AGP SLOT 1.0 – 3.3V

agp slot

The connection AGP SLOT : Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) was developed by Intel in 1996 as a solution to increase performance and speed of graphics cards connected to the PC. It is based on the standard PCI 2.1 and this makes transfers to 32 bits at a base frequency of 66 MHz (twice the PCI standard). As the transfer of data occurs in parallel mode, two-way communication can not be contemporary.

The idea which is created is to allow direct access to the computer's physical memory by the graphics card, so you can handle very large textures and 3D objects. The AGP slot appears for the first time on a motherboard with the Intel 440LX, produced in early 1997. Soon the Nvidia graphics cards developed the first GPU-based TnT, and the chipset reveals his problems in providing proper nutrition to the graphics card. The solutions found are different: some producers rely on the next version of Intel, the model 440BX, which supports the power supply to 3.3 V. Others reduce the demand for power of the GPU, from 0.25 micron manufacturing process to that at 0.18 microns. This arrangement reduces power consumption and heat generated, despite significant increases in operating frequency.

In April 1999 he was given the specific dell'AGP Pro, believed to be the solution to all power problems. AGP SLOT is backward-compatible and is manufactured in three different versions: the 1.5 V, 3.3 V and the Universal version, compatible with both voltages. The AGP slot takes so different sizes and configurations depending on the voltages, so as to prevent insertion of a card in a slot of the wrong type. The AGP Pro slot is further refined in order to provide the first up to 25W and then, 50W and 110W power indeed. In addition, the frequency is increased data throughput for a flow of more data between the video card and physical memory.

The first version of AGP SLOT doubles the bandwidth compared to a standard PCI slot because it doubled the frequency, thereby reaching the 266 MB / s, but was able to operate in 2x mode and achieve 533 MB / s by making two transfers per clock cycle. Subsequently, versions 2.0 and 3.0 introduced the possibility of 4 and 8 transfers per clock cycle, reaching the equivalent of today's frequency of 533 MHz to prevent compatibility problems between different versions, has always provided safe 1x mode operation, then to 266 MB / s. This mode is activated automatically by the BIOS in case of problems.

    * AGP SLOT 1.0
          or AGP 1x: 266 x 1 = 266 MB / s
          or AGP 2x: 266 x 2 = 533 MB / s
    * AGP SLOT 2.0
          or AGP 4x: 266 x 4 = 1066 MB / s
    * AGP SLOT 3.0
          or AGP 8x: 266 x 8 = 2133 MB / s

Version 3.0 is the latest evolution of this bus, and was replaced by the faster PCI Express, which has also replaced the PCI interface.

There are three types of power of agp slot standard:

    AGP 1.5 V *
    AGP 3.3 V *
    * Universal AGP (compatible with both older)

The multiplicity of possible data transmission speeds and voltages has led to compatibility problems, especially for older motherboards. From those models that support the AGP 3.0, the producers have tried to support all possible configurations. The latest models of graphics cards, such as the Ultra 6800 series from Nvidia, require too much power because the AGP slot can deal with this request. So, come on the market some graphics cards with Molex connectors for additional power. This boost will not be abandoned, despite the most advanced specifications of the PCI Express power, more than dell'AGP, in fact, to 2007 are already commercially PCI Express high-end requiring an additional power supply.

To recognize the three types of power have been set up slots for the cards and combs of slightly different: removing the video card, with the pin down and the VGA connector on the left (see photo below), it should be noted the second pin from the right . If it is connected to the circuitry of the card, this mode supports 1.5 V, otherwise the card supports 3.3 V mode The AGP slot but is more easily distinguishable. If the separator is placed to the left of the slot (towards the rear of the houses) slot only supports 3.3 V, if it is to the right (toward the front of the case) it only supports the 1.5 V power supply . However, if there are no dividers in the slot, this is a universal type and is compatible with all the different feeds of AGP SLOT.

PCI SLOT 

PCI EXPRESS SLOT

ISA SLOT

Important To Know Isa Slot

Isa Slot

The Isa Slot or Industry Standard Architecture, the acronym ISA bus is a parallel computer intended for connection, through the slots, the general expansion cards (video cards, sound cards, network cards, etc..) Usually installed inside the computer.

The ISA bus has been enhanced by the EISA standards, both in terms of performance now exceeded by newer buses like PCI, PCI X and PCI Express, and then not used by any other manufacturer.

The ISA slot was created in 1981 by IBM for its first personal computer with a microprocessor as its CPU, the IBM Personal Computer, and later used for the IBM Personal Computer XT, marketed since 1983. Initially having a bus width of 8 bits and a clock frequency of 4.77 MHz (the same as the microprocessor), was improved in 1984 with the launch of the IBM Personal Computer AT. The width of the bus was brought it to 16 bits and the clock frequency to 6 or 8 MHz (again the same as the microprocessor).

