Yesterday, I purchased a new AGP graphics card to my computer and installed it. It works just fine, but I'm kinda confused about this bus-stuff. (I'm a novice, and I admit it!) Now, my computer tells me that the card is running on a PCI bus, but I've heard that an AGP bus is twice as fast as a PCI bus. So, would it be recommendable / possible to install an AGP bus, and if so, how can it be done??
Try updating your motherboard drivers, that shoudl hopefully get rid of the 'PCI Bus' identification you getting for your AGP card, it happens ever now and again for some reason
AGP and PCI refer to the connectors on your motherboard. AGP is only for graphcis cards, and there's only 1 of them on your motherboard. The number of PCI slots varies from system to system, but you generally have somewhere from 3 to 6 of them. Installing an AGP isn't possible for people like you and me, as all the components for the AGP bus are built into the motherboard (on the chipset). Considering that you installed an AGP graphics card, you probably already have an AGP bus.
As far as your computer telling you that your card is using the PCI bus, there's a number of reasons for that. Usually, this is for older computers and versions of Windows that don't really handle the AGP bus all that well, so the card just tells Windows that it's PCI, to avoid making Windows angry. This work well enough, since AGP is somewhat similar to PCI anyway. What card did you install, and what version of Windows are you using?
It's a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200, and I'm running XP Professional. Think I'll try updating my motherboard drivers and see if that'll fix it. I'll inform you of any progress...
Well, even after downloading new motherboard AGP drivers, Windows still insists that it's running on a PCI bus. So does the AIDA32. My graphics card software, however, claims that it's after all AGP. Don't know what to believe...
However, the AIDA32 software claims that the graphics card is 64 MB, even though it really is 128. Something weird going on, that's for sure! Is this related to the bus type, or, can it have something to do with the fact that the card supports AGP 8x, while my PC reportedly runs 4x? And is it at all possible to run an AGP graphics card on a PCI bus??
As I've told you, I'm a real rookie, so please bear with me...
Let's see if we can get some real information here. First off, go to Start -> Run, and type in DXIDAG. At the top, click the Display tab. If you know how to caputure a screenshot of your desktop, just do that and post it here. If you don't, then give us what that page says for Name, Approx. Total Memory, and AGP Texture Acceleration.
Doh. I typed it wrong. The progam is DXDIAG. Stupid, stupid me. That's okay, though. Just post that info whenever you get a chance and we'll see what we've got, eh?
Well, according to DirectX, your AGP features are all working fine. Is there any way you could tell us what motherboard you're running? Sometimes there's a special driver for the AGP bus, but that all depends on your motherboard. It could be causing this type of discrepency. Honestly, I don't think there's a problem, though. As long as it does what you want it to do, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.
It's an Aopen AX45-V, and I have downloaded and installed a special AGP driver from Aopen's website. That still didn't bring all the different software I've mentioned earlier to some kind of agreement about the bus type / memory size. However, as you say, I guess I really shouldn't care as long as it's working all right. Interesting case, though. Just to show you, I attach what AIDA32 says about my chipset.
Oooh, that's where you're seeing that! The AGP bus is known as the first PCI slot to Windows. It's just the way things are with Windows Device Manager. I believe your card is set up correctly.
Just for reference, I have attached my video card properities. Mine's for a ATi Radeon 9800 (an AGP card), but you'll notice it still says that it's in PCI Bus 1. I'm pretty sure they didn't even make a PCI version of this card.
EDIT:
For some reason my pic wasn't attached. I'll host it on my webserver: link
All right... that settles it, then! Thanx for all your help!! Good for easily-confused rookies like me to have somewhere to turn when we encounter problems.. Very kind of you to help me, Aarmenaa!!
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That's okay, though. Just post that info whenever you get a chance and we'll see what we've got, eh?
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