[SOLVED] Difference between PCI & AGP slot

Ztcoracat · 04-05-2013, 11:19 PM

Hi:

I'm trying to upgrade my Desktop/System.

I'm finding that it's a little confusing where a new PCI wireless card would go and having trouble distinguishing if I can put in another 4GB of RAM as well.

I have a MSI AMD 780G/780v chipset
MSI k9A2GM/K9A2VM mainboard-

I wouldn't want to put the new PCI Wireless card in the wrong slot-
http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...+n+pci+adapter

How do I tell which slot is for PCI and which is for AGP?

When I open the tower is it possible that the board is going to have to be disconnected to pursue any kind of hardware upgrading?

Ztcoracat · 04-05-2013, 11:49 PM

Found the motherboard online:
http://xtreview.com/addcomment.php?id=4957&view=crysis

Quote:

Memory: Dual-channel, 4x DIMM DDR 2-533/667/800/1066, up to 8 GB;

Is is safe to assume another 4GB of RAM can be put in this Desktop based on this description?

Would upgrading void my warranty?

cascade9 · 04-06-2013, 12:55 AM

You raelly have to find the model of your motherboard. K9A2GM/K9A2VM covers a whole bunch of models, with different chipsets (740+ 780) different max RAM, different number of RAM slots, etc.. NEVER use 3rd patry sites (like 'xtreview.com') to fidn out what the board is capable of if you can get the information from the manufacturer.

Try lshw (as su) it should get the the full motherboard model. If that fails, use the 'eyeball' method, most MSI boards have the full model marked.

There is no AGP on those boards. See this to get an idea of the difference between AGP, PCI and PCIe-

http://kaizan28.hubpages.com/hub/PC-...tout-the-years

You shouldnt need to 'disconnect' the motherboard. You will need to remove the power cord/switch the PSU off (I do both if possible). Not a bad idea to remove the power cord, then hit the power button..they helps drain the caps, making it a tiny bit safer.

Ztcoracat · 04-06-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

If that fails, use the 'eyeball' method, most MSI boards have the full model marked.

Since running that cmd as root didn't provide any information. Looks like I'm going to have to physically look at the board. Thanks for telling me about the power cord and hitting the power button. I didn't know-

Thanks for the link.

haertig · 04-06-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

How do I tell which slot is for PCI and which is for AGP?

A PCI card won't fit into an AGP slot, and an AGP card won't fit into a PCI slot.

Quote:

Would upgrading void my warranty?

It's a pretty sure bet that if your motherboard even has an AGP slot, it's so old that your warrantee would be long expired by now. But no, adding memory or a new card does not invalidate your motherboard warrantee. That's why they have slots in the first place - so you can plug things into them.

Ztcoracat · 04-06-2013, 08:53 PM

Thanks; haertig for answering my questions.

I checked the reciept and my Desktop is only four years old but the warrantee is for 5 years--

I'll open the tower when I'm a little more educated with some more certainty about my motherboard and which slot is which. So far from reading I'm able to distinguish the PCI slot from the RAM-
But I'd like to learn a tad more before proceeding.

Thank you

haertig · 04-06-2013, 09:21 PM

I can't think of any case, none at all, where you could plug an incorrect device into an incorrect slot. They are all different sizes and are "keyed" differently. If you try to "force a square peg into a round hole" so to speak, it just won't fit. But if you persist in trying anyway, you will break something.

The extra memory slot should be the easiest to identify. It will be right next the currently used memory slot(s) and look just like it. But all your memory slots may already be used. You will need to open the case and look. If they are all used, you will need to throw away some of your existing memory so that you may replace it with a higher capacity memory module in the newly vacated slot.

When messing with anything on your motherboard, but especially with memory and CPU's, you need to use static protection. Get a static wrist strap and static mat and learn how to properly use them.

If you can't find any info on your motherboard at all, you can probably take a picture of it, post a link to the picture here, and I'm sure many can help you identify what is what.

cascade9 · 04-07-2013, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Since running that cmd as root didn't provide any information. Looks like I'm going to have to physically look at the board.

I would bet that motehrboard model is in your lshw readout, just you dont recognise it. If you post your lshw readout, myself or somebody else should be able to tell you the motherboard model.

Quote:

Originally Posted by haertig

A PCI card won't fit into an AGP slot, and an AGP card won't fit into a PCI slot.

Not if you are sane and/or are able to mkae lego blocks fit together. But I've seen PCI in AGP at least once (and yes, they did have to take the backplane off the card to get it to 'fit' LOL)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Thanks; haertig for answering my questions.

I checked the reciept and my Desktop is only four years old but the warrantee is for 5 years--

I'll open the tower when I'm a little more educated with some more certainty about my motherboard and which slot is which. So far from reading I'm able to distinguish the PCI slot from the RAM-

Hmm, must be a 'shop' warrenty, MSI only give 3 years max IIRC.

Its a lot easier to figure out what slot is what from looking a real motherboard over checking web pages. Neat hint- AGP, PCI, PCIe and all the other obsolete slots are always next to each other and the expansion slots on the rare of the case. RAM slots can appear in all sorts of places, but its most common at the top right (next to the CPU, futher away from the rear of the case).