The two are different versions of the ISA SLOT as XT and AT bus in reference to computers that have been implemented.

To connect the expansion board is scheduled a special slot on the motherboard usually black. XT bus is scheduled for a slot to 62 contacts, while for the AT bus slots to 98 contacts.

PCI SLOT 

PCI EXPRESS SLOT

PCI EXPRESS

Important Thing To Test PCI Express Video Card

PCI Express Video Card for everyone! Try for you 5 cards with mid-range price between 70 and 159 euros.

It 'important to have a video card capable of fully satisfying their needs.

VIDEO CARDS FOR WORK OR PLAY
- Economic-end video cards (under $ 50) are installed in the small office PC but I am not able to support multimedia applications and modern games.
- The mid-range graphics cards are able to tackle problems without requiring the applications' graphics processing more complex in Windows Vista even if they lose a few shots.
- Who uses the computer primarily to play, should be oriented towards the high end cards: they provided a better use and powerful graphics processors support several games based on Direct X 10 on Windows Vista.

SPEED 'THE VIDEO CARD ON THE GRAPHIC PROCESSOR
There are many manufacturers of graphics cards, but under the sink in most cases we find graphics processors from ATI (Radeon) or nVidia (GeForce). The speed of a video card is determined primarily by the graphics chip used, also decisive for the classification of a card in the mid-range or high.

THE CONNECTION OF GRAPHICS CARD
The latest models of computers have motherboards with PCI-Express slot (PCI-E), but older models accommodate the AGP slot (Accelerated Graphics Port).
The PCI-Express is the fastest known as PCI-E x16, transfers data four times faster than AGP.
If you need to upgrade the video card and you have an AGP slot should perhaps think about upgrading the motherboard so you can install a PCI-Express.

The SIZE OF PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
The powerful graphics cards are also bulky and require large heat sinks, which inevitably reduces the available space in houses. Very often their thick cover even a second open slot

PCI SLOT 

PCI EXPRESS CARD

PCI EXPRESS 2.0

PCI Express Card SSD

Innovating PCI Express Card of SSD is not very easy. The fact is that all producers can take flash memory company, the controller of another and merge them into a 2.5-inch case. But OCZ is able to offer innovative products that offer some reason for choosing this brand. The RevoDrive X2 is an example, the corporate sector and mainly addressed to professionals.
OCZ RevoDrive X2: For those who want a super-fast SSD

OCZ has shown a few months ago a new design intended to overcome the limitations of SATA 6 Gb / s using PCI Express link. In theory it is a necessary tool, because soon the SSD controllers in particular, will have a bandwidth that saturate the bandwidth offered by the interface.

And so the SATA 6 Gb / s may become obsolete even before they spread widely across all systems. It is a rather unlikely scenario, considering the role of hard drives is their long-term stay in the consumer sector. But for those who use an SSD is a matter entirely relevant.

As this is a theoretical scenario, OCZ is able to demonstrate that the SATA 6 Gb / s can actually prove unsuitable for modern storage products. To do this he used four controllers SandForce generation, uniting in a single PCB and enclosing a 3.5 "drive bay, then connect everything to a line very similar to a PCI Express Card. OCZ More specifically chose the connection HSDL (High Speed ​​Data Link), which combines a connection to a SAS PCIe. The result was a fast read and write well beyond the 600 MB / s SATA connections offered by the third generation, because in theory you can get to 2 GB (not an error, I'm just gigabytes, not gigabits) per second. More than enough to show that current communications interfaces are not adequate.

The PCI Express Card  used for the demonstration is the OCZ 240 GB IBIS. It can be bought for about 700 euros, but it is not easy to find. It is still a very expensive choice, certainly not attractive to the average consumer. On the other hand OCZ appeals with these products, to an audience of "average" really has little or nothing because the company makes explicit reference to enterprise environments, which can exploit the huge I / O performance offered by these SSDs.

PCI SLOT

PCI EXPRESS SLOT

PCI EXPRESS SLOT PICTURE

PCI Express 2.0 The Next Killer generation of PCIe

pci express 2.0

PCI Express 2.0 is the evolution of the PCI Express standard for connecting peripherals to the motherboard officially presented 16 January 2007 and arrived on the market in mid-2007 thanks to the support offered by the Bearlake chipsets Intel version called "X38".

In September 2006, Rambus, already famous for the introduction of RDRAM memory, had in fact already announced the availability of the first devices designed to control the next generation of PCI Express.

It has 4 kind of  slot : slot x1, x4, 8x and 16x like its predecessor, but the frequency is 250 MHz versus 100 MHz From the standpoint of both mechanical and electrical, however, platforms, this products are fully compatible with previous version 1.0, thus creating problems in the case of devices containing updates platforms PCI Express 1.0. There is also the implementation of a technology for access control, as well as allowing the software to directly manage the routing of packets, should prevent intrusion into the communications data in order to steal information

Moreover, thanks to the Input-Output Virtualization (IOV), simplifies IT management by virtual machines, each with its own operating system, devices connected through PCI Express 2.0 They have also been tested cables to it that will not only connect through slots "traditional" but also by a special copper wiring, with transfer rates per line of up to 10 meters, 2.5 Gbps.

