Graphic Cards How to get HDMI output from my old PC

@ Alpha Highly Thankful , you are speaking the language that I can understand .

I just need clear certain basics, could be some silly questions here so please bear with me.

I mean suppose there is no IGP fused to the mother board , no IGP in processor , no dedicated Graphics card either then what will happen,I know its a stupid question , most probably I already know the answer , but I need you to reassure . is it possible to have this scenario and have any display.

MY answer :

No it is not possible for such a scenario to exist, even in my current system I have Intel Extreme Graphics , which unfortunately will not decode HD, but is fine as long as I need to work on Word Documents and watch DVD movies occasionally . so Graphics has to exist just to view the Plain desk top, right?

Now what kind of Graphics I need, depends on what I need to do , for HD content I need better Graphics .

Hope My answer was right ? Without any graphics --Blank Screen --No desk top view either... or is it wrong
 
I mean suppose there is no IGP fused to the mother board , no IGP in processor , no dedicated Graphics card either then what will happen,I know its a stupid question , most probably I already know the answer , but I need you to reassure . is it possible to have this scenario and have any display.

MY answer :

No it is not possible for such a scenario to exist, even in my current system I have Intel Extreme Graphics , which unfortunately will not decode HD, but is fine as long as I need to work on Word Documents and watch DVD movies occasionally . so Graphics has to exist just to view the Plain desk top, right?

Now what kind of Graphics I need, depends on what I need to do , for HD content I need better Graphics .

Hope My answer was right ? Without any graphics --Blank Screen --No desk top view either... or is it wrong

Thanks for the kind words.

About your question, yes you are right. Without the graphics card there will be no display not even the desktop OR other mundane visuals.

For HD content you do not really require a discrete graphics card, the iGP on current generation Intel (Sandy-Bridge and Ivy-Bridge) and AMD (Llano and Trinity) chips is more than enough to decode the HD content upto 1080p. For displays larger than 1080p I would suggest that you go for a HD6450 (OR equivalent card if not gaming).

Hence, your answer was right -- no graphics system (iGP OR otherwise) = blank screen from boot-up.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!
 
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Ah!! I think you are becoming my favorite teacher already I am understanding everything you say , I wish I had a maths teacher like you ,

anyway so I know why I need Graphics, What is its role , courtesy @ alpha

Now next question, I think having a dedicated card is going to be better, less complications , less hanging up etc.

if I get an IGP , and later I install a D- Graphics card I think there could be some conflict issues as to which ( IGP or D-card ) would do the decoding , although as you have mentioned AMD has some IGP's which are capable to handle this , do we really know how well these IGP'S perform when there is increased demand.

Having a dedicated card will be easier on the RAM too.

So I do not see any Disadvantages of having a D- card - are they any ?Apart from the added expense.

Dedicated card - No IGP ( Processor does not have inbuilt Graphics )
Advantages -
In case the mother board goes bad I can always salvage the D- card .
Less pressure or no pressure on system RAM so system does not go slow .
No conflict with IGP as to who should do the decoding.


Disadvantages -
Could be an added expense
Will use up a PCIe slot ( Not really a Disadvantage , as that is what Pcie slots are meant for ) , What I am I going to do by keeping a slot empty for its entire life

IGP and no dedicated Graphics card
Advantages -- May be less costly than getting an additional card

Disadvantages -
Will use main RAM so system may hang when HD content is being decoded , meaning if one is playing Blu ray and minimizes that, in order to work on net for a while, browser may hang.

If mother board goes bad due to any reason, one will loose Graphics also . A new mother Board that supports IGP will be more costly then a mother board that does not support IGP.

also if Processor goes Bad due to any reason then a new IGP( processor ) will be more costly then a non integrated Graphics processor I think.


Both IGP and a D- card

- advantages --
In case mother board goes bad can at least salvage the D- card

disadvantages --may cause conflict issues as to who will do the decoding .

i assume IGP's require a different slot then Non IGP's hence both will require a different mother board?
Say AMD IGP and NON IGP's both require different boards right ? making life complex for us .Or else we could always change the IGP if it were causing conflict.

Lets keep it short so that no question is left unanswered ..
 
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Ah!! I think you are becoming my favorite teacher already I am understanding everything you say , I wish I had a maths teacher like you ,

anyway so I know why I need Graphics, What is its role , courtesy @ alpha

Now next question, I think having a dedicated card is going to be better, less complications , less hanging up etc.

if I get an IGP , and later I install a D- Graphics card I think there could be some conflict issues as to which ( IGP or D-card ) would do the decoding , although as you have mentioned AMD has some IGP's which are capable to handle this , do we really know how well these IGP'S perform when there is increased demand.

