Open PC case showing a motherboard with PCI slots
When it comes to building or upgrading a PCI, there are many basic differences that need to be known to make the build or upgrade go smoothly. The difference between PCI and AGP cards is one such basic difference.
Function: PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, is a type of bus used in personal computers. PCI can be used to connect USB, Firewire, video, storage, communications and other devices to a PC.
Function: AGP
Accelerated Graphics Port, or AGP, was invented specifically to address the greater bandwidth needs of 3-D video cards. AGP is video only.
Specifications: PCI
Standard PCI is a 32-bit wide, 33 megahertz (MHz) shared bus. This means that the bandwidth available is shared between all devices connected to it.
Specifications: AGP
AGP is a 32 bit wide non-shared bus. It can be 1x/66 MHz, 2x/133 MHz, 4x/266 MHz, or 8x/533 MHz.
Physical differences
5v PCI is notched where pins 50 and 51 would be. 3.3v PCI is notched where pins 12 and 13 would be. Universal cards have both notches.
3.3v AGP is notched where pins 22, 23, 24, and 25 would be. 1.5v AGP is notched where pins 42, 43, 44, and 45 would be. Universal AGP is double notched.
PCI cards connect close to the back-plate of the card, while AGP cards connect farther away.
PCI installs component-side down, while AGP installs component-side up.
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