video card

[taurus.33]

I am confused on the new pci express video card??? I have a new computer running 2.2 gig processor with 2 gig ram but I am useing a 256 mb pci video card .. frame rates are slow 4 to 8 most of the time .. Would I do better with a pci express 256 mb card ?

[wilki]

Hi, Which video card are you using in your machine at present ?

[macca22au]

2.2gig is fairly slow compared to the fastest cpus on the market at the moment.  FSX is well and truly CPU bound, so the faster you can get, and a card with at least 512memory would improve performance. Also how much RAM have you?  NickN and others stress the importance of good quality RAM as fast as you can afford.  However work your way through the FSX and SLI thread in this forum it is full of great suggestions as to how even a relatively slow system can be made to run smoothly. NickN and others are really willing to help so don't hesitate to ask. And there is the SP1 that is imminent, and should also help.

[taurus.33]

I am useing a Radeon  9250  256mb with the latest drivers in a pci slot not pci express... My question would a 256 mb pci express card be better

[mroseland]

Yes, PCIX would be better.  And I'd say that it's definitely time for a video card upgrade anyway so go for it.

[Fozzer]

I am useing a Radeon  9250  256mb with the latest drivers in a pci slot not pci express... My question would a 256 mb pci express card be better

Your Graphics card is an AGP Card, fitted in the AGP slot on your Motherboard.
Not a PCI Card in a PCI slot...!

I would have thought that it will perform very similar/the same as it's equivalent PCIe version......!

Paul....with an AGP Slot... 8-)...!

P.S. Your present set-up will run FS9 like a dream... ...!

Yes, PCIX would be better.  And I'd say that it's definitely time for a video card upgrade anyway so go for it.

Note that if you go this route you will also need a new Motherboard, fitted with PCIe slots...!
...More expense!!

[dcunning30]

Does your motherboard have a pci express slot?  You can't use a pcie card unless you have that slot.

[taurus.33]

My computer is a Gateway GT5228 an it DOES NOT HAVE a AGP slot it has pci slots an a pci express  .. that is why I asked the question as pci express card at 256 mb is a lot more expensive than the pci card I am useing ... Again I have no AGP slot on this computer>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Fozzer]

My computer is a Gateway GT5228 an it DOES NOT HAVE a AGP slot it has pci slots an a pci express  .. that is why I asked the question as pci express card at 256 mb is a lot more expensive than the pci card I am useing ... Again I have no AGP slot on this computer>>>>>>>>>>>>

...all the Radeon 9250 256 Mb cards listed here are all AGP cards...>>>>

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productli ... &subid=403

PCI Graphics cards disappeared in the distant days of 3DFX Voodoo, and replaced with AGP cards.

PCIe slots are a very recent addition to Motherboards to replace AGP slots.

Paul... 8-)...!

AGP and PCIe slots are for use for Graphics card only.
PCI slots are for the use of Sound Cards, Modem Cards, LAN Cards, etc....

[taurus.33]

Take a good lookat my system file !!!!!
Name      RADEON 9250
PNP Device ID      PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5960&SUBSYS_0250174B&REV_01\4&DC268A3&0&3080
Adapter Type      ATI display adapter (0x5960), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter RAM      256.00 MB (268,435,456 bytes)
I know where I put the card as I put it there myself from my previous computer.............In a PCI slot as I have no AGP slot But I do have a PCI express slot.............

[Fozzer]

AGP and PCI are both types of bus connector - the means by which data travels between your computer's graphics card and motherboard.


PCI
Short for Peripheral Component Interconnect, PCI was designed by Intel in the early 1990s and is used by all peripheral devices that connect to the motherboard. Therefore, a PCI graphics card has to share bandwidth with other peripherals, like the sound card and the network interface card. The conventional PCI bus has a data transfer rate of 133 megabytes per second (MB/s), although some PCI variants offer faster rates.


AGP
Short for Accelerated Graphics Port, AGP is an advanced port designed for Video cards and 3D accelerators. Designed by Intel in 1997, AGP introduces a dedicated point-to-point channel so that the graphics controller can directly access the system memory and does not have to share its bandwidth with other peripherals. Most motherboards support AGP, and the bandwidth capabilities are higher than those of PCI. Newer versions of AGP have increased data transfer rates.

   * AGP 1x - 266 MB/s
   * AGP 2x - 533 MB/s
   * AGP 4x - 1066 MB/s
   * AGP 8x - 2133 MB/s


PCI Express
PCI Express is a high speed interface that has replaced AGP on some motherboards, and is used by many new graphics cards. PCI Express currently has a data transfer rate of 2.5 GB/s, and newer versions are intended to offer rates of 5 or 10 GB/s.

*************************************

The price indicates the age, somewhat...>>>>

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=RADE ... illa:en-US: official&hs=L4I&um=1&checkout=1&sa=X&oi=froogle&ct=checkout-restrict

Paul.... 8-)

[jnigeld11]

Yes, the Radeon 9250 256mb graphic card has a PCI version...sounds like the one you have. You'll increase your graphic bandwidth by going to the PCI EXPRESS version.

Nigel

[taurus.33]

Thank god you read my message Nigel !!!!!! I was begining to think I lost it ...I know what card I am useing I put it in myself it was from my old HP computer which did not have a AGP slot so I bought a Radeon 256 for the PCI slot....Thanks to all I will get a PCI express card I think that will help....Don See Paul they do make one !!!!!!!!!

[Fozzer]

.....See Paul they do make one !!!!!!!!!

You are certainly right... ...!

I forgot that we stopped using PCI Video cards way back in the early 1990's.... ...!

Never mind, with a snazzy new PCIe Video card, and Microsoft FSX (and not FS9?), your troubles, and expense, and frustration, etc, are just about to start....
...trust me!...LOL... ...!

Paul...FS9...Everything Maxed!...frame rates running and locked at 25 FPS... ...!

[jnigeld11]

More than welcome taurus...just takes some simple research...glad I could help!

Nigel