Having a dedicated card will be easier on the RAM too.

So I do not see any Disadvantages of having a D- card - are they any ?Apart from the added expense.

Dedicated card - No IGP ( Processor does not have inbuilt Graphics )
Advantages -
In case the mother board goes bad I can always salvage the D- card .
Less pressure or no pressure on system RAM so system does not go slow .
No conflict with IGP as to who should do the decoding.


Disadvantages -
Could be an added expense
Will use up a PCIe slot ( Not really a Disadvantage , as that is what Pcie slots are meant for ) , What I am I going to do by keeping a slot empty for its entire life

IGP and no dedicated Graphics card
Advantages -- May be less costly than getting an additional card

Disadvantages -
Will use main RAM so system may hang when HD content is being decoded , meaning if one is playing Blu ray and minimizes that, in order to work on net for a while, browser may hang.

If mother board goes bad due to any reason, one will loose Graphics also . A new mother Board that supports IGP will be more costly then a mother board that does not support IGP.

also if Processor goes Bad due to any reason then a new IGP( processor ) will be more costly then a non integrated Graphics processor I think.


Both IGP and a D- card

- advantages --
In case mother board goes bad can at least salvage the D- card

disadvantages --may cause conflict issues as to who will do the decoding .

i assume IGP's require a different slot then Non IGP's hence both will require a different mother board?
Say AMD IGP and NON IGP's both require different boards right ? making life complex for us .Or else we could always change the IGP if it were causing conflict.

Lets keep it short so that no question is left unanswered ..

Okay, stop man you are scaring me, Maths = :fear: for me.

Depends on your usage, if you are going to game then going for a discrete card is better, if no then an iGP should hold fine.

If you have a discrete-GPU the iGP will detect the same and be the secondary system not the primary; unless you specify the same in the BIOS OR appropriate driver settings. Added disadvantage of a discrete GPU are increased power draw and different drivers that need regular updation.

No, the motherboards with iGP support are cheaper than their non-iGP counterparts.

Also as I have already mentioned that the iGP will become the secondary system there is no risk of conflicting work orders either.

Only AMD Llano and Trinity based systems are supportive of Hybrid-CrossFire so what is the chance of conflict?
 
Ok not maths --How about I wish I had Chemistry teacher Like you ...:)

are the Mother Boards compatible , meaning can I use the same mother board for both IGP and NON IGP of the same company(AMD) , or do they require different slots, meaning different mother boards
 
Ok not maths --How about I wish I had Chemistry teacher Like you ...:)

are the Mother Boards compatible , meaning can I use the same mother board for both IGP and NON IGP of the same company(AMD) , or do they require different slots, meaning different mother boards

Yup the motherboards are mutually exclusive.

AMD Llano and Trinity chips are incompatible with FX-series offerings which offer better compute performance. Also AMD Llano processors cannot be put in AMD Trinity motherboards and the reverse is also not feasible.
 
Ok each kind of processor has a different mother board right, according to the processors requirement the mother board is configured right?So all P4 have one kind of Mother board or ( maybe two or Three kinds )

All Trinity's have one or two kinds of board right?
 
Different Motherboards have different chipsets, chipsets define their features and what all the mobo will natively support,including the socket(thus there are higher-end chipsets and low-end chipsets).by socket,i mean the socket into which a proccy plugs in.Different proccys(by gen and by company) require different sockets,so different processors naturally require different mobo's.Now,more than one chipset can support one socket,thus many mobo's can support one type of proccy.For example 3 chipsets support FM2 socket(the socket required by all trinity apu's) namely the A55,A75 and A85X.So for using a trinity apu you will have to buy a mobo which has one of the 3 aforementioned chipsets.In the same way,the intel sandy bridge and ivy bridge proccy's require the LGA 1155 socket,so only a mobo with any of the following chipsets would suffice :B75,H61,H67,Z68,Z77,P67,H77(there are the q65,q67 and b65 chipsets too but they support only sandy bridge proccy's)

P4 proccy's are a mixed bag because they have many gen's and as such MANY sockets,for eg,socket 423,socket 478,socket 775,socket 840.different gen p4's(williamette,northwood,prescott,cedar mil) go in diff. sockets so you will have to be very specific about the p4 chip.
 
@ sudhanshu Thank you that was very informative and helpful.

Now please tell me should i go for a AMD FM2 mother board or Intel 1155 or 2011 mother board .

