The AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)

PLAN AGP Difference between PCI and AGP slots Versions of AGP Variations Use today

AGP The Accelerated Graphics Port (also called Advanced Graphics Port) is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a graphics card to a computer’s motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics.

AGP Some motherboards have been built with multiple independent AGP slots. AGP is currently being phased out in favor of PCI Express.

Advantages over PCI

Advantages over PCI Texturing: Also called Direct Memory Execute mode, allows textures to be stored in main memory. Throughput: Various levels of throughput are offered: 1X is 266 MBps, 2X is 533 MBps; and 4X provides 1.07 GBps.

Advantages over PCI Sideband Addressing: Speeds up data transfers by sending command instructions in a separate, parallel channel. Pipelining: Enables the graphics card to send several instructions together instead of sending one at a time.

Versions of AGP AGP 1x A 32-bit channel operating at 66 MHz resulting in a maximum data rate of 266 megabytes per second (MB/s), doubled from the 133 MB/s transfer rate of PCI bus 33 MHz / 32-bit; 3.3 V signaling.

Versions of AGP AGP 2x A 32-bit channel operating at 66 MHz double pumped to an effective 133 MHz resulting in a maximum data rate of 533 MB/s; signaling voltages the same as AGP 1x;

Versions of AGP AGP 4x A 32-bit channel operating at 66 MHz quad pumped to an effective 266 MHz resulting in a maximum data rate of 1066 MB/s (1 GB/s); 1.5 V signaling;

Versions of AGP AGP 8x A 32-bit channel operating at 66 MHz, strobing eight times per clock, delivering an effective 533 MHz resulting in a maximum data rate of 2133 MB/s (2 GB/s); 0.8 V signaling.

Versions of AGP AGP Pro AGP Pro is a extention to the standard AGP connector and slot on both sides to provide additional power to an AGP card. It comes in two flavors, AGP Pro110 provides for 50-110W of power and requires two adjacent PCI slots for cooling. AGP Pro50 provides for 20-50W of power and requires a single adjacent PCI slot for cooling.

Variations 64 bit AGP: A 64-bit channel. Used in high end professional graphic cards. AGP Express: Not a true AGP interface, but rather a way to allow an AGP card to be connected over the legacy PCI bus on a PCI Express motherboard.

Variations AGI: The ASRock Graphics Interface (AGI) is a proprietary variant of the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) standard. Its purpose is to provide AGP-support for those of Asrock's motherboards that use chipsets lacking native AGP-support.

Variations AGX: The EpoX Advanced Graphics eXtended (AGX) is also a proprietary variant of the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) standard. It shares the same problems with the AGI port explained above. User manuals even recommend not using AGP 8X ATI cards with AGX slots.

Variations XGP: The Biostar Xtreme Graphics Port is also a variant of the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) standard. It is similar to the two standards above, in that it supports AGP cards with chipsets that do not support AGP. Also like the above, it has support issues with many AGP cards.

Compatibility Compatibility, AGP Keys on card (top), on slot (bottom)

CONCLUSION Graphic Animation ? => => before now In the future