So, I bought a new video card...

[Modred]

And here's the problem. I bought a Nvidia GeForce 5200 Asylum. Sure, it isn't brand new, but it's a lot better than what I have, and it's cheap. But the deal is, it requires an AGP expansion slot, and whatever brain created my computer used a motherboard with four PCI slots.

So:
1)Is there any way to use it save buying a new motherboard (which I won't do, I'll be returning the card tonight probably)?
2)Can anybody recommend a good PCI video card?

[WeekendLazyness]

There are PCI versions of most budget videocards. Your motherboard could have no AGP slot for many reasons: it could already have built in graphics, it was designed before AGP, etc. IMO, your best option would be to upgrade the motherboard.

[Modred]

My computer is new (like within the last six months), although it isn't cutting edge. While browsing nVidia's website, I discovered that the new GeForce PCX cards are designed for PCI, thus I shall know what to look for now when I go shopping again.

As to why the motherboard has all PCI slots...probably because it has integrated graphics. But its so...slow....on demanding applications.

[WeekendLazyness]

My computer is new (like within the last six months), although it isn't cutting edge. While browsing nVidia's website, I discovered that the new GeForce PCX cards are designed for PCI, thus I shall know what to look for now when I go shopping again.

What you are refering to is PCI Express, a new serial PCI standard intended to replace both PCI and AGP. It won't be available for another couple of months.

[Modred]

Heh...turns out I was right. While I can fix anything software related (well, almost anything), I don't know jack about hardware, except what things do. I don't know how they set up and how they work. And I don't even bother to look at if they've been released or not lol. Should I upgrade my motherboard, that would definitely not be a do-it-yourself project for someone like me...

[Whiteknight]

And here's the problem. I bought a Nvidia GeForce 5200 Asylum. Sure, it isn't brand new, but it's a lot better than what I have, and it's cheap. But the deal is, it requires an AGP expansion slot, and whatever brain created my computer used a motherboard with four PCI slots.

So:
1)Is there any way to use it save buying a new motherboard (which I won't do, I'll be returning the card tonight probably)?
2)Can anybody recommend a good PCI video card?
Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 here. What's the difference between them, anyways?

...unless Gigi is the name of that and the 5200 is just the series...

[Modred]

I just left the FX out of the name by accident lol...its the same card...

EDIT: Will probably go to CircuitCity or BestBuy tonight and get a PCI card...

[Whiteknight]

No, but yours says Asylum, I think mine is ...Gigi. =\

[TranquilNightElf]

Well AGP does offer faster performance than the PCI....but then as WeekendLazyness said PCI Express will be replacing both soon...so i wouldn't get a new MB just yet

[Exedore]

PCI video cards royally suck and probably wouldn't be much better than your current one. Just save you money and retrun the GeForce FX5200 to get your money back. PCI express looks really nifty, but will offer not immediate advantage to someone on a lower budget. Only newer and relatively expensive I/O cards will be taking full advantage of a PCI express design over the current PCI/AGP designs.

Modred, your best bet would be to buy a new motherboard with an AGP slot ($50-$70 USD) and then use an AGP video card. The only problem is that you'll have a lot of hardware issues with your Operating system after installing the new motherboard. Windows XP should be able to cope, but older versions of Windows may not be as forgiving.

[WeekendLazyness]

Thanks for repeating everything I had already stated, Exedore.

[Exedore]

Thanks for repeating everything I had already stated, Exedore.

Most of what I "repeated" was said by others, not you.

[Modred]

Well, I ordered an ATI Radeon 9200 128Mb PCI...even if it isn't great, it has to be better than the integrated card...

Plus, I don't think I could weasle the money for a new motherboard out of my dad atm...

[WeekendLazyness]

Well, if you ever do get a new motherboard, I do believe ATI has a program that allows you to exchange an older videocard for a new one. So if you want an AGP videocard anytime in the future, look around on ATI's site.

[Maegtelluma]

I think that there is a fx 5200 pci version if for whatever reason you want to change...

[Modred]

I think that there is a fx 5200 pci version if for whatever reason you want to change...

The only nVidia powered card I could find was a PNY. There were the ATI powered Xtasy cards as well, but I was wary of a card that claimed to be as powerful as a similar Radeon but cost half as much and came out a year earlier...makes you wonder how a seperate company could make ATI's tech work better, faster, and at half the cost than ATI can itself.

[Modred]

Just as an update, I got the Radeon card in, and despite the reservations I had about a PCI card, it is an incredibly improvement over the 64mb Intel card that was attached to the motherboard. I actually can't rely on the computer being too slow to shoot back on RainbowSix3 any more...

By the way, since the problem is resolved (for now), I don't mind the thread being closed...