Onboard video question

I hope I'm not going to embarrass myself here. I am working with a Chaintech 7VJL5 mobo which has onboard video (Specs here) . I assumed that "onboard video" would mean that the board has a video terminal on the rear of the mobo into which one could plug a 14 pin monitor cable. The answer might be right in front of my face but I haven't found an explanation why this board has none. It has an AGP slot which is currently empty but no video terminal anywhere. Can someone enlighten me?

Edit: The case had absolutely no documentation but on the case back it does have an icon of a monitor next to a 9 pin plug that is labled Com 2 in the mobo manual. Otherwise the terminals on the back are PS2 (2) for mouse and k/b, 2 USB ports, 1 Lan RJ 45 port, print port, game port, 3 audio, and the two ports labled Com 1 and Com 2 (9 pin).

Edit#2: My monitor has a 14 pin male plug - the computer has a 9 pin male receptacle where the monitor icon is stamped. Is it possible that what I need is a DB15 gender changer so I can plug the 14 pin HP monitor into the 9 pin Chaintech mobo?

 

Hi bobmc32,

I can see no reference to onboard video in those specs. I think what you are looking at is the Com 2 port. The CASE is probably labled that way because motherboards can have either Com 1 and an onboard video connector OR 2 Com ports (No 2 replacing the video connector).

Looks like you need to get an AGP (or PCI) video card for it. AGP is faster and actually cheaper than PCI (and faster than onboard video as well).

I would not be upset though, onboard video is generally quite basic and shares your system memory. If you wanted to do much more than basic tasks you would probably need to upgrade and install separate AGP card anyway. The cost of adding onboard graphics should be outweighed by having higher quality hardware on the rest of the motherboard, so you are, in fact, getting a better quality motherboard. Also, you can change the video adapter to another machine in the future.

High-end video cards are mainly for gamers, so don't go crazy getting an expensive one if you won't need it. Then again, if you are going to install any modern games or want good graphics, get a "descent" one. Consider your future needs.

Matt

 

Thanks Matt for the reply and the info. This is a rig I'm building for my daughter who mostly runs a small soho and no gaming and no graphics to speak of so I was trying to build on the economy side. I have a mediocre AGP card ordered and it's on the way. I was letting myself be led down a false path set by that lable of onboard video.

 

It seems like a good motherboard. It would have been a shame to have lots of speed and power available only to be restricted by onboard graphics.

I hope it goes well for her.

Matt