PCI Express for G3

[Hotrod69]

Just bought G3, problem is I don't have a computer yet. I'm doing this a little backwards, I need to know if anyone has loaded G3 on a computer using a PCI Express video card vs. AGP. All the new computers are coming with PCI now not AGP. The HP that I am considering has a ATI Redeon X300 128 PCI Express card. I see nothing on the G3 website about these ATI PCI cards. Any computer help would be appreciated, maybe even a tech guy from Real Flight could help?

Thanks, Eric

[rutat]

As long as ity has full level DX9.0 support (which it appears to have) it should be fine. PCI Express is the new std. BTW, avoid the "SE" (Special Edition") cards as a general rule.

[Hotrod69]

Ok the computer I am considring has a "SE" card in it. Now I am confused, what is the reason for avoiding these cards? The more info I have the better. Thanks for the reply by the way.

[rutat]

Some (and I stress SOME) of the SE - Special Edition cards throttle back on buswidth or number of pipes, etc. For example the SE version of the Radeon X300 is about 30% slower than the regular edition!

[Hotrod69]

Thanks, I will move on and look for an non "SE" card. Hard to find an off the shelf computer with a higer-end video card. Seems like when they go higher on the card they go to the extreme on all the other hardware and the computer gets too expensive, they like to badge tham as "gamer computers". Might have to have one built.

[rutat]

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20050524/ Good round up of PCI -X cards here.