Agp not dead! (please help!!!)

gilly88 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 02:53 AM

hey everyone i was about to upgrade my pc with a new GPU at the moment i have
pentium 4 3.2 ghz
2gb ddr ram
500w psu
nvidia fx5500
and my two choices are x1950 and hd 3850 im just wondering which one i dont really mind spending a bit more but just wondering if 3850 is wise with my system and also before anyone else says that agp is dead and i should get a new pc please dont.

DesR85 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:48 AM

I'd go for the Radeon HD 3850 if I were you. There is an AGP version of this card so, no need to change your motherboard.

Siberys · #3 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:52 AM

AGP isn't dead, but newer cards using AGP usually cost twice as much as a PCI version of the same card.

Also, you more than likely have a PCI slot (not PCI express, just a PCI) if your motherboard can handle a 3.2GhZ processor. Sometime you should open up your PC, look at where your video card is, and see if there's another different colored and shaped slot parallel to it. If you do, there's a high chance that's a PCI slot, especially if it's a smaller slot.

DesR85 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siberys

AGP isn't dead, but newer cards using AGP usually cost twice as much as a PCI version of the same card.

Are you sure graphics card manufacturers still make PCI versions of their current cards? I thought they discontinued them after the Geforce FX and ATI 9 series.

gilly88 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 12:01 AM

yeah thats all great but anymore opinions on which agp card to get just cause im wondering if the hd3850 with my processor and ram will just bottleneck and be worthless

Siberys · #6 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesR85

Are you sure graphics card manufacturers still make PCI versions of their current cards? I thought they discontinued them after the Geforce FX and ATI 9 series.

AGP came before PCI, PCI is an improvement on many various aspects to graphics card. There are many cards not compatible with this slot, but those that are, are incredibly efficient and cheap for what they can do.

The FX series was mostly AGP if I remember right, PCI came around GeForce 6200 (Or at least it started to become a defacto).

Quote:

yeah thats all great but anymore opinions on which agp card to get just cause im wondering if the hd3850 with my processor and ram will just bottleneck and be worthless

High-definition cards are a memory sucker, go with the ATI Radeon X1950, much better choice. You'll probably end up getting the same amount of power, speed, and capability to run a game, the bloom effect in many games just won't be as pretty.

gilly88 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 04:08 AM

yeah i will probably go with x1950 but would the hd3850 be better for the future? also remeber i dont mind spending a bit extra

Siberys · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilly88

yeah i will probably go with x1950 but would the hd3850 be better for the future? also remeber i dont mind spending a bit extra

No, it wouldn't. Both are about the same card, the HD3850 is a high definition card however. I already know you said you don't mind paying extra, but this is a LAG issue, not a money issue. HD cards are memory hogs, and they're worse than vista at doing that.

gilly88 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 01:53 AM

so would the hd3850 go badly on my machine? im probs gonna but the hd3850 just so its better for the future but im just wondering would it perform badly?