PCI EXPRESS SLOT PICTURE 

PCI EXPRESS SLOT 

PCI SLOT

PCI EXPRESS SLOT PICTURE | PCIe x1-x16

These pci express slot picture are pci express x1, x4, x8, x16 as seen below :

But in this article i will discus about pci express x16. Pci express in used by the chipsets that support PCI Express, especially  the Intel 925 and 915. PCI Express has a 4GB / s up to 8GB / s bandwidth, another name of pci express x16 is PCIe x16. this pci type is a development of the AGP8X slot which we usually encounter on a mainboard that uses the Pentium 4 processor

The PCI Express* x16 graphics interface, offered by the Intel® 925X, 915G and 915P Express chipsets, provides a solution for demanding usage models. The PCI Express x16 graphics interface delivers increased bandwidth and scalability over previous generation AGP8X-based solutions. With up to 4 GB/s of peak bandwidth per direction, and up to 8 GB/s concurrent bandwidth, a platform configured with a PCI Express x16 graphics card can tackle the most demanding multimedia tasks. (The last paragraph is taken from intel.com)

PCI SLOT 
PCI EXPRESS SLOT

Pci Express Slot evolution of the PCI expansion bus

PCI Express Slot is the evolution of the PCI expansion bus, first introduced with the Pentium, which has replaced the old interface for graphics cards, the AGP.

It is based on a serial data transfer, unlike the parallel PCI, which simplifies the layout of the motherboard PCB and consists of a series of channels. This allows a considerable modularity, as more channels can be aggregated to increase the bandwidth available or to support specific configurations such as the use of two or more video cards. In addition, the bandwidth of each channel is independent from that of others.

PCI Express 1.0

PCI Express was designed to support the growing energy needs of the latest generation of video cards. Unlike the AGP slot, capable of delivering a maximum of 50 watts, the current revision of PCI-Ex supports loads up to 75W, making it possible to remove the connector from Molex mid-range cards to medium-low, although it remained for the rest.

These doors produced by Intel and that debuted in 2004, have a bandwidth of 250 MB / s and a transfer ratio of 2.5 GT / s. (Giga Transfers per second)

PCI Express 2.0

PCI Express 2.0 is the evolution of the PCI Express standard for connecting peripherals to the motherboard officially presented 16 January 2007 and arrived on the market in mid-2007 thanks to the support offered by the Bearlake chipsets Intel version called "X38".

PCI Express 3.0

In mid 2007 it was announced that the standard would gradually replace the version 2.0 of the PCI Express Slot since 2011. On 18 November 2010, the PCI Special Interest Group has released the final specifications [1]. These specifications provide backward compatibility, a new encoding scheme 128b/130b, and a bandwidth of the bus, which reaches 8 GT / s, double the PCI Express Slot 2.0 Predecessor

Also in September 2006, Intel had announced the development of a technology like PCI Express Slot 2.0, also designed as the next to PCI Express Slot. This is where you have Geneseo few details, but should allow Intel to offer a technology similar to AMD's Torrenza, to "open" their use of co-processor bus developed by other companies.

At the moment, however, is not yet clear whether the two technologies may integrate or coexist in competition, although the first hypothesis is the most plausible given that Intel is also part of the consortium that developed the PCI Express Slot 2.0

PCI SLOT

PCI EXPRESS SLOT 

How To Install PCI SLOT

On this motherboard PCI slots are highlighted where they will be embedded sound cards, internal modems, TV cards, network etc..
This type of bus is designed to meet allla narrowness of the bandwidth that allowed the old ISA slots, it comes with bandwidth ranging from 32 to 64-bit operating frequency that can be 33 MHz (about 132MB/sec max) or 66MHz .
Let's say that in principle on a motherboard of the last generation on average there are 4 PCI slots and one AGP which we will discuss later.
These slots are very important, since they give the opportunity to mount any PCI card compatible with any motherboard equipped with this bus, and this is what underlies the concept of compatibilità.Come said slots are mounted on these cards as compatible for example that we see in this picture.

In case this is a sound card as you can see from Jack in blue, red and green, and goes through the connector stuck in the slot above. The above operation is very simple, because if you have already placed the motherboard into the case you will need to remove the strip of metal that is opposite the slot you have chosen, place the connector on the slot and press until it is penetrated in full. To see the way you just keep in mind that the doors have to go outside of the case and that the connector has a cut on the right side and that perfectly mirrors the shape of the PCI slot.


PCI SLOT 

PHENOM II X4

INTEL PENTIUM P6100