How to Check My Video Card Compatibility With AGP

Verify your video card's AGP compatibility with close visual inspection.

Accelerated Graphics Port, or AGP, slots were initially engineered as a successor to the PCI slot, which quickly became unable to process the large data communications required by graphics cards. AGP slots allow for fast data exchange between the motherboard, CPU and RAM, which provides increased gaming performance. AGP slots are keyed in a manner that prevents other types of motherboard cards from fitting into them.

Instructions

1. Set the video card in front of you with the metal face plate facing to the left. Ensure the video card's components, such as fans, controllers and ports, are facing toward you.

2. Examine the gold-plated blade at the bottom of the video card. To the very right of this blade should be an area punched out of the card that appears as a small slit in the blade itself.

3. Examine the very far right edge of the card. There is a small locking mechanism in the shape of a hook that allows for the card to lock into place into the AGP slot. If both of these conditions are found, the card is AGP-compatible and will be accepted into any AGP slot.

References

• Accelerated Graphics Port Interface Specification Revision 1.0 Intel Corporation