integrated video mobo or not? that is the ?... and more

[dontknowmuch]

Hi everyone:

My computer is dead... I will attempt to resuscitate it later but for now I am going to build a new one and need advices.

The cpu I selected is AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103212
I did not want to spend more than $60 for the cpu.

Now for the mobo, I have no idea what to do. I do not want to spend more $90 on a mobo and video card. I see some mobo with integrated video and I wonder if there are good stuffs or I better go with separate components. I am looking at:

mobo without integrated video:
BIOSTAR A770 A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com:80/Product/Produc ... 6813138106
BIOSTAR TA770 A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com:80/Product/Produc ... 6813138102

video card so far:
HIS Hightech H240PRF256N-R Radeon HD 2400PRO 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161191

ECS N8400GS2-512DS GeForce 8400 GS 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814134045


mobo with integrated video:

BIOSTAR TForce TF720 A2+ AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 720a ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com:80/Product/Produc ... 6813138117

BIOSTAR TForce TF8200 A2+ AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com:80/Product/Produc ... 6813138113

GIGABYTE GA-MA78G-DS3H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com:80/Product/Produc ... 6813128335


Computer will be used for surfing, pictures, videos, movies viewing, no high demand application (no CAD, no gaming) and no intend to overclock. It seems that an integrated video would work for me but are they any good? I do want good quality video though. Can you guys give me your opinion? You are welcome to suggest other hardware but looks like biostar and gigabyte have decent press.

Thanks in advance for you help

[unfaithfulsfan]

I'm kinda in the same boat. In fact I just waffled back and forth over the same CPU and the 2.4 Windsor 4600+. I went with the Windsor because I think it overclocks better or so I've read.

Onboard graphics are OK for everyday stuff. They do, however, steal some resources from your CPU and RAM. If you're not planning on doing any gaming or high end graphics work, onboard is fine, like I said for everyday stuff: email, word processing, simple photo editing, etc. They're also OK to get you by until you can save up for a good graphics card.

Don't know about your RAM but my original setup was AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Orleans @1.8 GHz; 1 GB PQI 533 RAM; Gigabyte GA-M33plus-S3G mobo, Antec 500 w PSU; Samsung DVD Burner; 1 SATA and 1 IDE drive. Using onboard video and stock hardware settings, I was able to do everything you mentioned with very little problems. Games like Unreal, Half-Life 1, Test Drive 6 and NFS Hot Pursuit, Deus Ex all ran with no problems. I don't generally watch movies on my PC instead I mostly burn them to DVD but on the occasions I had to watch on my PC I was able to do so flawlessly. BTW, I tend to lean towards Gigabyte for my motherboards.

Hope that helps. Good luck!!
Jack

[aircommando13]

I originally faced the same thing, so i got an XFX 630i chipset with an integrated Geforce 7150 HDMI graphics, which played HD great and my games pretty well. The cool thing is that it has a pci-express x16 slot so you can get a seperate graphics card down the road and pop it in, which is what i did when the 9600 GT's came out. This way you can still play games while you save up money for a sweet video card . BTW it's the best integrate graphics i believe for a intel chipset.

It's only $80 heres a link.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813141013

[dontknowmuch]

Thanks for the comments.
Burn dvd is something I forgot to mention ... kind of important isn't it?
I am going to stay with amd I guess. My first built was an amd, that is the only reason and I am not in overclocking, which is it seems one of the major reasons people recommend intel.
I am sorry for this post to be in the intel section. In my excitment to get a post, I hit this forum instead of he amd one. But all comments are truly appreciated.
Thanks

[unfaithfulsfan]

No problem. Admin will move the post if they feel it's necessary. Glad we were able to help. This is a great community as you will find out. Everybody's extremely helpful--users and especially admin. Really cool place. IMHO the best forum on the 'Net.

[dontknowmuch]

Yes, sorry again for the wrong posting.
Since I have not bought the hardware yet and I am still uncertain about what to get (not that I am looking for the best stuff around,especially with my budget!but I do not want to get junk either), should anyone be willing to provide additional advice, I would be interested to get your opinion. I will not post anymore under intel forum since I have the same question under the amd one. Maybe you guys could go there to continue this thread
Thanks guys!

[Zertz]

The 780G will give you the best performance in integrated graphics! Your CPU for that price is good too