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

[jaligator]

'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

 

[Ferg]

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.

 

[BoBBYI986]

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

 

[thomas234]

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

PCI < AGP < PCI-Express

Go for whichever your motherboard supports.

 

[jaligator]

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:

 

[BoBBYI986]

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.

 

[donkey42]

and it's better (faster)??

yes,

AGP 8x
A 32-bit channel operating at 66 MHz, strobing eight times per clock, elivering an effective 533 MHz resulting in a maximum data rate of 2133MB/s (2 GB/s)

Source

Edit: your motherboard

 

[jaligator]

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

 

[donkey42]

and what you recommend?

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

 

[jaligator]

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? ;)

 

[thomas234]

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.

 

[donkey42]

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.

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 ?

 

[jaligator]

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

 

[geniuspro]

Hey,

With the amount you want to spend, I would recommend a good AGP video card.

I performed a search for you on newwgg.com and here is the link.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Video Cards & Video Devices,Desktop Graphics / Video Cards,$100 - $200,AGP 4X/8X,

Cheers !!!

geniuspro

 

[cube_]

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

 

[jaligator]

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!

 

[cube_]

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?

 

[cube_]

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

 

[jaligator]

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

 

[donkey42]

So, what would you recommend? :)

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