ComputerHunter.org

 

Video Cards: Is AGP Dead?


If you've been looking to upgrade your computer video card you've probably heard a great deal about PCI Express and SLI. Don't run out and buy a new computer just yet and take that AGP motherboard you just threw away out of the trash. The truth is you can probably make some simple upgrades to your current computer to get a couple more years of gaming out of it. Of course if you have an extremely slow processor and/or less than an 8x AGP motherboard, you will need to do more than upgrade your graphics card. However, in most cases people's computers are only a couple of years old and really have plenty of processing power.

The three things to look at are your memory, motherboard, and video card. To get the most out of the more recent games you want to have at least 1GB of RAM. This is a very simple upgrade and only takes a couple of minutes. For more information on upgrading your memory you can visit my website. Second, check to be sure your AGP slot on your current motherboard is 8x. If your memory and motherboard meet these standards you're in luck. A new video card will probably float you for at least another year, likely two if you get a top of the line card. The thing to remember is that PCI Express is new technology and not nearly as widespread as AGP is. Game companies want to make as much money as possible from each game. For this reason, they will try to make the games play well on the widest array of platforms. When you think about it like this, it is easy to see how AGP will be useful for a while longer. For more information on AGP video cards visit the Video Card review section of my website.

If your motherboard isn't up to par or your processor is outdated it is time for an upgrade. If you are a do-it-yourselfer like I am, you should look into building your own computer. It's not as difficult as you might think and can save you a good deal of money.

Nathan Holsing is the editor of Gaming-Computers.net a website about building and upgrading computers.







Google News - Top Stories

Washington Post

As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating
Washington Post - 39 minutes ago
By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ...
Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress
McCain, Obama unleash another round of attacks Reuters
USA Today - Financial Times - Chicago Tribune - Los Angeles Times
all 4,148 news articles


BBC News

Tear gas fired at mass Thai rally
BBC News - 1 hour ago
Police in Thailand have fired tear gas to disperse a demonstration by thousands of anti-government protesters in Bangkok. Dozens of people were injured as police intervened in the dawn protest in front of parliament.
Protesters cut power to Thai parliament as police fire tear gas AFP
Police fire tear gas against crowd The Associated Press
Sin Chew Jit Poh - Reuters - Bloomberg - ABC Online
all 229 news articles


Sydney Morning Herald

LA man kills family, himself over financial woes
Reuters - 2 hours ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A 45-year-old Los Angeles man who was apparently distraught over money troubles shot and killed his wife, three sons and mother-in-law before taking his own life, police said on Monday.
Police: Jobless father kills family, self CNN
6 Bodies Found in California Gated Community FOXNews
The Associated Press - Sony Insider - USA Today - Monsters and Critics.com
all 308 news articles


ABC News

Sen. Stevens on tape: "might serve time in jail"
Reuters - 58 minutes ago
By Randall Mikkelsen WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US Sen. Ted Stevens told an oil-executive friend, in recordings played on Monday at the Alaska Republican's corruption trial, they both risked going to jail -- but he didn't think it would come to that.
Defense renews bid to end Stevens trial San Jose Mercury News
Drama Continues at Ted Stevens Trial ABC News
The Miami Herald - Los Angeles Times - CNN - Washington Times
all 147 news articles


Boston Globe

Many of dead, injured in bus crash were Laotian
San Jose Mercury News - 2 hours ago
By SAMANTHA YOUNG AP Writer SACRAMENTO—Almost every two weeks for the last two years, sisters Mai Cha and Ge Vue boarded a chartered bus to play the slots at an American Indian casino north of Sacramento.
Video: Driver Arrested After Deadly Calif. Bus Crash AssociatedPress
8 Killed in California Bus Accident New York Times
KHSL - San Francisco Chronicle - ABC30.com - CBS 13
all 1,972 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base