AGP Question

[Smoolean]

I've read that it isn't very wise to buy a computer if it doesn't include an AGP port (is saying port necessary?). It seems that I can't find a computer in my pricerange that isn't integrated graphics. So atleast, I'd like to chose a computer that will let me grow with it, and eventually purchase a graphics card.

However, I've checked out Dell, Compaq, HP, Gateway, Sony, etc... None of them seem to say if they include an AGP port or not. Is this because it is just common place and they don't feel it is necessary to list it, or could I be looking at too cheap of computers? I've been looking at ones around the $1,000 level.

This package especially attracts me...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...pe=product&cmp=++&id=pcmprd35400050015

I see no mention of AGP though . Am I missing something?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
Smoolean.

 

[allanon1965]

that one is pci express.....you dont need an agp slot anymore...i built a amd64 friday and it is pci express, i wouldnt go back to agp for love nor money buy it! looks good to me!

 

[DaveSimmons]

PCI-E (not the old plain "PCI"!!!) is just as good if not better.

The link you point to is for a computer that does have PCI-E:
Total Expansion Slots 2 PCI, 1 PCI-E x16, 1 PCI-E x1

The processor speed on that system is OK, but if you plan to do much gaming when you add a graphics card you'd be better off with 1 GB of RAM instead of 512 MB.

To add a good graphics card will cost $150-200 (for one using an nvidia 6600GT graphics processor). Just be sure when buying a graphics card that it says "PCI-Express" or "PCI-E" instead of AGP.

Note: if you plan to do any gaming at all you may have problems with the integrated graphics, some games won't run and most will run very badly.

 

[xsilver]

AGP is already outdated -- PCI-E is the next generation
your above system has PCI-E
however for $1000 I think you can do better......
you cant build your own? must be store bought? --- are you willing to buy online?

 

[Smoolean]

Thank you very much for the help everyone. So when looking to buy a graphics card just look for "PCI-Express", are there any other numbers/specs I would have to check for? Is the computer that I linked to good enough to support just about any card? Sorry if it's a stupid question, but I know very little about how the actual hardware of computers work.

xsilver, I can't build my own, as I don't know nearly enough about computers. I am however, willing to buy online if the company looks trustworthy.

Again, thanks for the help.

--EDIT--
Dave, when you said... "The processor speed on that system is OK, but if you plan to do much gaming when you add a graphics card you'd be better off with 1 GB of RAM instead of 512 MB."

The processor speed was OK, I thought that 3 GHz was pretty close to the max, what other numbers/specs should I take into consideration? I'm not really a hardcore gamer, but would like to get the most for my money. What processor would you recommend, keeping in mind I really don't want to spend more then $1,000.

 

[xsilver]

if you're gaming then your problem isnt the processor or the ram -- the intergrated video card will die on most new games , doom 3, HL2 these will pretty much be unplayable..... you would need to add at least a x600pro / 6600gt to be able to play these games --- more ram and processor wont hurt but they wont mean jack if you're running intergrated video

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: Smoolean

--EDIT--
Dave, when you said... "The processor speed on that system is OK, but if you plan to do much gaming when you add a graphics card you'd be better off with 1 GB of RAM instead of 512 MB."

The processor speed was OK, I thought that 3 GHz was pretty close to the max, what other numbers/specs should I take into consideration? I'm not really a hardcore gamer, but would like to get the most for my money. What processor would you recommend, keeping in mind I really don't want to spend more then $1,000.

If you want the most for your money, you can try and build your own. It's fairly simple. You may have a few aggravating moments, but you'll be happy with the end result. 3.0 GHz is fine. If you are unaware of the AMD 64 power house CPUs, I extremely advise you to check out some of the articles here on anandtech.com about how they perform compared to the Intel's.

 

[imported_rod]

What xsilver said was right. The cpu is fine for gaming, although games like HL2 and Doom3 wont work very well. But if you don't play new FPS games you should be alright. More ram (1GB) would be good, but for gaming the graphics card is more important than the ram.

RoD

 

[DaveSimmons]

You can get a system with A64 3000+ and 6600 graphics plus 17" LCD for $999:
link
from www.cyberpowersystem.com.

I would probably get a 17" CRT instead (-105) so I could upgrade to the 6600 GT graphics card (+51).

I would also upgrade to 1 GB of RAM (+70) and if you really can't afford going $20 over then change the hard drive from 160 GB to 80 GB (-25).

If you want the DVD burner, I'd switch to the NEC 3520A 16X DVD+-RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (+6).

I've never bought from CyberPower but they've been advertising in Computer Gaming World for a couple of years now.

 

[Smoolean]

Dave, that link looks very promising. Are there any disadvantages to a "gaming" computer?

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Smoolean
Dave, that link looks very promising. Are there any disadvantages to a "gaming" computer?

There are disadvantages to every computer. You won't know about any of them if you aren't using the functions that they are weak in. What do you plan on doing with your computer.

 

[Smoolean]

I'm going to be using my computer mainly for web development and graphic design. So my main concern is for it be as responsive as possible in Photoshop. I also plan on doing some digital video editing. Those two things I just mentioned are much more important to me than gaming.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Smoolean
I'm going to be using my computer mainly for web development and graphic design. So my main concern is for it be as responsive as possible in Photoshop. I also plan on doing some digital video editing. Those two things I just mentioned are much more important to me than gaming.

From what i've seen A64 works very well for photoshop, and also happens to be the best gaming CPU. For digital video editing an intel cpu might outperform an AMD cpu. In general, I think you can get much more processing power for ~1000 out of an AMD system, even for nongaming purposes.

 

[fuzzynavel]

If you are looking for responsiveness in photoshop and video editing then you need a fair bit of RAM....512 MB possibly will not be enough....look towards 1GB..

Originally posted by: Smoolean
Dave, that link looks very promising. Are there any disadvantages to a "gaming" computer?

There is nothing apart from some professional uses that will push your computer as hard as gaming....