Ok, you great folks have helped me identify what my graphics (ghosting) issue was and my graphics card is going south.

Now I have read a gazillion threads on PCI vs AGP and it is obvious that AGP is the arrangement of choice by most here.

I know the graphics card I need to replace is a PCI. I found this out by viewing the system hardware properties.

My question is: How do I know if I can support / install an AGP card or not? I assume they are different slot types, but I don't know if I have one for AGP or not. Can anyone help me determine this?

PCI and AGP slots are different. You will find the AGP slopt between the PCI slots and the CPU. It is usually brown in colour while the PCI slots are white. It will also be set back slightly in relation to the PCI slots. It will be the only slot of its type on the motherboard.

Stuart

Ok, now I am really confused.

The slot you described is in my computer. As a matter-of-fact upon close inspection, it is labeled "AGP" this is great except it is also what my current graphics card is installed in. However, when I checked the device properties again, it did infact say "PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0

So am I currently screwed up configuration wise or is it just that I am reading the device properties incorrectly?

Thanks again, you all on this board are great!

yeah for some reason the properties will say PCI it says the same on mine im not exactly sure why but its nothing to worry about as it does it on all of my machines with AGP cards, The best way to tell is to just open your machine up and take a look as you have already found out. If your having trouble with the current card i recommend you remove it and put it back in as AGP cards are very funny about the way they are seated. Anyway good luck

Download and run aida32. This is a free utility that will give you the manufacturer and model of your motherboard. Go to the MB manufacturer's site and check the specs for your exact MB. It is possible that you have onboard AGP. There are other types of slots somtimes located between the processor and the PCI slots. These could be audio of communication riser slots. Best to check with the MB maker. Also, you need to know which version of AGP you have, if present. (AGP 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x) This is needed because not all new AGP cards will work in all AAGP slots. Hope this helps.

This is normal. The AGP slot is an extension of the PCI bus. If you look at the PCI devices it will say PCI bus 0, device x, function x and many of them. There will only be one PCI Bus 1.

Stuart

Check your bios settings - there is a place to set your video as AGP or PCI (default is PCI on many mboards) - may be also a place to assign an IRQ to AGP. When you enable an IRQ for AGP, there may also be a bios setting to enable an IRQ for VGA - must be enabled for video in Dos Prompt/MsDos mode in Windows (often uses the same IRQ).

e.g. My bios is Award 4.51pg
- on "PNP/PCI Config" page - Init Display First - (PCI, or) AGP
- on "Integrated Peripherals" page - Assign IRQ for AGP (disable, or) enable. Assign IRQ for VGA (disable, or) enable.

This URL should be more helpful helpful - there's a picture of the PCI and AGP slots. Take a look here http://www.thepc.info/PCI-AGP.html

Thanks for all your help everyone. This is by far the best site for any help you need.

Thanks again!