PCI or AGP or PCI Express (HyperPics: Beyond the UI)

Ah, yet another age old debate in computer technology. When I first started with computers there was DOS and Windows well not the Windows that is used today, but that is a different topic...

Back to the topic of this article... when I started there was PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and well single digit on-board memory for graphics. 2 to 4MB was a lot back in those days and then they went nuts with 8 and 16MBs. Anyways as cards grew with memory there was a demand to move the data faster so AGP, (Accelerated Graphics Port), was born which became a dedicated pipeline for graphic cards. The world was good and just like everything the technology became faster and faster 2, 4 and 8 times. Along with speed came what else more memory. More memory is a good thing, especially if you are a CAD or individual that demands a lot out of high-end graphic programs. Now these days it's not AGP, but PCI that is being talked about for graphics once again.

Yes, I mentioned that current PCI was slower, but there is a new standard for PCI called PCI Express for graphics and other cards. Speeds for the new slots will range in speeds of 1, 4, 8 and 16 times. The plan is to phase in the new PCI standard overtime which will help to make it fast and easy to adopt in new computers, much the same way PCI was introduced to replace ISA slots. It appears with the combined efforts behind the phased in approach and all the energy from companies like Intel, AMD and NVIDIA behind it. The technology shouldn't have to much trouble getting off the ground. A new standard in system boards will make its appearance later this year or in the beginning of next year called BTX, the replacement of the current ATX style boards.

NVIDIA has just recently announced it has figured out a way to run 2 PCI Express cards into a single monitor which basically doubles your graphics horse-power. The new standards and technology advancements should help to increase productivity in applications like 3DS Max or AutoCAD beyond what is available today. I will post new articles as I follow the new technology and standard as it comes closer to being available.

NVIDIA
PCi Express
NVIDIA SLI - Multi-GPU Technology