From: A Kumar (kumara2_at_rpi.edu)
Date: Wed Jan 20 1999 - 22:08:55 EST
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lorenzo Pollock [mailto:lorenzo_at_jimani.com]
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 1999 3:56 PM
> To: TP List
> Cc: Randal Whittle
> Subject: AGP Graphics?
>
>
> My guess is that you will need to bite the AGP bullet someday.
> It is not a scam and will become more important as products and
> software develop. You can do ok with the PCI cards for now if
> ok is good enuff.
>
> The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is an intel-designed port
> dedicated to high-end graphic design and blazing video performance.
> Thes AGP cards are worth the investment because, compared to PCI
> AGP technology << can >> double the refresh rate when touching up
> complex photos... the main reason for getting one.
AGP was not designed as a way to double the refresh rate of 2D applications.
The main advantage of AGP, today, is that it allows video cards to use your
computers RAM. While using RAM is slower than using on board memory it
allows higher resolutions, in 3D games, by allowing them to keep more info
at hand(Yes this is an overly simplified explanation). That is why most
gamers prefer a Nivida TNT(a card which makes use of AGP) over SLIed 3dfx
cards, they can run their games at resolutions greater then 800X600. AGP
also allows higher bandwidth for the card, but again this is primarily for
3D cards. If 3D did not exists AGP would be unnecessary! 2D cards are so
good these days that they are not the limiting factor when talking about
image clarity or refresh rate, most cards can reach higher refresh rates
then even the most expensive monitor. Also there is no point in having a
refresh rate higher then 120 Hz because NO one would see any flicker. IN
fact the vast majority I'm talking 99.99% of the population cannot tell a
refresh rate higher then 75Hz. So even if the AGP allowed for higher
refresh rates(which it doesn't because the PCI bus is not the limiting
factor in determining refresh rates on the card its the RAMDAC(sp)). And
the refresh rate does not change when typing text as opposed to working on
complex photos (assuming you don't change resolution).
> But with the trend to create more compelling websites, sites are
> starting to contain more graphics and special effects, as you know.
> Naturally the more artistic your site becomes, the longer it takes to
> create and make changes to the site due to slow screen refresh rates.
I don't think you understand what the refresh rate is it the time it takes
for the electron beam to redraw the screen(on CRT) it is independent of the
program you are running. Do you mean the time it takes to redraw the image
in the graphics program? If so a true AGP card would likely be slower then
a PCI card because it would me using RAM to store the image. Also 2D
graphics DO NOT saturate the PCI. It is 3D that have the potential to, have
yet to do that.
> AGP technology has been around since early 1998 and a new slot for AGP
> cares ib being included with all new PC's which means that there
> will be more and more use of software tricks that feed on AGP technology.
> These cards cost about $100 depending on the resolution you require...
> often less if you shop around... but I haven't seen them available in a
> fashion that will upgrade a Thinkpad.
Its been around longer but anyway. AGP is independent of software in
windows graphics programs never access the card, they go through drivers!
And there is no need for tricks, the PCI bus and the AGP are not saturated
by 2D graphics!!!
You can not upgrade a notebook for AGP without replacing the mother board.
And again because notebooks do not have powerful 3D chipsets, there is no
need for AGP in them. BTW the 600E with AGP and upgraded graphics chipset
did not need an AGP, for the reasons I said above it could easily have been
done with a PCI implementation.
The usefulness of the AGP can be debated in the 3D card world, but when
talking about 2D it provides no benefit (other than not talking up another
PCI slot.
> For more information on ACP technology, visit
>
> www.agpforum.org/faq.htm
> or
> www.sysopt.com/agp.html
>
Even the URL you gave says:
"The result of AGP is a much smoother frame rate and the ability to display
***3D*** graphics and video that is
many times more realistic and much a higher quality than ever before found
a PC. Though they are
obviously biased, Intel makes the claim that, "Now PC users can experience
the type of dazzling ***3D***
graphics and video previously found only on workstations costing $20,000 or
more!""
> | I recall there was at least one person on this list who said AGP was a
> | marketing scam (by Intel?) that offered no real advantage over PCI.. Is
> | that the case? Will I be missing out on anything if I get the PCI
> | version of this card instead of AGP?
>
> | But will I wish I had gotten an AGP card instead?
>
>
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