Do PCI video cards kill CPU performance? - Page 2

Slaymate · 27-January-07, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobistober


	I wouldn't goes as far to say the PCI bus kills CPU performance, unless I'm wrong. But the PCI bus is old, only capable of 133Mb/s 32-bit transfer rate @ 33Mhz clock. PCI-X (Not to be confused with PCI-Express) was capable of nearly 1Gb/s data rate at 64-bit and a 133Mhz clock. AGP 8x is a bus that runs at 66Mhz, but it runs 8 times every clock ... so it's basically 533Mhz, and is capable of data rates of over 2Gb/s. (AGP 4x runs 4 times a clock for 266Mhz, and so on) Likewise, PCI-Express is capable of 8Gb/s (16 lanes @ 4Gb both upstream/downstream). I would say you're seeing disapointing numbers because of the old tech you're using. If you can, look on orb and compare your hardware to similar setups, if there are any. You won't see any spectacular numbers coming out of a PCI videocard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-dogg


	The biggest downside to a PCI graphics card is if it is sharing IRQs with other PCI devices. The more PCI devices you have, the less performance your PCI graphics card will have, since IIRC a single PCI bus controls all PCI devices, hence the need for IRQ sharing. Look at it this way, textures and data flow through a pipe on a PCI bus about the size of a garden hose. On AGP they are flowing through a fire hose, and on PCI Express, textures are flowing through a sewer main.

I'm going to agree with these (2) quotes about the PCI bus and PCI Video Cards.
As for AGP. I have a 7800GS OC in 1 PC and a FireGL card (X800XT series) in another.
There both Great Cards. But AGP is no longer a smart option in my opinion. It's a fading
technology. The future is PCI Express and the Core2 Duo and beyond :-)

j-dogg · 27-January-07, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimsZR2


	Ok... Does that stand true with the new PCI Express Slot?

PCI Express is a different bus altogether, running at a much higher frequency than PCI-Express and remaining completely separate from PCI.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
HIS Video Cards..	xLoveAmericanx	Video Cards	5	17-April-06 04:21 PM
10 base-t hub kill performance?	St8ic	Anything Goes	3	09-June-05 07:02 PM
Slashdot // Video Distribution Platform Aiming to Kill TV	Gizmo	Slashdot RSS	0	14-April-05 03:05 PM
Video Cards FS	Anchi	Trading Post	6	10-April-05 12:51 AM
PCI Video Cards	KraftMayo	Video Cards	11	22-January-05 07:02 PM