AGP Questions?

[sloppyp]

I am going to update my video card in my PC. I was debating whether or not to use an AGP or PCI card. I would be using it for gaming. I am not a real serious gaming fanatic but I would like to play some of the more recent games (last year or so). Also, what is the difference between the AGP cards, ie.. 2x, 4x, 8x. Does your computer determine what kind of card you can use? I will provide my system info below.


Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Compaq Presario 061
System Model: PX790AA-ABA SR1511NX NA530
BIOS: Phoenix - Award BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3100+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 384MB RAM
Page File: 255MB used, 665MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

[flanzig1]

Is the video onboard or is it a plug in board? If it is on-board, a PCI video card isn't going to give you much improvement. If it has an AGP slot, there are still cards that can improve game playing, but you start to run into extra power loads on the PSU.

[sloppyp]

So, what would you suggest with regards to which AGP card I should buy. I do not want to spend more than about $100.

[flanzig1]

Something like this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102600
What is your present video card?

[sloppyp]

I do not have a memory card in it. I have whatever came preinstalled on the motherboard.

Card name: SiS 760
Manufacturer: SiS
Chip type: SiS 760 Rev 00
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1039&DEV_6330&SUBSYS_2A06103C&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1152 x 864 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[juppy]

Yeah, that's got onboard video. It does come with an 8x AGP slot though, so that card flanzig1 linked to is about the best you can put in there for under $100. There's an X1300 for right at $100 but I don't think it's much faster if any.....only real difference I see is that it supports OpenGL 2.0 whereas the 9600XT supports OpenGL 1.5. They're both DX9 cards though. I'd probably just save a few bucks and go with the one he linked to. It's not going to let you play the newest games on the highest graphics settings, but it'll do a pretty good job for alot of games.