Difference between PCI Express & AGP

Discussion in 'SolidWorks' started by Kevin Scheeringa, Nov 18, 2005.

  1. Hello All,

    I was wondering what the performance difference between a AGP video card and
    a PCI Express card is.

    I see a lot more motherboards coming out with the PCI Express. Is this the
    trend of the future? I'm trying to get a new home system for one of my
    designers. We have a couple of Matrox Parhelia 128mb cards left over from
    our old office systems, that i would like to use. These are a AGP card. I'm
    finding it difficult to get a new quality motherboard with AGP. Any
    information would be appreciated.





    Our current office system is:

    P4 3.2GHz, 800FBS on a AOpen AX4SG MaxII motherboard

    2mb ram

    XP Pro SP2

    Nvivia Quadro FX500 Driver: 7.1.8.4 (solidworks recommended)

    SW 2005 SP5

    and

    SW 2006 SP2
     
    Kevin Scheeringa, Nov 18, 2005
    #1
  2. Kevin Scheeringa

    Jeff N Guest

    I'm not sure of the difference for CAD software, but for games PCI-E is
    noticable faster.
    Yup. And I'm sure in a few more years there will be PCI-E x2.

    You should still be able to find a mobo with an AGP slot. Check out
    pricewatch.com
     
    Jeff N, Nov 18, 2005
    #2
  3. Thanks Jeff.
    That gives me some info. I'll just have to look a little harder..
     
    Kevin Scheeringa, Nov 18, 2005
    #3
  4. http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_15195.html

    This is a short video that shows the difference. Basically it shows that 8X
    AGP allows the video processor to communicate with the system board one
    direction (send/receive) at a time, and at a rate of up to 2.1 GB/sec. With
    PCI Express, it can talk both directions at the same time, and at a rate of
    up to 4 GB/sec for each direction. So, almost a 4:1 advantage?

    WT
     
    Wayne Tiffany, Nov 18, 2005
    #4
  5. I assume that the designer is going to be running SolidWorks. If so, I would
    not use the Matrox Parhelia boards. According to the SolidWorks Graphics
    Card test reports, they are supposed to work, at least with SW04 and 05, but
    not many people in the news group have anything good to say about them.
    Spend a few hundred bucks to get a low-end Nvidia Quadro or ATI FireGL.

    Jerry Steiger
    Tripod Data Systems
    "take the garbage out, dear"
     
    Jerry Steiger, Nov 21, 2005
    #5
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.