Now all Intel processors have inbuilt graphics so all mobo which support Intel processors do not have have integrated Graphics in the chip set , so I must get a dedicated GFX card in order to expand right? So there is not much confusion here.

Well as for AMD I am really confused , if I get APU Trinity or Llano , then these have IGP's right.
Now can I get a Mobo with Integrated Graphics in the chipset too.

That extra Graphics in the chipset will work as an additional card ? Is this a possibility?

Or if I am using an APU then I should not go for a chipset with Integrated graphics even if these are available .Rather if required later I can install a Discreet Graphics card on a pcie slot . For the APU I think there will not even be any mother board with another Graphics chipset integrated into it, right?Just like intel processors.


But these APU mobo's will certainly have Pcie slots so I can upgrade to a discreet card any time.

Gfx in Processor
Gfx in D- card
Gfx in Chipset of Mother board

These Gfx options are confusing me . what would be the best solution.


Also AM3/AM3+ do not have IGP , so now I can either get a D-card on the PCie with dedicated graphics , or buy a mobo with integrated Graphics chipset.

basically APU mobo's are quite similar to intel Mobos in that they both do not require Integrated Graphics in the chipset, right? Because they already have inside them in the same die.

But AM3 and AM3+ have no Gfx integrated in them so now I have the option of Buying either a Discreet gfx card or Mobo with integrated gfx chipset?

Hope my understanding is correct?
 
@ sudhanshu Thank you that was very informative and helpful.

Now please tell me should i go for a AMD FM2 mother board or Intel 1155 or 2011 mother board .

Now all Intel processors have inbuilt graphics so all mobo which support Intel processors do not have have integrated Graphics in the chip set , so I must get a dedicated GFX card in order to expand right? So there is not much confusion here.

Well as for AMD I am really confused , if I get APU Trinity or Llano , then these have IGP's right.
Now can I get a Mobo with Integrated Graphics in the chipset too.

That extra Graphics in the chipset will work as an additional card ? Is this a possibility?

Or if I am using an APU then I should not go for a chipset with Integrated graphics even if these are available .Rather if required later I can install a Discreet Graphics card on a pcie slot . For the APU I think there will not even be any mother board with another Graphics chipset integrated into it, right?Just like intel processors.


But these APU mobo's will certainly have Pcie slots so I can upgrade to a discreet card any time.

Gfx in Processor
Gfx in D- card
Gfx in Chipset of Mother board

These Gfx options are confusing me . what would be the best solution.


Also AM3/AM3+ do not have IGP , so now I can either get a D-card on the PCie with dedicated graphics , or buy a mobo with integrated Graphics chipset.

basically APU mobo's are quite similar to intel Mobos in that they both do not require Integrated Graphics in the chipset, right? Because they already have inside them in the same die.

But AM3 and AM3+ have no Gfx integrated in them so now I have the option of Buying either a Discreet gfx card or Mobo with integrated gfx chipset?

Hope my understanding is correct?

No, not all Intel chips come with iGP's.

The LGA1155 based Sandy-Bridge and in extension Ivy-Bridge processors and chipsets support iGP's and all of the processors in the lineup have it on die.

The LGA201 based Sandy-BridgeE system does not have any iGP functionality, it is dependent on a discrete-class GPU.

AMD Llano and Trinity APU's (as AMD calls them) have the iGP on the CPU-die just like the Intel processors talked about above. And no their motherboard chipset(s) do not carry any iGP on their own. So you are wrong here and they will not work together.

Yes you can install an entry-level graphics card along with an AMD APU (Llano OR Trinity) so that the iGP and the discrete GPU can work in tandem but the performance gained so is not very high, in-fact avoid doing so. Plenty of scaling and issues to go along with it and you are limited to a few entry-level GPU's, if you add a discrete GPU out of the list then the latter becomes primary-display driver whilst the APU iGP sits idle.

What do you want to do with the system?

Do you want to game OR game on low-settings? OR just watch HD RIPz?

Depending on this answer we can tell you what is the best for you.

AM3 / AM3+ systems have a few motherboard chipsets which pack an iGP on the motherboard and few chipsets which lack this facility. So you will have to research on chipsets.
  • The AMD 880G / 890GX chipsets pack an iGP while the 870 / 890FX lack it.
  • AMD 980G / 990X chipsets carry an iGP whilst the 970 / 990FX lack it.
So depending on the chipset you get an iGP OR no and this necessitates the purchase of a discrete GPU.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!
 
okay so recommending you any kind of solution right now is going to be difficult since you have not specified any budget.But if you are looking for light gaming with HD movie viewing,then trinity APU is for you.again,for such usage,i think you might wanna go with a A75 chipset Mobo.throw in some RAM,a light PSU,a budget case and your budget box is ready.also,since the trinity proccy is itself not too bad(the higher models),you could plug in a discreet gpu somewhere down the line,if need be.

