To PCI-E or not to PCI-E?

[imported_Rad]

Well, im thinking of upgrading my video card, however, should i wait for money to buy a PCI-E setup or will i not see to much of a performance diff between PCI-E and AGP?

 

[MDE]

There's no performance difference between the two. Basically it comes down to how upgradeable you want your system to be. Even then you're not guaranteed of anything being compatible with new CPUs\RAM\motherboards.

 

[Unkno]

If you have the money, get PCI-EX, it would be more "futureproof"

btw, you would need a PCI-EX motherboard if your buying a PCI-EX video card

 

[dedejean]

"future proof" how future proof? is it a fact that manufacturers will be supporting PCI-E in the future? but AGP market share is around 9x%???

 

[bjc112]

If buying a new card only, stay with AGP, if doing a WHOLE new system, get PCI-E.

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: bjc112
If buying a new card only, stay with AGP, if doing a WHOLE new system, get PCI-E.

:thumbsup:
Looks like you have an Athlon XP @ 2.6GHz and a 6800NU. There are some good deals on AGP 6800GTs right now. Although you might want to consider upgrading to an A64 some time in the future and just going PCIe then. There isn't a real performance difference between AGP and PCIe, but more importantly would be a difference in upgrading from an AXP to an A64.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: dedejean
"future proof" how future proof? is it a fact that manufacturers will be supporting PCI-E in the future? but AGP market share is around 9x%???

Yes, it is a fact that manufacturers will be supporting PCIe in the future, even though AGP currently has the greater market share. Future graphics chips will all be native PCIe, but will be made backwards compatible with a bridge chip. As time goes by you can expect two things to happen:

1) AGP cards will become more expensive than their PCIe counterparts. This is already the case for the X800XL at many retailers.

2) The top-of-the-line cards won't be avaialble in AGP. Since everyone who buys high end cards will have swtiched to PCIe, there will be no point.

Obviously, these still don't mean that you need to switch to PCIe right away. It really depends on your needs and budget. However, denying or second guessing whether or not PCIe is the future isn't really realistic.

edit: Platinum Post, woohoo!

 

[Continuity27]

There is no performance difference between AGP and PCI-E at this point in time, PCI-E can handle up to twice the maximum, but video cards barely breach 4x AGP speed, let alone need 8x or 16x (PCI-E).

PCI-E cards are usually cheaper than AGP cards.

Some companies clock the PCI-E cards higher as a way to make you buy them.

Neither is completely "future-proof" as by the time AGP is finally put to rest we may be using PCI-E Revision 2. Some companies may not create an AGP version though, PCI-E would generally be safer today.

PCI-E is leaps and bounds better than PCI for other add-in cards, but not many companies make them yet.

If you're going to buy a new motherboard anyways, the difference between an AGP and PCI-E motherboard costs less than the difference in price between AGP and PCI-E cards themselves, meaning you'll actually save money in most cases.

But it doesn't matter, go with what you want.

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: Continuity27
There is no performance difference between AGP and PCI-E at this point in time, PCI-E can handle up to twice the maximum, but video cards barely breach 4x AGP speed, let alone need 8x or 16x (PCI-E).

If the above is correct, a video card with ~2x the throughput of say a x850xt (or 6800 ultra) will finally saturate the 8x AGP bus?

Which may mean the top-end varient of the R520 or 7800 may very well saturate the 8x AGP bus?

If the above is accurate...I think I'll be going with PCI-E and NOT AGP for my new build.

 

[Unkno]

If your building or upgrading a new computer, it is much better to get PCI-E

If your using your existing MOBO, just stay with agp

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Unkno
If you have the money, get PCI-EX, it would be more "futureproof"

btw, you would need a PCI-EX motherboard if your buying a PCI-EX video card

It's PCI-E

 

[fxgamer]

you're gonna have to go pci-e sooner or later, so regardless of whether you do it now or not, just know, you WILL have to do it down the line. AGP is going the way of pci.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Pollock

Originally posted by: bjc112
If buying a new card only, stay with AGP, if doing a WHOLE new system, get PCI-E.

:thumbsup:
Looks like you have an Athlon XP @ 2.6GHz and a 6800NU. There are some good deals on AGP 6800GTs right now. Although you might want to consider upgrading to an A64 some time in the future and just going PCIe then. There isn't a real performance difference between AGP and PCIe, but more importantly would be a difference in upgrading from an AXP to an A64.

He has a S754 A64 3000+ @ 2.4GHz and a 6800NU.

 

[Stokes]

I decided to go for the AGP route on my new build since I don't plan on building or really upgrading the computer for 2-3 years. I found the 6800GT for $275 AR, and thats cheaper then most x800xl cards that are PCI-E and a ton cheaper then AGP x800xl cards.

If you don't plan on upgrading the video card in the next year or so. I would just plan on going AGP and wait in 2 years to build a new system or just get a new motherboard. In 2 years you probably will want a new motherboard anyways.

 

[Nebben]

Originally posted by: Dacalo

Originally posted by: Unkno
If you have the money, get PCI-EX, it would be more "futureproof"

btw, you would need a PCI-EX motherboard if your buying a PCI-EX video card

It's PCI-E

Actually, it's PCIe.