What's the difference between a motherboard and a graphics card?

best gaming computer you can build 2011 image

EA Custome

I have a Dell Inspiron computer (2011 model) and it won't run games such as Sims and SimCity. I researched about it and I need a new graphics card. But I've also seen motherboards for sale? What's the difference between them and do I need both?

Answer
The graphics chip, whether integrated into the chipset or independent (discrete, the equivalent of a separate graphics card in a desktop), is almost always built-in to the motherboard of a laptop. Laptops almost never have graphics card upgrade/replacement capabilities. The only possible upgrade path for your laptop is a different motherboard for the same model that has an improved graphics chip.

This would require you to completely dismantle the laptop to replace the board. It is probably more feasible and practical to simply replace the laptop.

What is the average price to build your own gaming computer? Is it possible to do it for under $900?

Gigi R

I'm really not looking for anything that close to the bleeding edge. I just want to know how the range I'll be in if I'm looking to build a computer that can run things like Dragon Age and WoW without much of a problem. All I'm looking for in my computer is decent gaming performance.

PS. I'm a first-timer at this so any helpful sites would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
$900 can get you a pretty powerful computer, one that can max out almost any game today.

Look at this $1000 PC ($900 without OS).
http://gamingrig.blogspot.com/2011/06/1000-gaming-pc-june-2011.html

That's good enough to max out any game for the next couple of years at least.

Here is a $800 build that would max out all of todays games.
http://gamingrig.blogspot.com/2011/06/750-gaming-pc-june-2011.html

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Title Post: What's the difference between a motherboard and a graphics card?
Rating: 100% based on 998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown

Thanks For Coming To My Blog