Is it possible, without opening the computer case, to detect whether my computer has in built a video card and sound card on the motherboard or whether they are separate cards???

Hi Jumbo it is very easy to see if the Video and sound card are intergrated on the the motherboard...

At the back of your machine, you will see 3 or more slots, which allow for additional cards, if your Video and sounds cards are located here then changes are they are not part of the mother board and can be easily placed.

If yourmonitor cableandsound cablessit right next to your keyboard and mouse changes are they are part of the mother board...

Alot of motherboards now have everything on board (Video, Sound, USB, Ect), but it does not stop you from buying a a better sound card, like a creative card or a better Video card like Nvidia cards and inserting them in the available slots.

in that case my video card and sound card are on the motherboard but am thinking of upgarding my video card as am going to be edititng some video files. One more question, is video card and graphics card mean the same thing or are they compeletly two different things??? thnax for your help

You don't need to upgrade your video card. 2D graphics have been more or less the same for about 6 or 7 years.

Only 3D graphics (read games for home use) have made advancements. The only thing you will need if you haven't got already, is some sort of video in / video out device. Which I believe you can get in USB versions now anyway.

ok, thnx nick for your advice. For the video in/out,i will be buying a FireWire card as i was told its much better/ than USB when it comes to digital videos.