Also,i think you should avoid IGP's on the mobo,they are generally poor than what you can find on die these days.These are my suggestions :

1.if on a tight budget and only requirements are light gaming with HD movie watching: then Trinity APU with A75 Chipset Mobo.(Also,as an added benefit,AMD has said that all the upcoming APU's will be based on the FM2 socket until ALL their proccy's move to a standardized socket.so your mobo may as well have 2 more gen's in it,good future proofing)

2.have a good budget and want to game comfortably at good res and settings?:then get a discreet gpu and go the intel way(LGA 1155 socket) with the 13 3220 at the low end of the spectrum and the i5 3570k and i7 3770k(this will be overkill) at the far end of the spectrum.

Also,yeah,the on die igp cannot collaborate with IGP on the mobo to give more performance(asking this question is kind of preposterous because you won't find a mobo with an IGP on it for a proccy that already has an IGP on die)

Also AM3/AM3+ do not have IGP , so now I can either get a D-card on the PCie with dedicated graphics , or buy a mobo with integrated Graphics chipset.

Absolutely correct.(though no one will ever suggest you to go the AM3+ way if you can avoid it)

Or if I am using an APU then I should not go for a chipset with Integrated graphics even if these are available .Rather if required later I can install a Discreet Graphics card on a pcie slot . For the APU I think there will not even be any mother board with another Graphics chipset integrated into it, right?Just like intel processors.

For trinity,you can find 3 chipsets,the A55,A75 and A85X.None of these include an IGP on the mobo,so you can't find such a mobo in the first place(so you are right).


Well as for AMD I am really confused , if I get APU Trinity or Llano , then these have IGP's right.
Now can I get a Mobo with Integrated Graphics in the chipset too.------NO

That extra Graphics in the chipset will work as an additional card ?-----NO Is this a possibility?-------NO


Yes they have IGP's.


Just to say : Small budget(Under 20k)-Go for On die IGP(regardless of the proccy's power,go for the proccy which has the best IGP)(Most proccy's are already overkill for their IGP,so get the Best IGP possible,which currently is found in Trinity)
Trinity chipsets for you :

The A55 only has SATA 3 Gb/s support, and supports a single VGA slot. The AMD A55 is clearly for signage boxes and perhaps light-office clients. It is meant to be used with both A6 and A4 APU products.
The AMD A75 offers SATA 6Gb/s support (six native ports total), adds FIS-based switching for those SATA ports, and has native USB 3.0 support. The AMD A75 is for mainstream users like your mom or dad that are, thanks to native USB 3.0 and SATA 6 GB/s support, interested in snappy drive and external device operation. It is, naturally, geared towards both A8 and A6 APUs.
The AMD A85X supports eight total SATA 6 Gb/s ports with FIS-based switching, and adds in CrossfireX support. The new AMD A85X is targeted at gamers and enthusiasts, including those that like to keep up with the latest and greatest in technology. AMD intends you to pair this chipset up with both AMD A10 and AMD A8 APUs, and, primarily, the "K"-level "Unlocked" APUs.

BIG budget(above 25k)-Go for Discreet Gpu solution with best performing Cpu/Mobo solution(currently Intel's ecosystem is superior).
 
Hey guys whats up!! @ alpha, @ Sudanshu both of you rock !!

Thank you so much for your patience sorry for such a late post , was stuck at work .

Thank you a lot for these information, just give me a while , I am trying to see how much I can spare then I will be back, also I need to make make sure I understand the concepts so that I can make a good decision and be happy with it.

Thank you so much for your patience.

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hey Guys,certain confusions have come up , I understand that LGA1155 socket supports intel processors right?

Intel processors have inbuilt IGP inside its CPU, right? So LGA1155 will need an extra d- gfx card in case the gfx inside the processor is not sufficient for me , right? Now I came to know someone bought a LGA1155 with P67 chipset what does that mean ? Does LGA1155 come with more than one kind of chip set?

Also I came to know that the LGA1155 with p67 chipset does not support the inbuilt graphics of the Intel processor.
The Graphics on the Intel processor lies idle if used on a P67 chipset , what is this all about??

