Expansion slot vs. Video card slot

[rokerij]

Is there a difference between the expansion slots in the back of the computer and a slot for a video card. We did not think that there was a difference, but the video card that we have clearly will not fit into the expansion slot. We didn't know if there are different types of video cards that will fit into the expansion slots. Pretty much anything that you can let us know about these two would be very helpful. We're always looking for more information. Thanks.

S.C. Albertin
Database Administrator/Newbie Tech
United Way

Help me to find my way, so that I may help others find theirs...

 

[NotDoneSam]

If you are referring to the AGP slot as the video slot there is a big difference. The AGP slot was created to optimize the video traffic and enhance performance with it's own "mini bus". This allows faster throughput to the processor without compromizing performance. Let me know if that is the answer you were looking for. Thanks.

Scott

 

[edfair]

ISA 8bit earliest with first PCs
ISA 16 bit later PCs and into the ATs
VLB 16bit ISA plus an additional socket to front 486s
PCI starting with pentiums
AGP
and a revised AGP that I don't know how to characterize.

I've only seen white PCI sockets and brown AGP sockets
PCI and AGP are single blocks the later AGP basically backwards from the earlier.
PCI sockets are maybe 1" from the mounting bracket, the AGP maybe 2". This is from memory.

From curiousity only, which UW?

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[cdogg]

The two types of slots you are probably referring to are PCI vs. AGP. If you can give us the make/model of the motherboard, or at least give a ballpark figure of the age of the system, we might be able to help out further. It also wouldn't hurt to know what video card you are talking about.


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[rokerij]

We are unsure what the make/model of the motherboard is because we just had the machine donated to us without any of the manuals. We do know that we have a 400MHz Celeron processor and we are running Windows 98. I'm assuming that it's probably about that old. I was always under the assumption that video cards would fit into the PCI slots, but I have now realized that they don't. There are no AGP slots on this motherboard, so my question is: Is there a video card that uses PCI slots instead of the AGP slots? Thanks for the help, everyone.

P.S. UW of Schenectady, NY, edfair.

S.C. Albertin
Database Administrator/Newbie Tech
United Way

Help me to find my way, so that I may help others find theirs...

 

[edfair]

He has another thread going. Probably a 2 PCI only M/B.
I describe them as "ouch" boards.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[cdogg]

Yes, there are older video cards based on the PCI interface. The latest available that I'm aware of is the GeForce4 MX by Nvidia. The current PCI interface doesn't have the throughput to handle newer cards like the Nvidia FX 5600 or the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro.

But for an older system, a PCI GeForce2 or GeForce4 MX will do just fine.


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[edfair]

But your problem probably isn't video. And if it is, based on the fuzzy video statement, the cheapest PCI VGA card you can get will handle anything you do.

I supported Atlanta for years. The users didn't care about going over 640x480 and 16.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[paparazi]

Second hand 2/4 and if your lucky 8mb PCI graphics cards are very common at computer fairs ETC, they can be picked up for $5-$10, I've got 5-6 under my bed ATM (taken out of old machines, shame you don't live closer, you could have had one with pleasure.
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[CobolKid]

Edfair;

Actually two "revisions" to AGP that I know of,
first rev was to AGP 4x (version 2.0)
now it's AGP 8x

Now there's 2 PCI slots. There's a 64 bit PCI slot about 1.5 inches longer than the original. Both are white.
Some cards, like Adaptec's scsi160 & scsi320 can use the new PCI, both still plug into the old PCI slot too. Wierd to see the "extra" contacts hanging in the open beyond the socket!

 

[edfair]

I try to stay away from the bleeding edge stuff because it generally is my blood.
Haven't paid any attention to the AGP revisions other that the socket differences and haven't run across any revised PCI, but since I'm always getting surprised I suppose I'll see it before long.
Thanks for calling them to my attention.


Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.