AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) and PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) are two types of graphics cards used to display images on a computer screen. AGP was developed by Intel in 1997 as a much faster alternative to the aging PCI standard, and is now considered to be the main type of graphics card. Although both types of graphics cards provide the same basic functionality, there are several key differences between them.
1. Bandwidth: AGP provides far higher bandwidth than PCI, allowing for the transfer of large amounts of data at very high speeds. This enables AGP cards to render 3D and video graphics more quickly, resulting in improved image quality. In addition, AGP supports dedicated video memory and multiplexing, while PCI does not.
2. Speed: AGP offers faster clock speeds than PCI. This allows AGP cards to process higher loads of data, resulting in smoother gameplay, better textures and higher resolutions.
3. Cost: AGP cards tend to be more expensive than PCI cards, due to their higher speed and performance.
4. Expansion Slots: AGP cards require a dedicated AGP slot on the motherboard, while PCI cards can be installed into any available PCI slot. This makes AGP cards less versatile, as you cannot use them with some older motherboards.
5. Compatibility: AGP and PCI cards are not compatible with each other. This means that if you wish to upgrade your graphics card, you will need to make sure you buy one that is compatible with your existing set-up.
Overall, AGP cards provide a far superior performance when compared to PCI cards. Their faster clock speeds and higher bandwidth allow AGP cards to process and render data much quicker, resulting in improved image quality and smoother gameplay. However, this comes at a cost, with AGP cards often being significantly more expensive than PCI cards. Furthermore, AGP cards are limited by the need for a dedicated AGP slot, making them much less versatile than PCI cards.