I have a dual core Intel d945gnt desktop system (4 gigs max memory). The on-board mother board audio driver has failed.

I can purchase a replacement motherboard for around $50.00 or replace the computer with a new desktop unit.

My choices are keep the disks, case, peripherals and purchase a new motherboard, with cpu, onboard video (or video card) and 8 gigs memory or

Buy a new computer. (Along with extra hardware and unwanted windows 8.1 software).

Budget is %550.00

Recommendations?

Exclude from recommendation, HP desktops.

When the sound device on my desktop failed, I bought a second-hand sound card for about $10! Another approach is a usb sound device, which has its own chip.

I'm with David on this one. Buy another audio card.

yes, if you are satisfied (that means otherwise your desktop is ok) you only need to buy a sound card or usb sound device. But if you are limited somehow (low on memory or your pc is slow or you have another problem) you can buy a new computer. I do not suggest you to "upgrade" that box, but it depends on your needs.

Disable the onboard sound chip in BIOS and get an Add-On PCI or USB sound card of your choice.

For the same $50.00 I can get a pci video (HDMI) card and embedded sound (because of hdmi). Thank you all for the advice. That is the route I am taking. I will get 1gig of video ram where today I share 128meg, reserved from the main memory.

Can't hurt to try other live distro's to double check that audio is bad. I'll assume however that yours has failed.

Just no way to tell what is better. $10 on a board and I'd try it. $15 for a working new board and I'd try it. At $50, it starts to tip.

I bought my current box from ebay.ca as a barebones and was able to add the hardware I wanted. I paid about your budget price for a rockin' amd64 quad core with an empty hard drive. I'm sure it would have cost 30% more if bought at a local store. I never added any windows to my cart so that was never an issue. When the box arrived I install linux and been happy ever since..