How to tell what port I have?

ezefosure

New Member
I have an IBM stock computer. How do i tell what speed AGP port i have on the board and whether I have a PCI-Express port or not (probably dont). Sorry if the question seems pretty noob.

I want to buy a directx9 card with both dvi and vga that would be bale to run vista aero for under 35. I plan on upgrading to directx10 eventually, but not until the summer. So i need something to hold me off and an upgrade from on board memory. However, I dont know what port I have so idk what card to buy. :(
 
The easiest way to check is to simply look inside the machine.

agp_pcie_2.jpg


Here's a good comparison of the different slots. From the left to right, the longer white slots are old/original PCI, brown is AGP, and orange is PCI-Express x16.

Just a side note, AGP Express is just the name ECS gave for the AGP slot on this motherboard, being a combo PCI-Express/AGP board. The slot is still physically the same as any other AGP slot...
 
I have an IBM computer so I have an IBM stock motherboard. I dont exactly know how to get the model number for that, CPUz just says "IBM."

And isnt there different AGP slot speeds?
 
CPUz will tell you, but don't rely on it for everything. Reason being, if you're using onboard now, you may not have an expansion slot(well, beyond PCI) However, it will still display as AGP or PCI-Express
 
On cpuz, under graphic interface, it is all blank and greyed out.
I guess i'll just wait a while. I plan on upgrading my whole comp. maybe i'll just go dx10 and get a new mobo at the same time and forget a cheap alternative to hold me off til then. I guess good things come to those who wait? Idk
 
Ok. PC wizard says I have an agp connector, which i saw in my comp when i opened it. Still, idk what speed it is. But you said that the speeds are interchangable, so i'll just buy the card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127181R

That has 128 memory (vista's aero?), runs DX 9, supports a resolution higher than 1920*1200 (which is the resolution on a 24 inch i have in mind) and is even under $25. Then I should have no problem ditching that for a dx10 gpu this summer I guess.
You think there's a better one around that price range?
 
It's low end but its better than on board graphics, isn't it? I want to split my display to my tv and my monitor. And i wanna be able to run 1920*1200 on my computer. I'm not completely sure but i dont think my on board could support that high of a resolution, even with updated drivers, and it definetly can't split the display.
 
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