Topic: The computer topic (Read 37457 times)

vin_sun · « **Reply #75 on:** August 25, 2011, 21:07:01 »

Yes, this one - ASUS M5A88-M - has on board video.

It also has one PCI slot and that can be used for your USB expansion card.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #76 on:** August 25, 2011, 21:08:47 »

Ahh OK

Thanks very much

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #77 on:** August 26, 2011, 00:33:59 »

Quote from: vin_sun on August 25, 2011, 21:07:01

Yes, this one - ASUS M5A88-M - has on board video.

It also has one PCI slot and that can be used for your USB expansion card.

Been thinking...

If it only has one expansion slot, can it have my Graphics card AND my USB expansion card? I assume I wouldn't be able to buy a sound card for it though?

vin_sun · « **Reply #78 on:** August 26, 2011, 06:34:44 »

@TFM

It does have the PCI-E slot which will take your graphics card.

Do you really want a sound card? This MoBo includes 7.1 Ch HD Audio (as on board audio) and it can punch in some really good sound. I have observed these days, sound cards are losing their popularity they once had due to the 'on board' provision. Nevertheless less keep exploring MoBos and see if you can find one with at least two PCI slots. The bulky size of some graphics cards at times blocks the PCI slot rendering it useless.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #79 on:** August 26, 2011, 12:28:26 »

Thanks

So this one looks like ut has a few expansion Sockets

Motherboard (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/AMD+AM3%2B+Ready/Asus+M5A88-V+EVO+AMD+880+(Socket+AM3)+DDR3+PCI-Express+Motherboard+?productId=45535)

I know whatyou mean about the Graphics Cards - the one I have takes up to slots, one half has the sockets, the other is fan ventillation...

I was asking about Sound Cards because I was looking around, and a website says they can improve sound quality, and also (and more importantly) improve games FPS as they apparently take a little bit of the strain of the processor (I think it was the processor) as they are doing the sound instead...

Thanks very much

vin_sun · « **Reply #80 on:** August 26, 2011, 14:25:46 »

@TFM

This MoBo has it all - 3 PCI slots, 2 PCI-E slots and on board video.

I have an ASUS MoBo too and the architecture is almost the same. I have placed the graphics card on the upper PCI-E 2.0 slot and that has rendered two PCI slots unusable due to the projections on the graphics card, mainly the fan. The PCI-E 2.0 slot at the bottom would not be recommended for the graphics card as the fan would be too close to the bottom panel of the casing and you could have cooling issues. That leaves you with just one PCI slot free !!

I do see some truth in installing a discrete sound card to lower the 'load' on the processor. You can rig up a good Creative or Altec Lansing set of speakers for good quality sound.

So to sum up, I quite doubt any mobo will expose all the PCI slots it has if a graphics card is fitted. That you have at least one now, I think you should say you're quite fortunate.

Do keep in mind that AMD processors tend to heat up more than Intel. I've been told that they put the same stock cooling fan on both the low end and the high end processors. Do not neglect increased noise from the processor fan. This used to happen especially when I used to play SSE. Temperatures don't actually shoot up dangerously but the noise can be .... well "noisy" !

I replaced the stock cooler fan with an after market Cooler Master fan and it has made a big difference. The fan is quite bulky, so do have a fair idea of the space available inside your casing before buying one.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #81 on:** August 26, 2011, 14:28:39 »

Ahh OK thanks very much

I had read that heating was a issue, and was looking at this fan (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Fans%2C+Heatsinks%2C+Coolers/CPU+Coolers/be+quiet%21+Dark+Rock+Advanced+CPU+Cooler+?productId=43590)

Nut what would be the best way to know if it will be a suitable fit?

vin_sun · « **Reply #82 on:** August 26, 2011, 15:16:27 »

If you see the technical details, it says the height is 167 mm. To ascertain, if you have this space inside your casing you have to remove the stock cooling fan to expose the processor. Take a strip of stiff paper/cardboard 167 mm in length and place it lightly on the processor, pointing toward the open space created when you took off the side panel of the casing. This should give you a fair idea if the fan will project out of the casing or not. Bear in mind the side cover may have a hood / cone designed to point directly towards the processor and it's stock cooling fan. Check if this hood / cone can be dismantled to allow for the aftermarket cooling fan's height / projection.

I suppose 'Dark Rock' may be a known brand in U.K. but one of the best names in after market cooling fans is Arctic Cooling. I observed it is there in the 'Aria' website you have given a link to and is priced at Â£ 19.40 . The height is 130 mm

This is the Cooler Master I have installed. The height is 139 mm and is priced at Â£15.50 @ Aria.

http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6602

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #83 on:** August 26, 2011, 15:22:05 »

Ahh OK

Thanbks for the advice

Will have a look at the Artic Cooling then

Are they fairly quite fans?

