bet ur going to tell me i need to buy a sound card arent you.

Many many thanks A

[alewis]

Anytime lee!

If i want something better, i bet ur going to tell me i need to buy a sound card arent you.

Well, I have to im afraid, in fact Id go further, you should get a 7.1 card and 7.1 speakers and when you set it up, ensure that the base box is mounted on pins and the 6 surround speakers are located exactly the same distance from your chair, at ear height! (mine are all at 46" but the study is square and quite small making it easy, if you have to move the desk toward the center of the room to achieve this... so be it!)

..but if all you want it for is email notification, I can see that might be a bit extreme

[leehack]

lol, although i do have a horse neighing as my email sound, it would be a bit extreme just for that. I have a widescreen lappy if i want to watch any downloaded films or alike and the sound on that is perfect for what i need.

I do miss having a bit of sound on this new system though, hopefully the monitor can produce something half decent. If motherboards have everything else inbuilt i presume they can do basic sound too, it has some sockets for it i think.

I like those sound bars that sit under the screens, nice and neat, not like your 7.1 systems with 4,000 cables.

[alewis]

I like those sound bars that sit under the screens, nice and neat, not like your 7.1 systems with 4,000 cables.

But how will you know which direction the Perp who is shooting at you is coming from?


Unless you want the cinema style star wars lasers zipping past your head, Id guess that the on board osund will be perfect for most peoples needs.

[leehack]

Use my fkin eyes you nerd!

I have a sony dvd theatre 5.1 system which rocks so i know what you mean. If i ever got that gooder sound on my pc, id do less work than i already do and that would be very hard!

[alewis]

The true mouse-warrior uses all his senses, personally I cant wait for a brain adapter to be made so I can plug myself in.

Whats work?

[leehack]

I can plug myself in for total immersion.

Try a bath full of water!

[alewis]

I tried that but when I put the computer in there with me this happened! - http://www.salineschools.com/users/f...lectrified.jpg

[completerookie]

lee,
one quick word, make sure you get the correct DVI connector.
there is a couple of types, and the difference is around the flat pin to one side.
some of the dvi connectos have FOUR small pins surrounding the flat pin, some do not have ANY small pins around the flat pin.
not every shop supplies both types. the majority seem to supply only those with the four little pins.

[AndrewPK]

The motherboard will most likely have an on-board graphics chip and if that was being used the monitor would have to be plugged into the slot on the motherboard. Also on that note, its strange why the company who built it would use such a motherboard when they are going to stick a graphics card in it. It isnt a problem, it will make little difference to the overall system, and maybe its just me being a bit anal in this department, but they could have selected a more appropriate motherboard that didnt have on baord graphics, and in the process either reduce the cost slighlty, or improve the motherboard slightly because the one they use doesnt have on board graphics and therefore has other features, but for the same price.

Personally I actually prefer to have on-board graphics on any of the motherboards i install!
As well as work my computer gets used for gaming, surfing, watching films and listening to music. And because of the games i have to have a (fairly) decent graphics card in it.
now in my past experience i have had 2 graphics cards go kerput for no real reason, the first time i was without computer for around 3 weeks while i got a new G-Card, the 2nd i had build a new system around a board WITH on board graphics, and added a newer better card to the board.

HOWEVER when that g-card went pop about 18 months later, i just wipped out the card and ran on the onboard graphics till i got a new card

Now way back when i was younger it didn't matter if i was without computer, but if i am trying to run a website from that puter the shorter the downtime the better! so i would stick with the onboard graphics PLUS better card quite happily for now

AndrewPK

[leehack]

lee,
one quick word, make sure you get the correct DVI connector.
there is a couple of types, and the difference is around the flat pin to one side.
some of the dvi connectos have FOUR small pins surrounding the flat pin, some do not have ANY small pins around the flat pin.
not every shop supplies both types. the majority seem to supply only those with the four little pins.

Thanks Kevin

I just managed to read your message before i went out to get a lead/adaptor and it was helpful. The monitor has a different dvi connection to the graphics card, so it helped in making a choice on what i need.

As it was i walked into the shop with the hd cable and he banged his forehead and said you need a dvi converter, went out the back and gave me one for free.

At last i am up and running - woohoo!

Andrew - although i now have a basic understanding, its all a bit above my head really. If your card blows up, i can see the advantage of having an inbuilt one on your mobo.

Thanks to all who have helped, i am like a cheshire cat now.

Lee

[RuralWeb]

With all the Vista problems floating about I decided to checkout a top spec Apple at the Apple store in Manchester yesterday - £3000 was the price . Often thought about an Apple and this may be time