Author Topic: What is this slot? (Read 516 times)

Cronus · « **on:** July 03, 2006, 04:43:23 PM »

I want to get a new video card and I'm wondering about what this slot is in my computer. I'm wondering if it's an AGP slot so I can buy an AGP video card rather than a PCI one that my friends tell me are not as good.

I took some pictures. The slot I'm wondering about is the center one thats empty.

IF someone can help me I'd be grateful. Thanks so much.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2006, 05:58:54 PM »

Certainly looks like a standard PCI slot to me. First time I ever heard of only having 1 PCI slot, and that one in the middle of the board. But then it is a Dell. Guessing its a Desktop configuration and not a mini-tower type.

PCI slots are usually white. AGP slots are usually brown. ISA slots were black.

Of course that assumes they stay with convention. I've seen grey PCI slots before.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2006, 09:46:38 PM »

pci slot .... eek they dont support a fast enough card for most of todays games .

Cronus · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2006, 04:06:08 PM »

Actually there's two PCI slots. That metal box thing is right over the other one, it connects to the other PCI slot and it basically gives me two slots.

Well thanks for the help, I guess I'm stuck buying a PCI card. I currently have a GeForce MX 4000 128mb but I want to be able to play BF2 which I already bought not knowing it had such strict requirements

. The minimum requirement card for the game is a GeForce MX 5700. Anyone know if that is availible for PCI? And I'm also wondering what is the best PCI card out there so I can get that and not have to worry about anything again?

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2006, 04:41:20 PM »

Cronus they just dont make PCI cards anymore. The last version of a Geforce card that was made in PCI form was the FX 5500 I believe. You wont find a newer one than that, and thats not really much of a card. ATI made a 9200 I believe, but its about the same rating as the Geforce card. 2 generations old and wont run some of the newest games. You'd be much better off to build a new computer from scratch and make do with what you have until you can get it done.

Clutz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2006, 08:00:07 PM »

Beavis: "heay Butthead ,that old woman said there are alot of slots in Las Vegas"

Butthead: "huh huh, huh huh, you said slot"

Cronus · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2006, 09:32:42 AM »

Ok. Thanks.

lol Clutz

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2006, 01:21:59 PM »

Just FYI ........

I was in Comp USA yesterday and stopped to look at what they had on the shelf. Figured it was a holiday and all, they'd have more selection than normal.

They had 3 PCI cards. ATI's Radeon 9250 w/ 256 megs of RAM for 70 - 80 bucks (but thats only a DX 8.1 card), a Geforce FX 5200 w/ 128 megs of RAM for 50 bucks (DX 9.0 card but not much performance), and a Geforce FX 5500 w/ 256 megs of RAM for 100 bucks. The FX 5500 is the best bet, but as I said before its not really much of a card compared to the new ones, and it costs 100 bucks. But it would work, and maybe help you put off that upgrade for a bit.

My previous advice still stands as your best bet, but if you just want something to get you going NOW .............

They wont make any newer PCI cards. Thats as good as its gonna get.

Cronus · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2006, 08:08:47 AM »

I want to get something that will play BF2, and that's the GeForce MX 5500. But I don't want to be wasting my money each time a new game comes out I have to spend another 100$ buying another video card...so its kind of a lose-lose situation, lol.

Thanks for the info btw.

38ruk · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2006, 10:42:28 AM »

Gecube is going to release an x1300 is pci form , dont know about performance . Nvidia released a 6200 pci card ,saw one on newegg, but who know about performance it could be slower than the existing pci cards

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2006, 11:41:28 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by 38ruk
Gecube is going to release an x1300 is pci form , dont know about performance . Nvidia released a 6200 pci card ,saw one on newegg, but who know about performance it could be slower than the existing pci cards

You want to stay far far away from that 6200. The only one they ever made in PCI form is the TC version (TurboCache), it relys on the system memory like an onboard video chip and it hogs CPU cycles just as bad if not worse. At least most of the onboard chips these days have a AGP pipeline to the processor, even if they dont have a AGP slot. The 6200TC still uses the CPU and system memory, and in this form does it through a standard PCI pipeline. The ONLY benefit you gain from a 6200TC card is the modern processor. Not worth the performance hit from the hardware sharing. Not unless you have a top end computer with lots of RAM, and even then I cant see it unless you got the card free.

If ATI makes a new one that would be a cool thing, maybe it would shame Nvidia into releasing something besides the TurboCrap card for those limited to PCI upgrades. Right now though the FX 5500 with 256 megs of RAM remains the best card you can get for the PCI slot.