A basic question about desktop audio

[avanalarf]

As I posted in my last question I am probably going to buy this desktop http://www.comet.co.u...s#product_description
(the Comet site contains a more detailed spec than the Amazon page) and I note there is no built-in sound card included.

I know a little bit about software but virtually nothing about hardware and so I was wondering whether a lack of a built-in sound card means that there will be no audio? Or is such a sound card only needed when it comes to connecting to an external audio device?

I realise that this is a very basic question and hope I'm not being too dense so thanks in advance for any answers.

[RATTER15]

Nearly all mobo's have a built in sound card, if it doesn't you will have no audio unless you fit one.

[daffy654]

I wouldn't touch that particular PC with a bargepole. The only specs I could find concerned the processor, what about all the other components?

For that sort of money you could get a much better PC from somewhere like Mesh.

http://www.meshcomput...fq22qwCFZQhtAodd0RBGA

[jomifl]

Some PCs have the soundcaerd incorporated into the motherboard. Yu can see from the spec. if there is built in sound.

[SlackAlice]

better set of specs here

http://www.packardbel...nt/model/PT.U6DE2.008

Id say it's got onboard sound ie., integrated on the motherboard.

[jomifl]

It does have microphone & earphone jacks so that is a bit of a clue

[daffy654]

Thanks slack, the specs aren't too bad but I still wouldn't touch it, I got fooled into buying a Packard Bell once and I hated it with a passion! lol
I agree about the onboard sound, i've never known a new PC to have no sound at all.

[AlBags]

I think it has an added soundcard .. not on-board sound.
There are audio sockets .. and if .. as it says .. it plays CD's , etc .. how can it play without any soundcard.
Specs just do not list it .. They just say there is no ON-BOARD sound (that means on the motherboard (like on-board Graphics)

[AlBags]

I should think it's an OEM PB audio card .. maybe 5.1 or 7.1.

[SlackAlice]

Your possibly right, I have been looking for a view of the back/rear but cannot find one.

[ChuckFickens]

They are onboard audio, although it is digital onboard audio.

there are also additional headphone and mic sockets on the front (as visible in the pictures in SAs link)

[avanalarf]

Thank you all for your replies.

daffy654 - why do you recommend avoiding Packard Bell - is that from recent experience? From googling it, I do realise that the brand name has had a bad reputation in the past (and probably rightly so) but all those 'avoid like the plague' reviews are from 2008 and before, mostly several years earlier, and the reviews I can find from after that date seem to be positive - unless they are fake.

[ChuckFickens]

For the price you're paying It's not bad and Packard Bell are not as bad as they used to be... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_Bell The first paragraph says all you need to know...

since Acer bought the brand they've been fine, before that they were crap.

[avanalarf]

Thanks ChuckFickens for confirming that