Confused about AGP, PCI, & Radeon graphics cards

D

dustman

New Member
Hello all,

I would appreciate some input on graphics cards basics. I have a pair of Dell Dimension 3000's, both upgraded to 250 GB hard drives, 2 gigs of ram, both hyperthreading with an Intel P4. 3.0GHz processor.

I recently got interested in the Microsoft Flight Simulator X program, and bought it, along with a yoke system, pedals, etc. I had pretty much reached my $$$ llimit, when the salesman told me I was wasting my money unless I bought an expensive graphics card. (My computers have the old Intel Extreme Graphics 2 cards in them.)

I decided to wait until I could do some research. I told a friend about it, and he had an ATI Radeon XT9600 (greek to me) graphics card with cords hanging out the back for 2 monitors and a bunch of plugs for audio, etc. He got it out of a computer he had been given, and it tested out fine, but he's not a gamer (neither am I, really).

He just gave me the card, but I went to install it, my computer had the wrong kind of slot. It needs a longer one to fit. My computer has 3 white slots, the owner's manual says they are PCI, but info on the net indicates I have AGP if I have the short white slots, and the longer card is a PCI. I also read that PCI graphics cards are not good, get AGP.

I am not gaming with anyone, don't intend to, but want good graphics for my flight training programs. Do I even NEED a $200-300 grahics card for my purposes?

I am totally confused now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dustman
 
AGP is usually brown, but the tell-tale indicator it is AGP and not PCI is the raised bumps inside the slots. If you look closely, on PCI slots they are much closer to the rear panel (with all the USB connections) than they are on AGP slots where they are much closer to the front of the computer.

You may have a video card (though not very good) installed in there already.
 
Yeah, my AGP slot is brown as well. I don't think your manual would lie to you so you probably have all pci slots. :) If that's the case then i'd upgrade the computer if I was you, if funds were available.

AGP is better than PCi, and PCI-express is better than both of them.
 
The White slots are PCI and the brown slot is AGP.
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Thanks to Stranglehold, Johnathan 54, and rubber314chicken! That really cleared things up for me!

Since it looks like a new computer is in the cards, maybe you could guide me a bit there. I really llike Dells, and had been thinking about the XPS 420, but they have come out with several newer (more better? LOL) computers since.

I want one with plenty of hard drive and ram, but now need to incorporate some gaming features for my Flight Simulator stuff.

Any suggestions on a specific graphics card and computer model? I don't want a laptop. I have one of the new Dell Latitudes with Vista Pro at work, and I absolutely hate it. Why couldn't they have waited until the Windows 7 came out? : (

Thanks agaiin, guys!

Dustman
 
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