Motherboard Graphics

[492commish]

I guess the only stupid question is the one I don't ask...

I am not planning a gaming or other heavy graphics-demand machine. I'm building a home computer that I'll be using for power-use of M/S Office applications.

Why don't I see reference in the specs of Rob's recommended motherboard to graphics? I assume there is a decent bare-bones graphics/video driver and that I really wouldn't have to purchase the GTX 550 card?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

- Phil in Sherwood, Oregon

[zburns]

No such a thing as a stupid question!

Here is what I believe to be Rob's recommended mobo, this URL -- http://www.gigabyte.com/microsite/306/images/model.html -- and the model number is GA-Z77X-UD5H. Here is the URL for this mobo only: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4139#. On the mobo specification page (click on Specification), upper right is a block that says 'CPU Support List'. Click on it, you will find a large table of cpus, the i5-3570K is near the top of the list. Again, on the motherboard spec page, go down 4 topics to 'Onboard Graphics' and you see a list of the 'Output ports' for the 'integrated graphics' embedded in the Ivy Bridge i5-3570k cpu. Plug your monitor into one of these ports that fits your monitor cable.

(Note: before you buy anything, make sure the monitor you plan to use has 'compatible mating plugs' to the motherboard 'output choices'! )

You do not need the GTX 550 card (Rob only mentions the GTX 560 -- is 550 a typo?).

Here are the urls for the cpu and mobo as specified by ROB in his online 'My Super PC Build': cpu: http://www.mysuperpc.com/processor.shtml and mobo: http://www.mysuperpc.com/motherboard.shtml

Note: I have double checked the above and it seems to be correct. If any questions, do not hesitate to ask! Note: There is a wireless version of this motherboard and the NON wireless version -- your choice. The URLs above all deal with the non wireless version. Note that the specs are also written to be as brief as possible (which is best -- minimizes confusion) but you have to do 'some interpretation' to understand them!
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Do not hesitate to ask questions, this can be a confusing topic!

Last comment, I hope: Cold weather is approaching. Static discharge is at it's most damaging in 'cold dry air'. Be sure to use a wrist strap, clipped to your case. Handle circuit boards only by touching the thin fibreglass edges. Handle the cpu only on the thin edges, thumb and forefinger. Leave all components inside their static protected bags until you are ready to mount them. These are just a few of the 'simple rules to follow' for static control. I will post some URLs that will tell you more!!

Some online videos show the builder or tech simply grabbing the 'boards' with fingers on components on top side and other fingers on the printed circuit soldered points on the underneath side -- do not do this, even one time! Handling the components on the edges affords a certain amount of added safety.

[492commish]

Once again, thanks so much for your time in answering my questions! And thanks for the electro static discharge reminder. I handle a lot of CMOS semiconductors in my ham radio stuff, so I'm set up with a good wrist strap/grounding wire, as well as a static mat (although it isn't as helpful in computer building as the strap, IMHO. That being said, all you have to do to start a long email thread with a bunch of us old ham geezers is to throw something out there related to ESD!

Thanks again! - Phil

[RickyTick]

The first build in this thread is a "Non-gamer build". Check it out.
http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?1642-Recommendations-Budget-Build