Help Select PCI Video Card for older Motherboard

markcpp

Member
Feb 27, 2003
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I think my AGP port may be dead on my Asus P4PE motherboard. Can someone help me select a PCI video card. What do I need to check to make sure the card I select is compatible? I'm worried since my motherboard is 4-5 years old now.

I need a card with a DVI port. I don't do much gaming these days, but my most demanding game is SimCity 4.

FYI, someone at work is bringing one of their AGP cards for me to test to confirm it is the port and not my current card. I'm not convinced it is the port yet. When the computer is turned on, I get the beeps that correspond to the video card being found.

Thanks for any help, and let me know if I need to provide any more specs. I just want to make sure I get the right PCI card...I see there are different options. (PCI, PCI Express 2.0, PCI Express x1, x16, etc...)

Thanks,
Mark
 

brblx

Diamond Member
Mar 23, 2009
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if you have an AGP slot, you only have regular ol' PCI, not PCIe. the latter is a newer standard that essentially replaced AGP a few years ago.

AGP cards are now rare and PCI cards are, well, poo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...%201069609642&name=PCI

they do make 3d capable cards with DVI ports, that should work for you. but don't expect to play much besides sim city.
 

markcpp

Member
Feb 27, 2003
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Thanks for the quick reply. I know it's time for me to upgrade, but I can't justify it just yet.....so for now I'll probably replace the video card.

Thanks again!

Mark
 

markcpp

Member
Feb 27, 2003
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Thanks! A friend from work brought me an AGP card to test. It works, so my AGP port is not the culprit. It was my video card. Now I get to find a new AGP card instead of PCI.

Thanks again for the help!

Mark
 

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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Originally posted by: markcpp
Thanks! A friend from work brought me an AGP card to test. It works, so my AGP port is not the culprit. It was my video card. Now I get to find a new AGP card instead of PCI.

Thanks again for the help!

Mark

ATI 3850 is as good as it gets for AGP.
 

brblx

Diamond Member
Mar 23, 2009
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you pay a premium for those, though.

if you just want to get it working, an x1650pro will do and is a good bit cheaper. it's got much better performance than a 5200 or 6200 from nvidia at only a slightly higher cost. unfortunately, you'd pay about the same (~$50) for a 3850 if you had a pcie slot.