Inexpensive audio/video with a Shuttle AN35N

[tackett]

I've decided to try a little overclocking, and was told that a Shuttle AN35N mobo was a good combo with my choice of Barton 2500+.

Since it doesn't have onboard video, I need a card. I *don't* play 3D games - my most CPU intensive work is Photoshop, WinAMP, Excel and keeping 10 apps open at once.

What card is out there that's inexpensive and can drive a 19" LCD at good depth and resolution?

Any opinions on the onbpoard sound of that mobo?

Thanks,
Tackett

[Matthias99]

A decent, very cheap AGP card would be an NVidia GeForce4MX. A GF2MX would work as well, although the price (and performance) difference is pretty minimal.

If you need DVI output, some of the higher-end MX440 models have it. It also looks like a RADEON 9200SE might be a good choice -- under $50, and probably better picture quality than an old RADOEN 7000 (the cheapest ATI card with DVI). Any of those cards will be able to drive your LCD at its native resolution (1280x1024 or 1600x1200, most likely -- you didn't give a model number). Although I wouldn't try gaming at those resolutions. :p

I'm going to be picking one of these up in a month or two for a system overhaul (yay dual-channel DDR400!), so I don't actually have it yet. It's got the Realtek ALC650 for sound, which is OK but nothing spectacular. Unless you need super-high SNR or extra connectors (like digital SPDIF), it'll probably be fine for you.

[fuzzba11]

Just as a RANT, I went for the Shuttle AK31A the moment it was released because it's overclocking ability rivaled that of the expensive overclockers like MSI and Asus. However, once I had the board running it was the worst run of PC experiences I've ever had...for instance, just about every time I disassembled my system to install something new(ie: install a new HSF, proc) the board would not boot.

The first time it happened I thought it was static electricity, the second time I was sure I had flashed the BIOS chip by mistake, and by the time the third one died on me I decided that I'd had enough. I think it has some serious issues, but I still can't guess exactly what besides cheap components. :eek: