PCI Express: What do you think?

[Rl'Halsinor]

I am researching for a new computer because the wife and kids are demanding more and more time on our one and only PC. We really do need two. At this point most video cards are still dominated by the AGP architecture but it doesn't look like cards will go beyond the 8x. Eventually the 64 bit application OS plus PCI express will be the standard. I will have a new computer within 6 months. Suggestions? Advice? Thanks.

 

[Truth Seeker]

I am researching for a new computer because the wife and kids are demanding more and more time on our one and only PC. We really do need two. At this point most video cards are still dominated by the AGP architecture but it doesn't look like cards will go beyond the 8x. Eventually the 64 bit application OS plus PCI express will be the standard. I will have a new computer within 6 months. Suggestions? Advice? Thanks.

Greetings...this inquiry should be directed to the Software, Computer Tech forum, within EnWorld.

*beep, end of message*

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

Ah, nuts, I forgot about that forum. Do what you must moderators.

 

[drothgery]

(I imagine this will get moved to the correct forum, but...)

I am researching for a new computer because the wife and kids are demanding more and more time on our one and only PC. We really do need two. At this point most video cards are still dominated by the AGP architecture but it doesn't look like cards will go beyond the 8x. Eventually the 64 bit application OS plus PCI express will be the standard. I will have a new computer within 6 months. Suggestions? Advice? Thanks.

Well, what's this computer going to be used for? Unless it's going to be used for a lot of serious 3-D games (or anything that requires the latest and greatest video cards), then I wouldn't worry about AGP vs. PCI Express in deciding what computer to buy (though make sure you're not stuck with integrated video only by not having either). At the extreme high end, nVidia's 7800 series is PCI-express only, but at the price, it's not worth worrying about. In the midrange, ATi's X700 series is PCI-express only, but nVidia's 6600 series is available on both AGP and PCI Express and generally won the reviews this round.

 

[Henry]

To quote Dale Gribble, "Tsh-tsh-SHA!!!"

Moved.

 

[Psionicist]

drothgery has good points as usual.

I wouldn't worry too much about interfaces. Serial ATA is older than PCI Express and IDE is still the most common interface for harddrives. It will probably take a while before AGP is replaced completely. And the performance difference between an AGP and PCI express video card is really small. A $100 PCI express card is probably worse than the AGP counterpart because of supply/demand.

So, if you are going to buy a $500 video card you don't want to throw it away in a couple of years PCI Express is probably a good bet. Otherwise vote with your wallet.

 

[trancejeremy]

6 months is a long time in the computer world. By then PCI express could be cheaper.

Still, from what I've seen, the difference in benchmarks between a PCI express version of a card and the AGP 8x version of the card isn't huge, and in some cases, non-existant.

PCI Express
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20050524/index.html

AGP
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20050705/index.html

Though of course, the really fast cards these days are PCI express only. And that will no doubt be even more so in the future.

 

[Truth Seeker]

To quote Dale Gribble, "Tsh-tsh-SHA!!!"

Moved.

DOH!!!! Henry!!! Software, and Tech, Not Movies and Anime...

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

DOH!!!! Henry!!! Software, and Tech, Not Movies and Anime...

No wonder I couldn't find it!

 

[The_lurkeR]

AGP is on the way out, newer cards will only be released in PCI-E. If you're purchasing a new computer, you should get PCI-Express.

And why is this still in Books/Movies/TV?