What Type of Expansion Slot Do I Have?
With expansion slot technology you can expand your computer's functionality and upgrade its systems. Expansion slots hold and transfer data from graphics cards. By learning about the physical characteristics of the most widely used expansion slots you can learn to identify the slots that your computer's motherboard has. This is important because some types of hardware are only compatible with newer faster expansion slots.
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The AGP Slot
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The AGP or Accelerated Graphics Port is the second oldest type of expansion slot. You can identify it on your motherboard as a long, narrow brown rectangle. The AGP port is usually situated near the center of the board and most motherboards contain only one. On each corner of this expansion slot, you will find a small, hollow rectangle. The slot is bisected by a thick bridge on the right-hand side about two thirds down its length.
The PCI Slot
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The PCI slot is the expansion slot that you are most likely to encounter when working with most computers. It is usually white in color and is always slightly longer and thinner than an AGP slot. You can find PCI slots in groups of four or five on the motherboard. The pins are clearly visible, but the slot contains no rectangles on the corners. It is bisected in the same way that the AGP slot is, though the bridge is much closer to the right-hand side.
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The PCI Express Slot
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PCI Express slots are a much faster version of the normal PCI slot. These expansion slots are usually colored black or yellow and are slightly thinner than normal PCI slots. PCI Express slots come in several different lengths. The smallest of these is the PCI x1, which is about one third the size of a normal PCI slot. The largest, the PCI x16, is a few centimeters longer than the normal PCI slot. Express PCI slots contain small pins and are usually minimally bisected on the right-hand side.
The ISA Slot
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The ISA slot is the oldest type of expansion slot. You can recognize it as black and unusually thick, with large metallic pins. This slot is bisected with a metallic bridge on the left-hand side at about two thirds of its length. You may have a bit of trouble differentiating the ISA expansion slot from the PCI Express at casual glance. However, if you look closely you will be able to see the large, shiny pins that are only visible in the ISA.
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