Graphics Cards

I am looking at an ad for an HP machine with an integrated "Intel Extreme Graphics 2 with Intel 865 chipset ". This doesn't tell me much when comparing it to a nVidia gForce 128MB, etc.

Does anybody know how to compare apples to oranges?

When they say integrated does that mean it can not be swapped out?

Thanks in advance

 

Those who manipulate 3D graphics (CAD, gamers, and video editors) are in the class of POWER USERS. These people will see benefits in using a higher end machine.

1) Although the computer may have an onboard graphic chip, you want one with an independent 8x AGP slot. The onboard chip can be disabled. They are for general purpose graphics.

2) Check not only the processor GHz. Check its FSB (Front Side Bus) speed. Pentium 4s come in 400, 533, and 800 FSB. The GHz can be the same. But its ability to move the information can be significantly different.

3) Quite often computer manufacturers cut corners on RAM. Check not only the MB of the RAM. But what type (DDR or SDRAM) and the speed of the RAM. DDR is typically anything from 266 MHz to 400 MHz. The DDR speed should match or exceed the FSB of the processor. Exceeding the FSB of the processor will allow you to overclock the processor.

3a) Check to see if the motherboard supports DUAL channel RAM. That is, DDR being split into two channels. The RAM itself is just matched pair RAM (including brand). But the motherboard may support the using of these identical modules in a dual channel mode.

4) Check not only the RPM speed of the drive. Check the ATA speed. SATA (serial ATA) is faster than regular ATA (which is parallel). Also, check the cache size of the drive. A faster hard drive will do more than faster RAM for a computer.

 

Graphics Double talk

RayH,
Thanks for the informative response. It was in depth and almost completely comprehensible to me; I am a 'power user', CAD, although a fairly ignorant one.I do have a couple of questions:

3. Is DDR better than SDRAM? ANd if I read you correctly it is OK to overclock the processor with a higher speed memory chipset?

4. I have always assumed that if you had enough RAM the drive speed wasn't that big a deal as then you wouldn't be cacheing to the drive.

 

If you consider yourself a power user, avoid any integrated graphics as they simply provide basic video - definitely not for CAD/CAM users.

DDR is supposedly a little faster than SDRAM. It is also newer, aka more modern. Modern mobos and graphics cards don't use SDRAM anymore.

As far as overclocking, Shturmovik is just saying that the higher the speed of the RAM, the better your ability to overclock will be. But overclocking depends on alot of factors including cpu, memory, mainboard(chipset), etc., etc. I don't think anyone will ever tell you that it's OK to overclock anything. Faster ram just gives you more "headroom" if you decide to do so.

 

Chiles4 hit the nail on the head... Avoid integrated graphics cards at all costs unless you are buying a computer to surf the net and do email. Any 3D game or CAD application will be too much for it.

My opinion: Don't buy any computer that is 'one size fits all'. If there is a pallet of computers sitting at your local store (or in Dell's warehouse) run away. Do some research, find out what what other CAD users are buying. The reason HP, Gateway, Dell can offer such cheap computers is that they fill them with low-grade proprietary components.

Of course there are others here that may disagree....

Take a look at envision computers I have bought a couple of machines from them and have been very happy.

 

The key word in the above is PROPRIETARY.

And they can be tough to make changes on. ( any OEM can be that way )

You will get no disagreement from here. I had one pre-built machine and one was enough.


BillyBob

 

avoid 'all in wonder' baords i.e. on board everything