Ztcoracat · 04-07-2013, 12:17 PM

Tried to run lshw:

Code:

ztcoracat@:~$ su
Password: 
root@:/home/ztcoracat# lshw
bash: lshw: command not found
root@:/home/ztcoracat#

I'm in a dual boot with Win's Xp maybe "System Information" will provide some information (a friend suggested looking) regarding the motherboard if not I'll just reboot to my fav distro-

Quote:

obsolete slots are always next to each other and the expansion slots on the rare of the case. RAM slots can appear in all sorts of places, but its most common at the top right (next to the CPU, futher away from the rear of the case).

Got that; in fact that will keep me sane during this upgrade-

I don't have a static kit so I will have to purchase one-

Ztcoracat · 04-07-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

If you can't find any info on your motherboard at all, you can probably take a picture of it, post a link to the picture here, and I'm sure many can help you identify what is what.

Looks like that's my only option-

I shouldn't need a static kit just to open the tower and take a pic; right?

Ztcoracat · 04-07-2013, 12:38 PM

Code:

root@:/home/ztcoracat# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor	: 0
vendor_id	: AuthenticAMD
cpu family	: 16
model		: 2
model name	: AMD Phenom(tm) 9850 Quad-Core Processor
stepping	: 3
cpu MHz		: 1250.000
cache size	: 512 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 4
core id		: 0
cpu cores	: 4
apicid		: 0
initial apicid	: 0
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 5
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow constant_tsc rep_good nonstop_tsc extd_apicid pni monitor cx16 popcnt lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch osvw ibs
bogomips	: 4988.90
TLB size	: 1024 4K pages
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 48 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management: ts ttp tm stc 100mhzsteps hwpstate

processor	: 1
vendor_id	: AuthenticAMD
cpu family	: 16
model		: 2
model name	: AMD Phenom(tm) 9850 Quad-Core Processor
stepping	: 3
cpu MHz		: 1250.000
cache size	: 512 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 4
core id		: 1
cpu cores	: 4
apicid		: 1
initial apicid	: 1
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 5
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow constant_tsc rep_good nonstop_tsc extd_apicid pni monitor cx16 popcnt lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch osvw ibs
bogomips	: 4989.08
TLB size	: 1024 4K pages
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 48 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management: ts ttp tm stc 100mhzsteps hwpstate

processor	: 2
vendor_id	: AuthenticAMD
cpu family	: 16
model		: 2
model name	: AMD Phenom(tm) 9850 Quad-Core Processor
stepping	: 3
cpu MHz		: 1250.000
cache size	: 512 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 4
core id		: 2
cpu cores	: 4
apicid		: 2
initial apicid	: 2
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 5
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow constant_tsc rep_good nonstop_tsc extd_apicid pni monitor cx16 popcnt lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch osvw ibs
bogomips	: 4988.91
TLB size	: 1024 4K pages
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 48 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management: ts ttp tm stc 100mhzsteps hwpstate

processor	: 3
vendor_id	: AuthenticAMD
cpu family	: 16
model		: 2
model name	: AMD Phenom(tm) 9850 Quad-Core Processor
stepping	: 3
cpu MHz		: 1250.000
cache size	: 512 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 4
core id		: 3
cpu cores	: 4
apicid		: 3
initial apicid	: 3
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 5
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow constant_tsc rep_good nonstop_tsc extd_apicid pni monitor cx16 popcnt lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch osvw ibs
bogomips	: 4988.93
TLB size	: 1024 4K pages
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 48 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management: ts ttp tm stc 100mhzsteps hwpstate


Posting what I'm thinking could be helpful-

Quote:

# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.5 present.

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 15 bytes
Base Board Information
Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
Product Name: MS-7501
Version: 1.0
Serial Number: To be filled by O.E.M.
Asset Tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Features:
Board is a hosting board
Board is replaceable
Location In Chassis: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Chassis Handle: 0x0003
Type: Motherboard
Contained Object Handles: 0

Handle 0x0025, DMI type 10, 6 bytes
On Board Device Information
Type: Video
Status: Enabled
Description: To Be Filled By O.E.M.

haertig · 04-07-2013, 02:54 PM

Based on the info in your dmidecode output, here is the user manual for your motherboard:

http://download2.msi.com/files/downl.../E7501v1.0.zip

haertig · 04-07-2013, 02:59 PM

There are no AGP slots on that motherboard for you to be confused with. You have some PCI slots (two), and a PCIeX16 slot and a PCIeX1 slot. You have four memory slots. Your memory slots are four all right next to each other, all identical, and they are the longest of all the slots on the motherboard. They are labeled DIMM1, DIMM2, DIMM3, and DIMM4.

Ztcoracat · 04-07-2013, 09:03 PM

haertig:

Thanks for the link!
I downloaded the:

Code:

E 7501v1.0. zip pdf
that's 3.9 MB

Here's a screenshot of the pic of the motherboard--

http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/Ul...tml?sort=3&o=0

Looking at the board I see the PCI 1
And the PCI 2.......is obviously where I'd place the new PCI Wireless adapter card I want to purchase- However:
Does it matter which slot?

Ztcoracat · 04-07-2013, 09:12 PM

Looking at all 4 slots:

Quote:

DIMM1, DIMM2, DIMM3, and DIMM4.

As you mentioned; I may have to take out old RAM modules and put in the new one I purchase. Which DIMM slot would I choose to put in additional RAM?