So now I need to be careful not only of the Mother board but also of the chip set on the mother board ?? Kindly clarify?
 
yes lga 1155 is the socket core i2nd gen and 3gen proccy's require,and yes if you want more performance,you will have to get a d-gfx card.there are these chipsets for lga 1155:P67,H61,H67,H77,Z68,z67 and B75.the p67,h61,h67 and z68 are old now,as they launched with sandy bridge proccy's.

To understand the H67 chipset it helps to first realize that all socket 1155 Core i3, i5 and i7 processors have built-in graphics capabilities. To enable use of that functionality, though, the motherboard must have video output connections – and this is H67’s specialty. Most motherboards using this chipset will have a variety of output options (VGA, DVI, HDMI, and sometimes DisplayPort as well), with up to two connections being usable at the same time. A dedicated video card can also be used, and the onboard video can be used *alongside* such a card in order to provide support for several monitors for a fairly low price.
The downside is the H67 supports only very limited overclocking, keeping it from being a platform for gamers (who wouldn’t want to use the onboard graphics anyways) and some enthusiasts. It is more marketed toward home and business use, and particularly the home-theater crowd. The onboard graphics is very well suited to playing back videos, even in high definition, and being able to do that without a higher-end video card cuts down on cost, heat and noise.




P67-This chipset variant, which was available alongside H67 at the launch of the Sandy Bridge platform, does not support the use of integrated graphics – but in trade supports the ability to run two dedicated video cards (for Crossfire or SLI, if motherboard manufacturers license those technologies). It also is capable of being overclocked, and that combination of features have made it popular for gamers and other demanding users.

H61 is a cut down version of h67.

The Z68 chipset is a late arrival, but combines the performance-oriented features of P67 with the onboard graphics options of H67. This opens up the option for enthusiasts who want to have a powerful video card while also being able to access features of the on-chip Intel HD graphics, like Quick Sync, without needing multiple monitors. However, using both of those together requires third-party software from LucidLogix – which isn’t ideal, as it means depending on yet another layer of complication in order to access all the features of the hardware. Quick Sync in particular is also only supported by a few video transcoding programs, so unless you use software that is designed to work with it then there would be no need for Z68 over P67.Lastly, Z68 supports a new feature called SSD Caching. It allows use of a solid-state drive as a cache for a larger hard drive – which can be of limited use for folks who want faster drive performance but can’t afford a full-sized SSD.
Read the above paragraphs and you will understand.


Difference between z77 and h77:Basically the difference is that a Z77 motherboard allows overclocking and Crossfire/SLI while a H77 does not. H77 is also, obviously, cheaper. So the choice is very easy.


Diffeence between z68,z77 and h77:

Z68-This chipset represents the pinnacle of Intel’s second-generation, mainstream Core processor platform (also known as Sandy Bridge). It combined the key features of the earlier P67 and H67 chipsets, as we have previously discussed. It supports splitting the main PCI-Express x16 connection into two x8 slots, allowing SLI or Crossfire functionality for improved gaming. It also allows for overclocking of select processors, and was the first Intel chipset to add Smart Response Technology – Intel’s fancy name for SSD caching of a traditional hard drive. Use of the onboard graphics on Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors is also supported, with up to two simultaneous monitor outputs.
Newer motherboards using this chipset have even been designed to be compatible with the upcoming third-gen Core processors; the Asus P8Z68-V Pro Gen3 is one such example. Those modified in this way claim to support PCI-Express 3.0, once equipped with a new 3rd-generation processor that supports the new standard.



Z77-this is the direct successor to Z68, with almost the exact same feature set. It has everything Z68 does and then some. For example, USB 3.0 has been integrated into the chipset; four USB 3.0 ports can be powered in this way, along with several of the older USB 2.0 ports. That means an add-on controller chip is no longer required, though many motherboards will still have one so that they can sport more than four USB 3.0 ports. SSD caching, overclocking, dual PCI-Express x8 slots, etc are all still available as well.
Another aspect of the chipset that has been improved is the support for onboard graphics. Once the matching 3rd-generation processors are out, motherboards will be able to offer three simultaneous monitor outputs instead of just two. Onboard graphics will also be faster, but both of those are functions of the newer processors; when paired with older Sandy Bridge CPUs, the speed will be the same as Z68 and the number of monitors supported at a time will still be two.


