adding graphics card - questions!

Pamperedlady

Am hoping you kind people can help me out with q's about adding a graphics card to my son's PC (dell optiplex gx260 SFF). I know that it is pretty ancient now (bought very cheaply on eBay)but it works well, except on certain games, hence the need to add a graphics card. Have had a look inside (& at manual online), & there are two slots for adding cards, either the AGP type, or PCI (but not PCI-E). I also know that I need to get a low profile card to fit in the SFF case.
So, would I be better to go for an AGP type card, or PCI, or would either be OK? What is the difference? The card would also need a D-Sub connector for the monitor. Also, the Dell manual says I need a AGP 4X card, but most of the ones I've seen are AGP 8X. Some say 4X/8X??
Any answers, please!?
Cheers :beer:

Baldur

An 8X AGP Card will work in a 4X slot (just not optimally); there would only be a problem if the slot was of the older 1X or 2X variety, which operated at different voltages.

Forget PCI if you have an AGP slot.

esuhl

Pamperedlady wrote: »

The card would also need a D-Sub connector for the monitor.

If the card only has a DVI output, you'll normally get a DVI-to-VGA converter in the pack (or you can get one on eBay for a few quid):

JasX

Just thought I'd better throw in a warning that AGP cards are very old now (1997-2004) so as far as any recent games go I wouldn't get my hopes up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGP

You'll probably get something that will work but I suspect the most you'll find on the market will be either 2nd hand ones (5 years old will probably be close to end of life/breaking, especially if its been heavily used) or something designed with 'legacy support' purposes only in mind (ie will do the job but won't be any thing special performance wise and probably offer poor value for performance)

jaydeeuk1

JasX wrote: »

Just thought I'd better throw in a warning that AGP cards are very old now (1997-2004) so as far as any recent games go I wouldn't get my hopes up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGP

You'll probably get something that will work but I suspect the most you'll find on the market will be either 2nd hand ones (5 years old will probably be close to end of life/breaking, especially if its been heavily used) or something designed with 'legacy support' purposes only in mind (ie will do the job but won't be any thing special performance wise and probably offer poor value for performance)

Not entirely accurate.

Sapphire do an ati 3850 agp card for £70 on ebuyer - though whether it will work ok depends on your PSU, or indeed if the CPU is quick enough to feed it.

They also do a 4650/70 and 3650 agp card.

Haven't looked at spec, but a 3650/4650 will probably be the best bet. Low power requirements, and if you can find one for £40, not a bad price (for agp). £50 mark on ebuyer at mo, inc delivery.