8x AGP or 16x Pcie 7600gs at 4x

[jvgcpg]

Motherboard ---- Asrock 4CoreDual-Vsta
Processor---------Intel E4300 Core2Duo
Memory-----------2 x 512mb Kingston DDR2 667 dual channel
Power Supply------Hec AcePower 480 watts, +12v1-17a, +12v2-15a
VideoCard---------Inno3d Fx5700LE, 128mb, AGP 8x
Drives-------------1-160gb Maxtor, 1-80gb Seagate, 1-LG DVD-Rom,
1-Samsung 182m DVD Writer All drives IDE
Monitor------------Samsung 940 LCD 1440 x 900 resolution

I want to upgrade my video card to a 7600gs 256 mb card. Although the Asrock board has both an AGP 8x and a full size pcie slot, the pcie 16x slot will only operate at 4x. What will be a better buy, the agp or the pcie card. I will use the computer for another 2 years.

 

[beef_jerky4104]

I would vote for PCIe. Simply because it is cheaper than AGP. AGP production has slowed down meaning that prices will be higher. Therefore you best bet is PCIe. Also, trully AGP vs. PCIe, the performance difference is so small.

 

[Mirob]

A 128bit card like the 7600gs will not be limited much with a 4x interface.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2814&p=3

It looks to me like two FPS or less difference with 4x PCIe and 8x AGP 7600gs. You could get a 7600gt PCI-E for the price of the 7600gs AGP.

 

[jvgcpg]

Thanks for the information.