H77-his is a scaled-back chipset option, suitable when overclocking and multiple video cards are not needed. It cannot split the main PCI-Express x16 slot into two connections, though the PCI-Express 3.0 standard is still supported (with the upcoming processors). Support for increasing the multiplier on unlocked processor models is also missing, hence the lack of overclocking support. Aside from those two limitations, though, it is effectively the same as Z77: the same number of SATA and USB ports are there, SSD caching, onboard Intel graphics, and more.
This situation makes Z77 ideal for most users, as it gives the largest range of performance and upgrade options, but H77 is a great fit when overclocking and more than a single video card are simply not feasible. For example, in small form factor systems like our Echo line the H77 chipset should be right at home.



It's a little long but reading it all will help you make sense of all the chipsets out there and help you make a decision on what you want to buy.cheers.
 
hey Guys,certain confusions have come up , I understand that LGA1155 socket supports intel processors right?

Intel processors have inbuilt IGP inside its CPU, right? So LGA1155 will need an extra d- gfx card in case the gfx inside the processor is not sufficient for me , right? Now I came to know someone bought a LGA1155 with P67 chipset what does that mean ? Does LGA1155 come with more than one kind of chip set?

Also I came to know that the LGA1155 with p67 chipset does not support the inbuilt graphics of the Intel processor.
The Graphics on the Intel processor lies idle if used on a P67 chipset , what is this all about??

So now I need to be careful not only of the Mother board but also of the chip set on the mother board ?? Kindly clarify?

Intel introduced iGP's on CPU die for the first time with Clarkdale family processors and chipsets; first generation Core i3's and i5's with iGP on die.

With the release of Sandy-Bridge Intel tried to split the enthusiast market from the mainstream market it launched two major chipsets (which are very similar) --
  • H61 -- Absolute bottom-line chipset meant for home-users and budget PC's. No support for over-clocking but support for CPU iGP is present.
  • H67 -- A mainstream chipset with better feature set designed for mid-range gamers. Still no over-clocking but the CPU iGP is supported.
  • P67 -- Absolute top of the food-chain, meant for enthusiasts who would over-clock their RIG's but this lacked the support for CPU iGP.
  • Z68 -- A compromise chipset which combined all the functionality of the H67 chipset with the over-clockability of the P67 chpset.
Miscellaneous chipsets for more niche market segments were the Q, P and B series business chipsets, these never received main-stream popularity.

With Ivy-Bridge Intel has continued using the Sandy-Bridge chipset scheme --
  • H77 -- Mainstream chipset for most users with a locked Core i3 / i5 processor, again no support for over-clocking but feature set is as strong as the Z77 minus the stated point.
  • Z77 -- A successor to the Z68 and P67 chipset(s) family this one support over-clocking functionality as well as CPU iGP just like the H77.
  • B75 -- This time around a business class chipset (B75) has achieved wide-spread acclaim and is highly sought after by budget builders thanks to its cheap price, good feature set and low power consumption.
In your current scenario buying a P67 based system will be a fools errand and anyone can see that, so keep that out of your mind.

Now tell us what do you want to do with your system, the usage --
  • Are you going to game?
  • What is your budget?
  • What is your usage pattern, if you are not gaming what all activities / programs will this computer run?
When you can explain the above three then we can tell you whether to go for Intel OR AMD. Why we are giving you that particular choice.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!
 
yes lga 1155 is the socket core i2nd gen and 3gen proccy's require,and yes if you want more performance,you will have to get a d-gfx card.there are these chipsets for lga 1155:P67,H61,H67,H77,Z68,z67 and B75.the p67,h61,h67 and z68 are old now,as they launched with sandy bridge proccy's.

To understand the H67 chipset it helps to first realize that all socket 1155 Core i3, i5 and i7 processors have built-in graphics capabilities. To enable use of that functionality, though, the motherboard must have video output connections – and this is H67’s specialty. Most motherboards using this chipset will have a variety of output options (VGA, DVI, HDMI, and sometimes DisplayPort as well), with up to two connections being usable at the same time. A dedicated video card can also be used, and the onboard video can be used *alongside* such a card in order to provide support for several monitors for a fairly low price.
The downside is the H67 supports only very limited overclocking, keeping it from being a platform for gamers (who wouldn’t want to use the onboard graphics anyways) and some enthusiasts. It is more marketed toward home and business use, and particularly the home-theater crowd. The onboard graphics is very well suited to playing back videos, even in high definition, and being able to do that without a higher-end video card cuts down on cost, heat and noise.




P67-This chipset variant, which was available alongside H67 at the launch of the Sandy Bridge platform, does not support the use of integrated graphics – but in trade supports the ability to run two dedicated video cards (for Crossfire or SLI, if motherboard manufacturers license those technologies). It also is capable of being overclocked, and that combination of features have made it popular for gamers and other demanding users.

