PCI Express vs AGP 8x

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mikey_rules

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 22, 2003
Messages
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Hi there. I was wondering what the hubbub is about concerning PCI-Express. Is it really that much better than AGP8x? Is it worth it to trash my ATI 9700 Pro AGP8x and mobo just to get a another card that runs off of PCI-Express and a new mobo that supports PCI-Express? Thanks
 
PCI-Express offers little to no performance benefit over AGP8x. The thing is that all new cards are going to be PCI-Express, as AGP is being phased out.
 
No games today make better use of PCI-E versus AGP. The bandwidth requirements just aren't there.

The reasons most people go to PCI-E (other than just being the first kid on the block) is to get a feature or set of features that they can only find on a PCI-E mobo. For example, you may only find a certain video card comes in a dual-DVI configuration in the PCI-E edition. That's probably not the best example, but you get the point at least.

Another reason some folks are specifically going PCI-E is SLI. The ability to run two video cards together to render a single screen is very compelling and powerful. SLI requires very specific hardware in both the video card and motherboard (usually) to work.

Depending upon the relative speed of the rest of your system, you certainly may benefit from simply dropping in another AGP card in the X800 or 6800 neighborhood. I wouldn't replace the 9700Pro with a mid-level card though. Adding a X800 or 6800 series AGP card will cost a lot less than a redo of your whole system. However, you also will likely move some of your bottleneck to your CPU in doing so. I'd say if you were P4/2.8Ghz (or AMD eqivilent) or better, then just add a new card. If you are P4/2.0 Ghz or slower then definitely DON'T add a card and go for a whole new system instead. Anything in the middle is a toss-up.
 
The guy above me got it just right. Hes 100% correct, dont look to PCI-E for performance instead of future compatibility. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Thanks guys. I was just wondering. Haha. A computer tech guy told me that PCI-E is the way to go...especially for performance. He was going on about how even the 64MB PCI-E cards were out-performing some of the higher end AGP 8x cards. Almost didn't seem possible.

All in all though, I shouldn't buy a PCI-E for performance, but for future proof. Awesome to know. Thanks a ton again guys.
 
mikey_rules said:
Thanks guys. I was just wondering. Haha. A computer tech guy told me that PCI-E is the way to go...especially for performance. He was going on about how even the 64MB PCI-E cards were out-performing some of the higher end AGP 8x cards. Almost didn't seem possible.

All in all though, I shouldn't buy a PCI-E for performance, but for future proof. Awesome to know. Thanks a ton again guys.
Click to expand...

Obviously the computer tech doesn't know what he's talking about. I've owned both a 6800GT in PCI-Express and in AGP. They are the same. SLi and because PCI-E x16 will be around for awhile are the reasons to go PCI-E.

For example if your building a new system it doesn't make alot of sense to go with AGP. But if you've got a high end AGP system, PCI-E isn't worth the money just yet. If you've got the cash for SLi and want the absolute best performance out there, then it is if you can part with the money.

Aside from new systems being built and SLi rigs it's not worth it just yet. As was stated before.
 
It's mainly for HDTV rendering where AGP is saturated, also PCI-E has much higher bandwidth than PCI, for example gigabit ethernet now can be fully ultilized.
 
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