AGP vs. PCI

[Encomium]

How can i tell if my computer needs a AGP video card or a PCI video card? Does it say somewhere on my system or can i tell by looking at the motherboard?

Thx in advance. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[evalroy]

Looking at the expansion slots on your motherboard, an AGP slot is brown, postioned slightly back from the rear of the case, and there is only one of these rascals. The PCI slots are beige and there should be more than one. It is possible that your board does not have an AGP slot and would only be capable of using a PCI card.

Hope this helps,
ER


------------------
I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there.
- Richard Feynman

[This message has been edited by evalroy (edited 04-13-2002).]

[Encomium]

Thanks alot... I was just about to buy a PCI card, but was shocked to find a brown slot back there. Is there any way to be sure that it is indeed an AGP slot and Im not just mistaking it with another?

[Encomium]

Im fairly sure its an AGP after doing some research, but I cant find an answer to the question of whats AGP 4X vs AGP 2X. I dont know which I have, but lets say I have an AGP 2X slot, if i bought a card that supports AGP 4X only whould it work?

[hiredgoonz]

Almost all AGP 4x cards will run at 2x if that's all the slot supports...there may be exceptions, but it would be pretty foolish for a vidcard maker to exclude part of their target audience by only supporting motherboards with 4x AGP capability...

Check the box on the card you want...bet it will say 2x/4x

Another way to tell if it's an AGP slot is that it will be closer to the cpu...if the slot is small, but almost at the bottom of the board then it is probably an AMR slot...

------------------
When all else fails, read the instructions.

Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;rid;kbinfo)

Drivers (http://www.driverguide.com)

Google (http://www.google.com)