integrated or discrete motherboard?

[quiksilver]

I know the integrated motherboard has got the onboard graphics and the discrete doesn't.

I need to get a new mobo and I have a Chaintec 8800GT.
Should I go for the discrete mobo?

Would it make any performance difference?

 

[sn3rd]

It really depends on the chipset involved. If you're looking at lower-end chipsets (similar with only difference being graphics or not), you'll notice less difference between them, because you will end up getting throttled.

Of course it also depends on all the other specs in the system involved.

Personally, I like to have onboard graphics as a failsafe so that if my graphics card dies, I have something that I can use to continue using the computer.

That said, many people feel they get a performance gain without discrete graphics. And there's also the idea of fewer points of failure...

 

[quiksilver]

I'm comparing these 2 Gigabytes from Rectron

Integrated:
GIGABYTE® "S Series" G43 & ICH10 Express Chipset - Socket LGA775 @ FSB1333 4x DDR2-800 (Dual), 5x SATA2, 1x ATA133, 1x eSATA, 12x USB 2.0, 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio

Discrete:
GIGABYTE® "S Series" P43 & ICH10 Express Chipset - Socket LGA775 @ FSB1333 4x DDR2-1066 (Dual), 6x SATA2, 1x ATA100, 12x USB 2.0, 8 Channel High Definition Audio

then there's also the Intel Original which is cheaper

INTEL® "Media Series" "Dragontail Peak" P35 - Socket LGA775 @ FSB1333
4x DDR2-800 (Dual), 5x SATAII, 1x ATA100, 3x PCI Slots, 12x USB 2.0 (6x Cable), 2x IEEE1394 Ports, 1x eSATA Port, Integrated Intel 8ch HD Audio Codec & Intel Audio Center

I'm not too worried about overclocking and seeing that discrete / integrated doesn't make a remarkable difference, I think I'll go for the cheaper "Dragontail"

any comments would be appreciated

 

[sn3rd]

What processor will you be pairing with this motherboard? I'd definitely go for the P43 chipset over the P35. Assuming it still comes within budget, of course.

 

[.Froot.]

I have a P45 or Q45 (can't remember) that has a Intel 4500HD 256MB graphics chipset. The thing is pretty fast, runs more or less parallel to the 8600 I'd say. There shouldn't be a difference in performance if you are using a decent mb.

 

[quiksilver]

money is "toight"

I'm looking at a Intel Dual-Core E5200 - 2.50GHz Dual Core, Socket 775, 2MB, 800MHz FSB, 45nm, x64 Support

and memory:
Transcend aXeRam DDR2-1066 - Matched Pair Of 2x 1GB Modules - Aluminum Heat Spreader, CL4 (4-4-4-12)

 

[sn3rd]

If money is "toight", you shouldn't be splurging on upgrades

But who am I to judge

I'm not too sure about the performance of the new E5xxx series processors. But surely if you're going to spend this kind of money, you might as well wait a bit longer until you can afford a better processor?

Getting the E5200 means that you are sacrificing FSB capabilities for now (sure, you can upgrade later, but by then there will be an even better deal on a motherboard).

In my opinion, if you're going to get a XM45 motherboard, you might as well splurge a little and get a E8xxx series processor. 1333MHz FSB and 6MB L2 cache

 

[quiksilver]

I'm not really "splurging" per se...
At the moment I've got a old (single core)3Ghz Intel on a Intel G915EV mobo, 2G 533Mhz memory and a 8800GT.

 

[sn3rd]

I'm not really "splurging" per se...
At the moment I've got a old (single core)3Ghz Intel on a Intel G915EV mobo, 2G 533Mhz memory and a 8800GT.

Well surely waiting a while to afford a better processor isn't the end of the world? It'll really make all the difference

 

[mikeslab]

that p4 3.0ghz cpu won't work on the p45 (been there done that, oops) but the dragontail peak should work.

 

[quiksilver]

That was going to be my next question.
"Can I buy a decent motherboard now and use my older CPU?"

that p4 3.0ghz cpu won't work on the p45 (been there done that, oops) but the dragontail peak should work.

"No", you say. But they are both 775 socket.

OK, I'd have to buy mobo and CPU at the same time.
What if I buy DDR2 1066Mhz memory now, would that work on my existing mobo?

I suspect my mobo is starting to give problems, because my pc started freezing last night.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=141816

 

[PostmanPot]

If your board is DDR2 the RAM will clock down to the highest supported speed by the board.

I think you're wasting money getting the aXeRam. The standard Transcend JetRam is great stuff and a real bargain if you can get it from Rectron.

 

[sn3rd]

Having the same socket doesn't necessarily mean the processor will work. In particular, you'll find that the latest processors do NOT work on older 775 motherboards