Performance differences between AGP v. PCI-E

[Old School]

I was all set to order the components for my socket 754 rig:

A64 3400+ (Newcastle - socket 754)
DFI UT nF350 mobo
2x512 OCZ Platinum Rev. 2
BFG 6800GTOC

And then I started reading a bit more and thought that maybe I should get an nF4 mobo and go with a PCI-E graphics card.

Upgradability potential aside, will there be real performance differences between a nF3 mobo/AGP setup and a nF4 mobo/PCI-E setup?

If not, I don't see why I should wait for nF4 boards to hit the scene. Again, I'm not concerned about upgrade paths and I don't care for SLI. I typically do a full build and hold onto my stuff until about 3 years or so and just do another full upgrade.

So again, my main question is whether or not there is major performanc differences between and nF3 mobo with AGP graphics card v. nF4 with a PCI-E.

thanks.

 

[Kovie]

In terms of speed, the difference is essentially zero. Apart from upgradability the main reasons for getting a Nforce4 is its extras like NCQ and hardware firewall.

Your system is quite good, and you likely wont notice any difference at all between what you have and a Nforce4 system. No reason to upgrade unless you are like me and start having fits if you havent upgraded something in six months.

 

[Old School]

Thanks, Kovie.

Anyone else? Bueller......Bueller.....Bueller....

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

The big problem with AGP is obsolescence. If you want to upgrade your video card 18 months from now, there will likely be no worthy AGP cards on the market. You would have to get a new mobo in that case, and of course a new CPU to fit a different socket.

 

[Old School]

I guess I'd have to decide whether or not a 6800GT OC is going to cut it in 18 months. I sure as hell hope so. That's alot of coin to drop on a vid card to have it not be up to the task in such a short period.

 

[Ioo]

I bought my 9700pro 2 years ago this month, and am still running it just fine. I dont really see even thinking about upgrading it until next summer when I jump into a new CPU and Mobo. I would be surprised if the 6800GT would be significantly obsolete in 12-18 months. Will there be much faster cards? Most certainly. Will it be unable to play the newest games at the time? Unlikely.

 

[jbh129]

GPUs should be upgraded at least once every 12 months. They do not age like wine.