Thursday 12 February 2015

Identify Agp

Counting the number of contact pins is a reliable way to identify AGP.


The Accelerated Graphics Port, or AGP, standard has largely been replaced by the faster and more universal PCI-E port. However, older computers may still accept AGP video cards, and it's not uncommon to encounter motherboards that still contain an AGP slot. Because not all AGP video cards have compatible voltages, using the wrong type of card can cause damage, so it's important that you be able to identify AGP where it appears.


Instructions


1. Turn off the computer and open the side of the case to expose the motherboard. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the card in place, then carefully remove the card from the mainboard so that you have access to the motherboard. Gently set the video card aside.


2. Check the color of the slot. AGP slots are nearly always brown in color; if the slot is not brown, you probably have a PCI or PCI-E slot.


3. Use the ruler to measure the length of the slot. AGP slots are 2.8 inches long, whereas PCI and PCI-E slots are around 3.25 inches long. If you don't have a ruler, PCI slots are approximately the length of a credit card, and AGP slots are about half an inch shorter.


4. Count the pins along the side of the port; AGP consists of two rows of 66 pins, for a total of 132. PCI-E slots for video cards have 98 or 164 pins, so if you count 132 pins, you can be certain that the slot is for an AGP video card.

Tags: video cards, cards have, color slot, inches long, PCI-E slots, slot slots