Anyone know of software used to test whether the mobo has a PCI or AGP slot?

[CarlKillerMiller]

One of my good friends is getting a new graphics card (an AGP Radeon 9600 pro, as it were), but I don't know how to find out if he has a PCI slot or an AGP slot. I don't want him opening the box and finding that he has a paperweight. Is there any software that'll let me do this?

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Chraticn
One of my good friends is getting a new graphics card (an AGP Radeon 9600 pro, as it were), but I don't know how to find out if he has a PCI slot or an AGP slot. I don't want him opening the box and finding that he has a paperweight. Is there any software that'll let me do this?

go into your bios and see whether your computer is set to look for a PCI or AGP video card first. If you don't have an option like this, you probably do not have an AGP slot. If your computer is not running a top-of-the-line CPU, you probably don't have PCI-e either.

Alternatively, you could download a utility to check motherboard model and look it up on the manufacturer's website.

 

[sswingle]

Device Mananger under System Devices should list AGP if the system has one.
There is also a program called Sisoft Sandra that you could download and it will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about your hardware.

I don't understand your "not wanting him to open the box and finding that he has a paperweight" statement. He is going to find out one way or another, may as well do it the easy way by opening it up and looking.

 

[inveterate]

WTF does paper weight mean, is it symbolism for something??

 

[Fenixgoon]

cant you just open up the computer and look? lol

and correct me if im wrong, but 9600 pro's are AGP only if im not mistaken

 

[notfred]

It's not like you can install the thing without opening the case anyway.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: inveterate
WTF does paper weight mean, is it symbolism for something??

I believe he means a computer that you can't put a decent video card into, so therefore the guy would have to get a new PC (or motherboard upgrade) if he's wanting to play decent games.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
cant you just open up the computer and look? lol

Originally posted by: notfred
It's not like you can install the thing without opening the case anyway.

Open the case.

- M4H

 

[MedicBob]

Open the case. He doesn't have to touch anything, just have him describe the slots to you. Have him unplug it 1st.

 

[EpsiIon]

Well I would recommend looking under Display Adapters in the Device Manager, but I have a GeForce 6800 GT AGP card and it reports the location as "PCI bus 1".

 

[Bateluer]

Open the case . . . .

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Open the case . . . .

 

[JW310]

http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=1&lang=en&pageid=1 will probably be able to tell you.

JW

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: JW310
http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=1<=en&pageid=1 will probably be able to tell you.

JW

Check under Display -> GPU.
One of the things it reports is "Bus Type"
That'll at least report what the current videocard is.
Also, check Display -> Windows Video. The Chip Type might also display useful information.

And lastly, and probably most usefull....ly, is the Motherboard -> Motherboard section. That should have something that indicates the number of expansion slots.

And while you've got Everest open, check Storage -> SMART and have a look at the health of the hard drives.