Install AGP Card

Install AGP Card

Welcome to our guide to video card installation: -

Most modern video cards use the AGP interface as it offers better performance than the PCI interface; this guide will take you through installing an AGP video card with the aid of text and images.

To install your video card you will need:

• Compatible AGP video card.
• Cross-point (Philips) Screwdriver suitable for your PC case.
• Fixing screw (usually comes with the case or if upgrading use old screw).
• Anti-Static Wrist-strap (if available).

Locating the AGP slot:

Note: Disconnect the power and remove your PC's cover, see our guide. (If you are upgrading your current video card then you will have to remove it first, to take the old card out remove the fixing screw (for an example see fig 1.4) and then gently lift the card out of the slot, they can be stubborn but if you gently lift one end at a time it will eventually come out (treat it like a loose tooth)).

We have provided an example of an AGP slot in fig, your AGP slot may differ but only slightly.

In fig you can see an example of an AGP video card and we have pointed out the alignment notch.

Installing the video card:

1). Next take the video card (hold it by the edges) and line it up with the slot paying careful attention to the alignment notch, when it is aligned correctly press gently but firmly until the card is seated fully and evenly into the slot (see fig below).

2). When you are happy that the card is firmly in place, insert the fixing screw fig and check to make sure you haven't loosened anything during installation.

Replace the case cover and reconnect the mains power.

3). When you reboot your machine Windows (or other OS) should find the card automatically, it may then ask you to insert the Disk/CD that came with your video card, insert the CD and follow the on-screen instructions to install the video card driver.

4). If your machine makes a series of beeps when you turn it back on then the video card may be inserted incorrectly, again make sure the card is fully inserted into the AGP slot.

Difference between PCI, AGP and PCI-Express cards

Do you know the difference between PCI, AGP and PCI-Express?  This article is an attempt to clear up this confusion. PCI and PCI-Express are by themselves not a video interconnects, but AGP is a pure video interconnect. Understanding the difference between PCI, AGP and PCI-Express will go a long way in your understanding of computer technology in general. 

1. PCI

PCI stands for 'Peripheral Component Interconnect'. This is a connection within the system motherboard that has been used for the last ten years in the world of computing. There is a plethora of products available for PCI. These include sound cards, video cards, LAN cards and RAID controllers. The predecessor to PCI was ISA - which was one of the earlier connection types in the modern PC.

2. AGP

AGP stands for 'Accelerated Graphics Port'. It used to be that video cards were installed on the PCI bus. The problem was data transfer rate. The speed at which the PCI bus transfers data to and from the video card was too slow.

Hence, the AGP bus was launched to increase the data transfer rate of video cards. There are three specification of AGP - they are AGP 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. The latest incantation of AGP is AGP 3.0. AGP data transfer is faster than PCI, but it is slower than PCI-Express.

The fact that AGP is a pure video interconnect (but not PCI and PCI-EXpress) is a key difference between PCI, AGP and PCI-Express.

3. PCI-Express

PCI-Express is the latest incantation of peripheral interconnections. It is destined to replace both PCI and AGP, especially in the world of video cards. More products are slated to be released that support PCI-Express. Most modern motherboards have PCI-Express built-in. The speed of PCI-Express is another key difference between PCI, AGP and PCI-Express.