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How to know if you have Sound Card
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migTMC
Junior Member
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21. October 2009 @ 09:39 |
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Hello. I have gotten a second computer which is second hand and I'm not sure if it is has a sound card or not. I have installed Windows XP Pro and hooked the computer up and it works well. I have not connected speakers to it, but I want to know how I can see if it has a sound card. I've searched the internet for pictures of sound cards, as I have opened up the tower and can see what's inside.
There are two "cards" connected to the motherboard, but I don't know what they are. This second hand computer was from a company and so it was networked, so I assume one of the cards is a network card.
I have an older computer that is stuffed and unsalavageable and it did have a sound card that shoul still be alright. I want to place this sound card in my new, second hand computer, but don't know how to do it, hence the question of what does the sound card look like etc.
Also, my main computer is a Celeron 2.0 and I don't know whether it is capable of being hooked up (networked) to the second hand computer. Should my main computer already be network ready or does it also require a network card?
Help much appreciated
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. October 2009 @ 09:59 |
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Sound cards can typically be identified by the colored jacks.
Light green - speaker out
Light blue - line in
light pink - mic in
Older sound cards may have all black jacks but they will typicall have the metal embossed with standard icons that indicate their function.
A network card will typically have a jack that looks like a telephone connector except wider.
If you take a picture of the back of the computer and can post it there are any number of people here that can identify the ports.
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migTMC
Junior Member
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21. October 2009 @ 11:21 |
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Originally posted by dailun:
Sound cards can typically be identified by the colored jacks.
Light green - speaker out
Light blue - line in
light pink - mic in
Older sound cards may have all black jacks but they will typicall have the metal embossed with standard icons that indicate their function.
A network card will typically have a jack that looks like a telephone connector except wider.
If you take a picture of the back of the computer and can post it there are any number of people here that can identify the ports.
These foloowing pics are not totally clear but they are the best I could get with my webcam:
Hopefully someone can make heads or tails out of this. Pretty sure the bottom,slightly smaller card is a network card. The other, I've got no idea, but the cable that connects to the monitor connects to the back of that card it looks like
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. October 2009 @ 11:53 |
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If the card doesn't have embedded video (yours doesn't), the card nearest the CPU (slot 1) is the video card.
It doesn't appear that you have a sound card or on-board sound capabilities.
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migTMC
Junior Member
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21. October 2009 @ 12:55 |
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Originally posted by dailun:
If the card doesn't have embedded video (yours doesn't), the card nearest the CPU (slot 1) is the video card.
It doesn't appear that you have a sound card or on-board sound capabilities.
Fantastic, I've got a computer without sound capabilities, far out. Well that's that then.
Do you happen to know whether computers which are Celeron 2.0 are already network ready or does it also require a network card?
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. October 2009 @ 12:59 |
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"Do you happen to know whether computers which are Celeron 2.0 are already network ready or does it also require a network card? "
A completely irrelevant question. One has no dependency on the other.
You can always buy a PCI sound card. I've bought them for as little as $5.00, and you definitely should find one for less than $15.00.
Most modern PCs will have an Ethernet port on the mother board but some (like the one that you have pictured) do not. The only way to tell for sure is look and see if you have an Ethernet port.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21. October 2009 @ 14:44
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ddp
Moderator
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21. October 2009 @ 14:00 |
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the bottom card appears to be a netcard but not certain. that appears to be an old p2 or p3 board as there are 2 black isa slots near the bottom of the motherboard. there is at least 1 capacitor just above the videocard that is domed & leaking. might also be more like that.
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migTMC
Junior Member
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21. October 2009 @ 20:58 |
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Originally posted by ddp:
the bottom card appears to be a netcard but not certain. that appears to be an old p2 or p3 board as there are 2 black isa slots near the bottom of the motherboard. there is at least 1 capacitor just above the videocard that is domed & leaking. might also be more like that.
Can you explain what that means. Sounds like something in my computer is damaged
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ddp
Moderator
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21. October 2009 @ 22:22 |
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look at the silver topped cans on the motherboard as they are supposed to have flat tops not be domed.
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AfterDawn Addict
1 product review
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21. October 2009 @ 23:39 |
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That system is downright ancient...there are cell phones with far more processing power.
The case is AT...ATX replaced AT back in 1995...so the board can't be much newer than 1997 (at least 12 years old). The fan is made by intel...and it is a socket processor. Given these facts, it has to be pre-slot1...so it is a Pentium, Pentium MMX, or Pentium Pro.
No sound capabilities, and it appears that there is no USB at all. Too heavy & large to be a paper weight, yet not heavy enough to be a boat anchor. I guess you could use it as a footstool.
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ddp
Moderator
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21. October 2009 @ 23:43 |
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killer, i think it is more likely a p2 or low end p3 to get xp to work on it.
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migTMC
Junior Member
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22. October 2009 @ 00:39 |
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Originally posted by ddp:
look at the silver topped cans on the motherboard as they are supposed to have flat tops not be domed.
You mean the ten or so silver top round things? I've run my finger over them and they are all flat, maybe one slightly sticking it out
Originally posted by KillerBug:
That system is downright ancient...there are cell phones with far more processing power.
The case is AT...ATX replaced AT back in 1995...so the board can't be much newer than 1997 (at least 12 years old). The fan is made by intel...and it is a socket processor. Given these facts, it has to be pre-slot1...so it is a Pentium, Pentium MMX, or Pentium Pro.
No sound capabilities, and it appears that there is no USB at all. Too heavy & large to be a paper weight, yet not heavy enough to be a boat anchor. I guess you could use it as a footstool.
It is just for my young daughter to do some homework on and play a few games. No need for a Ferrari, just a functional Ford.
There are two USB ports at the back, which I plug my keyboard and mouse into, but they are slow USB ports. Again, does the job for a while
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AfterDawn Addict
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22. October 2009 @ 09:48 |
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OK, let's settle this for the benefit of TC.
migTMC, since you have the case open, can you read the model number of the motherboard? It should be silkscreened on the motherboard, parallel to and between the expansion card slots, but could possible be on the back left corner.
I'm guessing P3 since the ports are color coded.
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migTMC
Junior Member
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22. October 2009 @ 20:03 |
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Originally posted by dailun:
OK, let's settle this for the benefit of TC.
migTMC, since you have the case open, can you read the model number of the motherboard? It should be silkscreened on the motherboard, parallel to and between the expansion card slots, but could possible be on the back left corner.
I'm guessing P3 since the ports are color coded.
I think this is what you mean -
GA-6VX7+
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ddp
Moderator
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22. October 2009 @ 20:13 |
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migTMC
Junior Member
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22. October 2009 @ 22:37 |
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ddp
Moderator
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22. October 2009 @ 23:32 |
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don't count on that speed to be always correct as found a number of those type of systems the cpu speed was not setup properly in the bios.
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. October 2009 @ 09:15 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. October 2009 @ 09:20
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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23. October 2009 @ 09:29 |
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You have three spare PCI slots by the look of it - you can buy a PCI sound card and network card - heck, you could buy a PCI video card as well if you wanted :P
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ddp
Moderator
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23. October 2009 @ 23:32 |
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sam, why a pci videocard as he has an agp videocard already?
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AfterDawn Addict
1 product review
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24. October 2009 @ 04:46 |
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Originally posted by ddp:
sam, why a pci videocard as he has an agp videocard already?
I think he was just saying that to list all the things he could buy...he could also buy a PCI USB2.0 adapter or a TV tuner...but not much reason to do so.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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24. October 2009 @ 10:26 |
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It was just an example of the fact that you can stick pretty much anything in the PCI slot, and he has several to play with.
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