How to Tell if a Video Card Is AGP or PCI

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) cards can access system memory--along with onboard memory--execute new tasks while older tasks are still completing, and have dedicated bandwidth; PCI cards do not. Though faster than PCI cards, the frame rate produced by both cards are nearly the same in comparable models. Figuring out which card you have helps in determining the compatibility of your video card with your games and applications.

Things You'll Need

• Screw driver

Instructions

1. Power down your computer. Remove the screws securing the side panel of your computer case. The screws will be located at the back of the tower. Set the screws aside and slide the side panel of the case off of the computer's frame.

2. Locate your video card's external position by following the monitor's cable to the port on the video card. Use the external point as a reference to the card's internal position.

3. Observe which slot the card is plugged into. PCI slots are brown, PCI express are black and AGP are brown. Because the card will only fit into the type of slot made it was designed for. So if your card is plugged into a white slot, it is PCI. Slot colors are a sure indicator of card type.

4. Identify the card by physical characteristics. Notice the number of pins the card uses to make contact with the card slot. An AGP card has 132 pins and a PCI card has 124.

5. If you need to remove your current card, take out the screw securing the card. There should only be one screw securing the card. It will be located on the expansion bay. Disengage the clamp--if there is one--on the card slot. The card should give little resistance to being removed.