H61 is a cut down version of h67.

The Z68 chipset is a late arrival, but combines the performance-oriented features of P67 with the onboard graphics options of H67. This opens up the option for enthusiasts who want to have a powerful video card while also being able to access features of the on-chip Intel HD graphics, like Quick Sync, without needing multiple monitors. However, using both of those together requires third-party software from LucidLogix – which isn’t ideal, as it means depending on yet another layer of complication in order to access all the features of the hardware. Quick Sync in particular is also only supported by a few video transcoding programs, so unless you use software that is designed to work with it then there would be no need for Z68 over P67.Lastly, Z68 supports a new feature called SSD Caching. It allows use of a solid-state drive as a cache for a larger hard drive – which can be of limited use for folks who want faster drive performance but can’t afford a full-sized SSD.
Read the above paragraphs and you will understand.


Difference between z77 and h77:Basically the difference is that a Z77 motherboard allows overclocking and Crossfire/SLI while a H77 does not. H77 is also, obviously, cheaper. So the choice is very easy.


Diffeence between z68,z77 and h77:

Z68-This chipset represents the pinnacle of Intel’s second-generation, mainstream Core processor platform (also known as Sandy Bridge). It combined the key features of the earlier P67 and H67 chipsets, as we havepreviously discussed. It supports splitting the main PCI-Express x16 connection into two x8 slots, allowing SLI or Crossfire functionality for improved gaming. It also allows for overclocking of select processors, and was the first Intel chipset to add Smart Response Technology – Intel’s fancy name for SSD caching of a traditional hard drive. Use of the onboard graphics on Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors is also supported, with up to two simultaneous monitor outputs.
Newer motherboards using this chipset have even been designed to be compatible with the upcoming third-gen Core processors; the Asus P8Z68-V Pro Gen3 is one such example. Those modified in this way claim to support PCI-Express 3.0, once equipped with a new 3rd-generation processor that supports the new standard.



Z77-this is the direct successor to Z68, with almost the exact same feature set. It has everything Z68 does and then some. For example, USB 3.0 has been integrated into the chipset; four USB 3.0 ports can be powered in this way, along with several of the older USB 2.0 ports. That means an add-on controller chip is no longer required, though many motherboards will still have one so that they can sport more than four USB 3.0 ports. SSD caching, overclocking, dual PCI-Express x8 slots, etc are all still available as well.
Another aspect of the chipset that has been improved is the support for onboard graphics. Once the matching 3rd-generation processors are out, motherboards will be able to offer three simultaneous monitor outputs instead of just two. Onboard graphics will also be faster, but both of those are functions of the newer processors; when paired with older Sandy Bridge CPUs, the speed will be the same as Z68 and the number of monitors supported at a time will still be two.


H77-his is a scaled-back chipset option, suitable when overclocking and multiple video cards are not needed. It cannot split the main PCI-Express x16 slot into two connections, though the PCI-Express 3.0 standard is still supported (with the upcoming processors). Support for increasing the multiplier on unlocked processor models is also missing, hence the lack of overclocking support. Aside from those two limitations, though, it is effectively the same as Z77: the same number of SATA and USB ports are there, SSD caching, onboard Intel graphics, and more.
This situation makes Z77 ideal for most users, as it gives the largest range of performance and upgrade options, but H77 is a great fit when overclocking and more than a single video card are simply not feasible. For example, in small form factor systems like our Echo line the H77 chipset should be right at home.



It's a little long but reading it all will help you make sense of all the chipsets out there and help you make a decision on what you want to buy.cheers.


This is truly awesome! I feel like nominating you for the Nobel prize , if I had the means !!
I didn't mind the length ..in fact I couldn't have enough of it ...I really enjoy reading your stuff , these are simply Brilliant . Also as you can see , I have got up to read your posts at 3:00 AM .. your posts are simply worth the time we spend on it.

Perhaps We will continue after Dussehra, right now I may be traveling for a few days. So I may be absent from here for a while . Kindly bear with me. Wishing you and your family , and every one else here a Very Happy Dussehra.Take care

Again your posts (also Alpha's) simply rock.Thank you so much.

- - - Updated - - -

Now tell us what do you want to do with your system, the usage --
  • Are you going to game?
  • What is your budget?
  • What is your usage pattern, if you are not gaming what all activities / programs will this computer run?
When you can explain the above three then we can tell you whether to go for Intel OR AMD. Why we are giving you that particular choice.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

Alpha both yours and Sudhanshu's information is simply awesome, this looks like the Bible of information. Truly golden words from both of you.

