Just got a Z68AP-D3, but there's no VGA port. What is the best workaround?

[frc]

It's my own fault for not looking into it enough, but since I'm not really knowledgeable about these things and it was the first time I built a computer I just assumed that any motherboard in the £80 range would have somewhere for me to plug in my monitor...

I was obviously wrong, and while I'm very curious as to why Gigabyte considered serial and parallel ports more important than VGA, what's done is done and I need to decide how to work around it. As far as I can see I have the following options:

1) Try to sell my (new) monitor, and buy a different one with HDMI. Loss of about £100
2)  Buy a graphics card with a VGA port. Loss of about £20 directly, plus a waste of my i5 2500k's onboard graphics and the extra cost of the motherboard that can access them.
3) Some kind of HDMI--->VGA converter? From what I've read this isn't very easy.
4) Any other ideas?


With 2), if I got a graphics card which was weaker than the i5's onboard graphics, would it still take over and turn off the onboard graphics? So in other words do I have to buy a graphics card of a certain minimum quality to avoid essentially paying to downgrade my system's graphics performance??

By the way I just have a generic/unbranded "500W" PSU which may or may not even handle a graphics card. I wasn't planning on getting one.

Thanks for any suggestions,

[teknology9]

Hi frc and welcome to the forum.

You can buy a HDMI to VGA converters like this one here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adaptor-Converter-1080p-adapter-Right/dp/B003YSWOI6

If you buy a descrete graphics card it will only be used for demanding applications like games etc and then switch back to the graphics in your CPU for less demanding applications.

Also if you look a this post here, provided by soarwitheagles, it explains to some degree how the graphics element functions....see pg2.

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,7577.15.html

It is also recommended to have a PSU of at least 650w, here is a PSU calcualator here:

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

If you want to buy a PSU Corsair are good as well as the aftersales service:

http://www.corsair.com/learn_n_explore/?psu=yes

Hope this helps

Teknology9

[frc]

Thanks for the reply.

So even if the only video output is via the graphics card, the system can disable it and use the i5's graphics instead when necessary?

So I could use ANY terrible graphics card just acting as a VGA adaptor, basically, and not suffer any lower quality?

The info in the link is marketing rhetoric rather than very clear technical info - is there some other strict explanation of how this all works?

Why on various benchmarks and reviews (I can't find the links at the moment) did the i5 2500k alone outperform the same plus a cheap graphics card?

By the way the PSU calculator suggests that around 220W will be fine, is that right?

[teknology9]

Hi,

It doesn't disable it as such but automatically switches between the discrete and the gpu in your CPU.

I don't know about " ANY terrible graphics card" it s all really down to how much you want to pay and the features that you require.

As I have already stated a 650w is the recommended minimum amout of wattage.....220w is too low...think about future upgrades and wear and tear. Think about how much wattage your cpu will consume and the discrete graphics. The calculator will give you an idea......the PSU is a component some overlook when wanting stability from their system.


teknology9

[frc]

What I mean is that the calculator tells me that I don't need any more than 220W, for my system + a low end graphics card.

[teknology9]

Yes, I know what you are saying.......at the end of the day the choice and decision is yours.



Teknology9

[soarwitheagles]

Hi guys!

You you may want to read about the specific GPU cards that the software Virtu GPU Virtualization can accomodate:

NVIDIA (2000, 4000 and 5000 series) and AMD ATI (4,000 and 5,000 series)

Not sure if cards outside these specs will work with Virtu GPU Virtualization.

Soar

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi all,  

Maybe read this:

VIRTU supports the following graphics cards and drivers:
Graphics cards
Nvidia cards GF 4xx/5xx series
AMD HD5xxx/HD6xxx series

http://www.lucidlogix.com/download/Virtu%20Release%20notes%20%201-2-111%20Dec%2012%202011.pdf

http://www.lucidlogix.com/driverdownloads-virtu.html

Gloup_Gloup

[Dark Mantis]

As far as I know it does support the latest  cards in both manufacturer's ranges. I haven't actually got it to test with at the moment but hopefully that will change in the near future.

[frc]

Yes, I know what you are saying.......at the end of the day the choice and decision is yours.



Teknology9

Who recommends 650W, and for what? And why does the calculator you linked me to recommend 220W, then? Is it completely wrong?

[Dark Mantis]

I have seen so many people caught out by these PSU Calculators. The thing is in an ideal world where everythjing worked as it should and there was no power loss or voltage drop around the wiring then I am sure they are accurate but I always would prefer to use my own experience and as a rule 650W is a good starting point. It will run any normal sort of basic system ok and leave a little headroom in case of expansion etc. Also PSUs drop in output over time and so what you work out as perfect for your needs today wont be any good in two years time.

It's your choice but I would rather play safe. The price differential between a 450 and a 650w isn't that much anyway.

It is also very important to buy a good quality power supply not a "no namer". The cheap and nasties end up costing you a fortune as they go and take a few of your other expensive components with them!

[frc]

I already have a 500W generic PSU. I wasn't planning on replacing it, and this is a slippery slope of course because with one upgrade comes another, and another, and another, and then I'm way over budget. A new PSU and graphics card will cost me the best part of £100 which is another 30% on top of what I paid for the whole system just a couple of weeks ago :/

All for want of a VGA port.

[Dark Mantis]

Obviously you must purchase only what you want to, but we are only here to give advice.  Of course if you are happy running the generic PSU then fine and I wish you luck.

The thing is with a bit of investigation first you wouldn't be in this trouble now but when you buy a cheap motherboard obviously it isn't going to have all the ports and extras of a more expensive one.

[frc]

Obviously you must purchase only what you want to, but we are only here to give advice.  Of course if you are happy running the generic PSU then fine and I wish you luck.

Well I have no idea about these things, but I need explanations of advice you guys have given. The calculator that I was given said I need about 220W for this system, but someone else says 650W - why is this?

The thing is with a bit of investigation first you wouldn't be in this trouble now but when you buy a cheap motherboard obviously it isn't going to have all the ports and extras of a more expensive one.

Actually if I'd got a "cheap" motherboard, the one I was originally looking it, I'd have had a VGA port included. This one cost me twice as much and to be honest I just assumed, foolishly, that it would have all the features of a low-end board plus more.

When building a computer for the first time it's hard to know every detail I need to check, and I simply didn't know that there were motherboards which boast of their onboard graphics but have no VGA port.

[teknology9]

Hi frc,

If you click on the link below it is for a basic graphics card.....pay attention to to recommended power supply:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=310&pid=209&psn=&lid=1&leg=0#

Who recommends 650W, and for what? And why does the calculator you linked me to recommend 220W, then? Is it completely wrong?

It is well documented on this forum by members who have a lot of knowledge and experience...and so give this advice to others to prevent them pulling their hair out. I fully understand about the outlay.....we've all been there.....I think. But, we are trying to help you which will be beneficial in the long run....but of course you dont have to take it.

Have a read of this article.....and see what you think:


http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/build-your-own-pc,review-31889-6.html

And this one:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/power-supply-psu-review,review-32270.html



At a guess your system will have the following:

CPU

RAM

GPU

Case fans

HDD... 1 or 2 maybe

Not forgeting wear and tear....and of course upgrades.

The calculator as I have stated gives you an idea........but you must factor in the above.



teknology9