Could someone explain why PCI-express is so great?

[General Lee]

Hi,

I am not a computer whiz & was wondering if some kind soul would take a moment to explain what PCI-express is & why its better than AGP?

I just realized that my new mobo has a PCI-express slot (PCI-E 16X) & since I'm considering a new video card I would like to know the difference. I realize that PCI-E is the future of graphics cards so I'll probably get one no matter what - just like to know what it is...

Thanks in advance!

[sdkfz]

Right now PCI Express is not much better than AGP mainly because the current data devices (video cards etc) do not have the need for the extra capacity- but PCI-Express has the capability of a much greater data carrying capacity of data than AGP with a long developent life ahead of it for the new cards that will require huge volumes of data to pass through.

If you are buying a new machine/mobo and can afford to get the video as well I would go with the new format, the old has just entered the phasing out stage of life - you will find that most of the top of the line (read expensive) machines are all PCI Express - this switch over will gradually work it's way down the rabge of machines till even E machines are on PCI Express.

http://www.cooltechzone.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=506&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1