Best PCI graphics card

He asked about the 1X slot, and possibly a standard PCI [not PCI Express] card, I think!

Would doubt it because a PCI Card's contacts ar far longer than the space available in a PCI Express 1X slot. 1X is only a little over an inch long.

some PCI express x16 should fit into AGP slots. thought they were mutually exclusive but apparently they aren't always. my Asus EAX700 pro said on the box that it required either an X16 slot or an AGP 8x slot. i'm using the X16 one but found it interesting that it would work in either slot. i thought i'd read somewhere that at least some X16 cards were designed to be backwards compatable with AGP slots too.

speaking of pci 1x and 4x for that matter, what's the idea behind those anyway? like was stated it's not like a VC is going to go into it; so what goes thtere?

The 4X and 8X are generally only found on server boards. PCI Express are serial busses The 1X has a single serial path the 4 X four serial paths etc. The data bandwidth increases with each additional path. In addition, on a PCI Express bus, data can flow in both directions at the same time. It is a substantially greater bus system.

Parallel busses are on the way out because of the speeds now being used. Sending 64 bits of data from one point on a mobo to another at these speeds is difficult. The bits start out all aligned. By the time they get to the other end [inches away] the bits are getting skewed.

I believe Ray covered it pretty well.

I have read that some motherboards have a separate AGP slot and separate PCI-Express x16 slot on the same motherboard. However, not that the PCI-Express x16 card will fit an AGP slot.

Nvidia was able to make an AGP version of their PCI-Express 6600GT video card by using a "HSI (High Speed Interconnect) bridge clip.
Look at the two photos...one a 6600GT PCI-Express x16 card and a 6600GT AGP card.
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20041119/geforce-6600gt-agp-02.html

Pray tell, how can you fit a PCI-Express x16 card into an AGP slot.

I also noticed in that write-up, "Perhaps ATI will decide to follow suit and launch a Radeon X700 XT with AGP."

ATI on the
RADEON

maybe that is the case. it did strike me as kinda odd. thought for sure it said it could run in an agp too but for some reason my pile of boxes disapered on me. maybe it was in a non-slot specific card manual that i saw that or something. i'll psot back if i find it...

Go for a XFX Nvidia 5200 128 MB, if you get the 256 MB one you will not notice much difference...... since it's a low spec card.... don't even think about the ATi SEs they suck. If you are from the UK try www.overclockers.co.uk

OMG is all i can say...this is one of those threads like that...

OK
FIRST OFF
the best existing PCI grpahics card is the GeForce FX 5700LE for PCIE
it is comparable to the Radeon 9550
found here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-140-041&depa=1

that will kill 5200's, 9200's, 5500's, 9250's
it's just better (but some 9200's and 9250's are more expensive as they offer VIVO/better software packages/are just overpriced)


SECOND
PCIe maxes out at PCIE 32x, meaning 32 channels, nVidia's use of PCIE x8 x2 is sort of sad, as it gives each card in SLI a bandwidth of PCIE x8, which is the same as AGP 8x (this is on SLI systems only, on normal PCIE x16 nVidia cards they use all 16 channels)

also, please, please, PLEASE do not put the X600 and the 6800 comparative
it's like comparing a Pontiac Montana to a Porsche 996 Turbo, it just shouldn't be done

to give a list of how the current generation cards, top to bottom, top is best

GeForce 6800U EE SLI($2000 for just vid cards, only from Asus)
GeForce 6800U SLI
GeForce 6800GT SLI
GeForce 6800 SLI
Radeon X850XT PE
Radeon X800XT PE
GeForce 6600GT SLI
Radeon X800XT
GeForce 6800U
Radeon X800XL
GeForce 6800GT
GeForce 6800
GeForce 6600GT
Radeon X700XT
Radeon X700Pro
GeForce 6600
Radeon X600XT
GeForce 6200
Radeon X600
Radeon X300
GeForce PCX 5900
GeForce PCX 5750
GeForce PCX 5300

this is mostly based on THG's VGA Charts V, the 3Dmark05 benching
I added in a few from personal knowledge (they ommited plain 6800's, and the PCX 5300, and the 6800U EE, probably because they are so rare (the U EE))

basically the X700XT and 6600GT are matched
the X600XT and 6600nU are matched
the 6200 and X600Pro are matched
the 6800 and X800 are matched
the 6800U and X800XL are matched
the 6800GT has no place
and the X800XT and above from ATI are the fastest single cards out
and SLI kills all

please
don't use an X600 and 6800 together as a comparison
it's low end to high end

if your buying a new PCIE card I suggest the GeForce 6800GT, as it's well rounded, and offers FP32/PS3.0
which the X800XL does not (sadly, because the X800XL is such a great card that aside)
none of ATi's Radeon X cards offer FP32 or PS3.0

what does this do you might ask?
it means that Radeon X will not be able to play the U3 (Unreal 3) engine to full capacity
which includes A LOT OF GAMES
not just Unreal 3 and UT2k6

Unreal2 has over 100 titles built on it (that were sold) plus countless titles made by average users/at home builders (people who just make games or just levels/scinarios in the U2 engine)

Ok,I am going to buy a PCI graphics card also.However I am confused between two choices.The first graphics card is Jaton Geforce FX5700LE Low Profile and its cost is $15 more than Apollo Geforce FX 5700LE.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-139-166&depa=1

Which one do you think is the better PCI card?

Please,give me some wise advice on this because I dont feel like upgrading again and again.Unfortunately there aren't any comparisions or editor reviews for both graphics cards which makes me confused.

Thanks in advance

they are just different OEM's
if it was me, i'd buy the non-low profile card, as it's cooler seems better

also, the Apollo is less expensive
AND it doesn't have a ribbon cable to connect the VGA (which imo is unnacpetable...at least for a $100 gfx card)


if it was me, i'd get this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-140-041&depa=1

So I should buy the Apollo one?

I just want to get the most out of a PCI card.

Thanks for the help.