What's really on this motherboard?

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I'm assembling a new computer for the
first time in five years, and I've
discovered I can no longer understand
motherboard specs. I need these capabilites:
-Graphics for large, static RGB images
-Network connection for Web access
-USB for digital camera uploading & control

Here's what I bought (haven't unwrapped
it yet):

http://tinyurl.com/e6cn6

It's a question of what "support" means.
I can see the sockets on the board for
video, LAN and USB. Does this mean that
the full capabilities for these things
are already on-board?
 
I'm assembling a new computer for the
first time in five years, and I've
discovered I can no longer understand
motherboard specs. I need these capabilites:
-Graphics for large, static RGB images
-Network connection for Web access
-USB for digital camera uploading & control

Here's what I bought (haven't unwrapped
it yet):

http://tinyurl.com/e6cn6

It's a question of what "support" means.
I can see the sockets on the board for
video, LAN and USB. Does this mean that
the full capabilities for these things
are already on-board?
Click to expand...

Yes. With this exception for video: built in video never provides "full
capability." But it's got an AGP slot, so you can have the quality of video
you want. Be aware that this will add cost.

The questions to ask: how big are those large images and how much RAM will
you want? This only supports 2 Gigs. And, do you really want a "micro"
form factor? I find micro boards annoying - but of course, that's only a
personal opinion.

Mike
 
I'm assembling a new computer for the
first time in five years, and I've
discovered I can no longer understand
motherboard specs. I need these capabilites:
-Graphics for large, static RGB images
-Network connection for Web access
-USB for digital camera uploading & control

Here's what I bought (haven't unwrapped
it yet):

http://tinyurl.com/e6cn6
Click to expand...

What you bought is a fairly low end product from a
questionable seller, but regardless your above described
needs are pretty modest and practically any semi-modern
system will do those.

Any *normal* motherboard has USB, almost every normal board
has (at least, if not Gigabit) 100Mb Ethernet network
adapter integral, and for the graphics you merely need an
integrated video or card with enough memory to suit your
monitor resolution, which is far less memory than any modern
video supports.

It's a question of what "support" means.
Click to expand...

Normally it can be taken to mean "can do that", but with
Tiger Direct it's good to be more careful. However, since
your expressed needs above are so basic, we can be sure the
board does support those.


I can see the sockets on the board for
video, LAN and USB. Does this mean that
the full capabilities for these things
are already on-board?
Click to expand...


Yes, merely installing the drivers (after windows) will
enable the features. Be sure Windows is at least at Service
Pack 1 level for the USB2, and best to install DirectX9C
before the newest video driver.

In general it would be best to use all the newest drivers
from http://www.viaarena.com , the chipset manufacturer,
only getting the remaining older drivers not available from
viaarena, from MSI's website. In other words, the drivers
that come on the CD with the motherboard are the oldest and
last you would want to use.
 
MF said:
Yes. With this exception for video: built in video never provides "full
capability." But it's got an AGP slot, so you can have the quality of video
you want. Be aware that this will add cost.

The questions to ask: how big are those large images and how much RAM will
you want? This only supports 2 Gigs. And, do you really want a "micro"
form factor? I find micro boards annoying - but of course, that's only a
personal opinion.
Click to expand...


This system will be an intermediate
step for me on the way to one for
some serious number crunching on
digital photos. It may be a couple of
years before I get to that stage,
though. Based on your's and
kony's followups, it sounds like this
motherboard will be satisfactory
for me for the time being. I'll see how
video behaves and upgrade with a card
if necessary. Thanks for your help.
 
Get a faster processor though.. how large are the static pictures?


[Thundersha 278850]

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1280x1024 for the time being. What will the on-motherboard video do
with this?
Click to expand...


Motherboard integrated video is fine for your uses,
including 1280x1024 or even editing far far larger images.

This is not a demand on the video subsystem, it only needs
display what is current shown on the screen. The remainder
of the image (as you'd see when zoomed, panning, etc) is
stored in main system memory. If you were working with far
far larger images it would then help to have a lot of main
system memory but for 1280x1024, the memory load is very
light, relatively speaking.
 
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