Are you going to game?: Even if I do not game I would like to keep my options open, But Honest answer , I do not think I will have time to game, but having gaming capabilities also means having good graphics, and I want good graphics , just to feel better and that I can game if I want to.
What is your budget? : lets says 15k would be realistic , +- 3
What is your usage pattern, if you are not gaming what all activities / programs will this computer run?


I have two main purposes (1) I surf the Net and (2) Watch TV on my monitor through Intex Internal TV tuner PCI card.

Slightly Side topic , but usage related .

This is a good point ,with respect to a new Tuner. Are there any tuners which have HDMI in. Now I know Digital media copyright issues prohibit coping HD content, so no one can record HD content or something like that. But I do not want to record, maybe manufactures can build a Tuner that will allow us to watch TV in HD but not allow us to record?

Because of no HDMI available in present TV tuner's I have to take HDMI out from STB to monitor to watch HD channels , it cannot go through the Motherboard.

So it means I cannot work on the net and let TV run in the back ground simultaneously. The TV is coming into the monitor say through HDMI in , the PC will come into the monitor Through DVI in , so I have to change the input source each time , I want to do some thing different.

Also TV will run in full screen mode, not allowing me to minimize , maximize, or run in back ground while I check my mails in the net.

So this is the disadvantage of having two different input sources, with no PIP.

Unless I take composite out from STB -- to TV tuner card in Mother board . As I cannot take HDMI from STB into TV tuner as discussed above.

So if I have STB -- Composite out -- PCIe, TV tuner card --Mother board HDMI output --Via HDMI --to monitor HDMI input , I can use the same input both for TV and computer simultaneously. The TV card will show as an Icon on the Desktop, when I click on that, TV will start.I can minimize, maximize , move in foreground back ground etc . I can multitask simultaneously.

But unfortunately the TV I view in this way will not be in HD, as from STB I have taken analog to TV card, through Composite out and not through HDMI out. This is exactly, what I have presently.


@ alpha as you can see its 3:30 am already, need to go to sleep ASAP. Will get back after Dussehra,kindly bear with me. we will arrive at a very good system, thanks to you guys.

Wishing you and your family and all readers here a Very Happy Dussehra. Take care.
 
Are you going to game?: Even if I do not game I would like to keep my options open, But Honest answer , I do not think I will have time to game, but having gaming capabilities also means having good graphics, and I want good graphics , just to feel better and that I can game if I want to.
What is your budget? : lets says 15k would be realistic , +- 3
What is your usage pattern, if you are not gaming what all activities / programs will this computer run?


I have two main purposes (1) I surf the Net and (2) Watch TV on my monitor through Intex Internal TV tuner PCI card.

Slightly Side topic , but usage related .

This is a good point ,with respect to a new Tuner. Are there any tuners which have HDMI in. Now I know Digital media copyright issues prohibit coping HD content, so no one can record HD content or something like that. But I do not want to record, maybe manufactures can build a Tuner that will allow us to watch TV in HD but not allow us to record?

Because of no HDMI available in present TV tuner's I have to take HDMI out from STB to monitor to watch HD channels , it cannot go through the Motherboard.

So it means I cannot work on the net and let TV run in the back ground simultaneously. The TV is coming into the monitor say through HDMI in , the PC will come into the monitor Through DVI in , so I have to change the input source each time , I want to do some thing different.

Also TV will run in full screen mode, not allowing me to minimize , maximize, or run in back ground while I check my mails in the net.

So this is the disadvantage of having two different input sources, with no PIP.

Unless I take composite out from STB -- to TV tuner card in Mother board . As I cannot take HDMI from STB into TV tuner as discussed above.

So if I have STB -- Composite out -- PCIe, TV tuner card --Mother board HDMI output --Via HDMI --to monitor HDMI input , I can use the same input both for TV and computer simultaneously. The TV card will show as an Icon on the Desktop, when I click on that, TV will start.I can minimize, maximize , move in foreground back ground etc . I can multitask simultaneously.

Well for ~15000/- this is the configuration I would recommend --
Intel Core i3 2120 ~6500/-
GIGABYTE-B75M-D3H ~4500/- (from flipkart.com)
Corsair 4GB x1 ValueRAM ~1100/-
Corsair CX v2430W ~2700/-
[add a graphics card later if you feel its need, I don't think you should not spend if you are not 100% on a topic]

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

About set-top boxes I have no idea so, no comments for the same.

Also if you add a basic graphics card like a HD6450 / HD6570 you can connect upto 3 monitors from the PC itself.
 
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