Graphic card, AGP vs PCI? What should I buy?

Discussion in 'Video Cards, Displays and TV Tuners' started by jaligator, Apr 8, 2009.

  1. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    'Sup forum community, this is my first post on this forum. :D
    I would like to know if I can buy any real good gaming graphic card less than or equal to 120$. Wich to buy AGP or PCI? and what's the difference? :confused:

    Many thanks in advance,
    Jaligator,
    Best regards!

    2009
     
  2. Ferg

    Ferg Manbearpig

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    Welcome to HWF!

    It depends totally on what motherboard you have - you don't actually have a choice :)

    Let us know your full system specs.
     
  3. BoBBYI986

    BoBBYI986 Geek

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    The difference really is PCI-Expressx16 (4GB/s) has more bandwidth than AGPX8 (2GB/s) more bandwidth better the performance.
     
  4. thomas234

    thomas234 Big Geek

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    Hang on, do you mean PCI or PCI-Express?

    PCI < AGP < PCI-Express

    Go for whichever your motherboard supports.
     
  5. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    Good evening!
    So... :D my specs are:

    PROC: AMD sempron 2800+1600MHz
    MOTHERBOARD: MSI MS-7142
    RAM MEM: 1536 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM
    VID CARD: GeForce 6200 256MB

    Do I support PCI express, and it's better (faster)?? :rolleyes:

    Thanks,
    Peace! :cool:
     
  6. BoBBYI986

    BoBBYI986 Geek

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    your motherboard does not have PCI-Express x16. It has AGPx8 and PCI. AGPx8 (2gb/s) and PCI (266mb/s) so I would go for an AGP graphics card because as you can see the AGP bus supports more bandwidth.
     
  7. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    yes,
    Source

    Edit: your motherboard
     
  8. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    Hm, that's right, very explicit, thanks!
    So, I gotta decide by something working with AGP 8x.
    What do y'all recommend? :)
    ... Im also thinkin to get new 2RAM cards, each 2gb, gettin a total of 4GB of DDR, thats enough, right? and what you recommend?

    example:to playing CS:Source at a smoothly 80-100 fps

    [ ]
    Peace
     
  9. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    you'd probably be better with a combo upgrade including CPU, mobo, RAM & gfx obviously not forgetting probably the most important part too: the PSU, i could ramble on about how important a high quality PSU is, but take a look at the PSU Sticky

    BTW: by only upgrading the RAM you will be creating huge bottlenecks of the other components
     
  10. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    Due to my money ammount I cant afford all this stuff in one time. So I want to upgrade my computer for gaming, I think I would start by graphic card and RAM, Im working with 32bit windows XP version. What you suggest? ;)
     
  11. thomas234

    thomas234 Big Geek

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    The problem with that plan is that when you get around to upgrading the motherboard, it most likely won't have an AGP slot, meaning you can't use the graphics card.
     
  12. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    true, however, most new mobo's you can buy come with integrated VGA (onboard gfx) and a PCIe slot, so, if you are willing to endure the usually crappy onboard gfx for a while, then you can upgrade the gfx later by disablling onboard gfx in BIOS and add a PCIe card, so, maybe you'd be better getting a decent mobo first & you will probably be best not getting the ram yet as RAM prices are always falling

    Edit: how much (approx) are you wanting to spend to begin with ?
     
  13. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    So, y'all saying my mother board is "out of date" in any way :p, There's any cheapest way to make a good gaming upgrade? That's right, If I buy now an AGP CARD, later Ill do nothing with it, because the next future is PCI express as I realize.
    So what do I gotta do? I got more or less 200$ to spend in upgrades
     
  14. geniuspro

    geniuspro Geek Trainee

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  15. cube_

    cube_ Mega Geek

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    My concern is will any AGP cards these days even let you play Source with 80-100 FPS on high settings?! I mean, CS isn't so new but you gotta admit, it's still pretty demanding.

    For $200, my advice to you would be to wait on the card because i think you'll be throwing it in the trash the next year. Instead, focus on a CPU and Motherboard bundle. Then later on get some RAM and a fair PCI Express video card. Then i could see you run Source at reasonable speeds. :D
     
  16. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    I was thinking about this and I realise the best for me and my needs is wait some months to achieve a computer gaming as I wish! So, I wouldn't buy any graphic by now. I decided to buy a new one, so I'll be waiting for your sugestion.
    How do I start?
    Where to buy just the box (motherboard, PSU, RAM, HD, graphic card, etc.) for less than 700$ with professional services.

    Thank's, once again! :D
    peace!
     
  17. cube_

    cube_ Mega Geek

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    If your budget is around $700, then hell i you can get a pretty darn good system. That includes the Core i7!
    Is $700 your budget?
     
  18. cube_

    cube_ Mega Geek

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    Actually, we might need to skip on the Core i7, but i can still make you a pretty darn good system.
     
  19. jaligator

    jaligator Geek Trainee

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    to be honest I dont have all that ammount atm :p, however Im thinkin just buy a nice mobo, CPU, PSU, and HD, (i'll use my old DDR, if it runs) and my old radeon 9600xt for now, Do I forgot something to pc works properly? :confused:
    So, what would you recommend? :)

    I also want a mobo with possible future upgrades
     
  20. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    well i think there was some mobo a while ago that supported either DDR or DDR2 but not both simultaneously[ot]probably back when DDR2 was introduced[/ot]as new mobo's have most things onboard (gfx, sound, NIC) you'd be better getting off getting a new mobo with everything onboard & add RAM, monitor k/b & mouse when you can afford it

    if you can find an old mobo that supports DDR or DDR2 that would be even better
     

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