Thanks

vin_sun · « **Reply #84 on:** August 26, 2011, 15:30:13 »

Quote from: The Ferry Man on August 26, 2011, 15:22:05

Are they fairly quite fans?

Generally speaking, after market cooling fans are fairly quiet. The manufacturers lay emphasis on this aspect as a sales pitch !! I wouldn't say it's just a whisper .... you will hear it whirring but the noise level is acceptable especially after what an overworked stock cooling fan delivers.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #85 on:** August 26, 2011, 15:31:29 »

Ahh OK

Thanks very much for all the advice

vin_sun · « **Reply #86 on:** August 26, 2011, 15:58:49 »

You're welcome ! Questions also give me an opportunity to research the Net for answers !!

Ralphy · « **Reply #87 on:** August 26, 2011, 16:29:37 »

I've got the same cooler as you,

they're a good budget cooler.

Also I think we should rename this topic

vin_sun · « **Reply #88 on:** August 26, 2011, 18:24:31 »

Quote from: Ralphy on August 26, 2011, 16:29:37

I've got the same cooler as you, they're a good budget cooler.

Also I think we should rename this topic

Good to know someone has a cooling fan like mine and has a positive opinion of it.

I feel the Forum needs a board called "Computer related matters"

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #89 on:** August 26, 2011, 18:25:15 »

I think it does too

dexter7 · « **Reply #90 on:** August 27, 2011, 19:35:27 »

vinny, is there a SSE suitable Graphics Card that can run on 300Watts?

vin_sun · « **Reply #91 on:** August 27, 2011, 19:54:58 »

Quote from: dexter7 on August 27, 2011, 19:35:27

is there a SSE suitable Graphics Card that can run on 300Watts?

Dex .... looking at what is recommended for SSE, the Geforce 8800 GT requires a 400 Watt PSU and the ATI Radeon 4850 requires a 450 Watt PSU.

There may be some older cards which require only 300 Watts, but it would be below the Sys Req of SSE.

Ralphy · « **Reply #92 on:** August 27, 2011, 21:21:37 »

My PC was very thirsty earlier so I gave it a whole cup of milk to drink

It seemed to enjoy it's drink...after several hours of drying out.

dexter7 · « **Reply #93 on:** August 28, 2011, 18:54:16 »

What are the risks of going below system requirements of SSE?

vin_sun · « **Reply #94 on:** August 28, 2011, 19:17:07 »

Quote from: dexter7 on August 28, 2011, 18:54:16

What are the risks of going below system requirements of SSE?

-The game may not open
-Jerky movement
-Low FPS
-Frequent crashes

To name some ........

dexter7 · « **Reply #95 on:** August 28, 2011, 19:31:50 »

can i upgrade the PSU in a computer?

vin_sun · « **Reply #96 on:** August 28, 2011, 19:37:12 »

Quote from: dexter7 on August 28, 2011, 19:31:50

can i upgrade the PSU in a computer?

Yes, you can ..... but that's not the whole story. The other components like the processor, RAM and graphics card matter a lot for the game to perform well. If you read the System Requirements of any game, no reference is made to the PSU. But a stable PSU with a high wattage matters a lot for a gaming computer. I have seen what a cheap and a low wattage PSU can do to a graphics card.

dexter7 · « **Reply #97 on:** August 28, 2011, 19:55:30 »

So would you say Buying a new computer is more logical than restoring an old one?

vin_sun · « **Reply #98 on:** August 28, 2011, 20:12:10 »

Quote from: dexter7 on August 28, 2011, 19:55:30

So would you say Buying a new computer is more logical than restoring an old one?

Dex ... it's all about Core i7s and Phenom II X6 , DDR3 RAM, 1GB graphic cards, 600W PSUs, 27" LED monitors ...... today.

Games too are being designed with all this hardware in mind. Upgrading is OK up to a point but all the components must go hand-in-hand with each other.

I got my first PC in 1997 and today I'm with the fifth one. Intel is contemplating incorporating the graphics card into the processor itself and if that happens a PC may not require a graphics card again. The popularity of the sound card has diminished greatly as the 'on board' audio is of HD quality.

It's quite like how the CRT TV has given away to the LCD / LED flat screen TV. The PC has almost become like any other household appliance which needs to be replaced after some years. PC sales have dropped a bit since the advent of the "tablet". Welcome to the "use-and-throw" world !!

dexter7 · « **Reply #99 on:** August 28, 2011, 21:10:38 »

Well I've been trying to lower the price a bit
will this work?

Author Topic: The computer topic (Read 37457 times)