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No Wonder User - Nov 14, 1998 - 11:04 am

KNOWLEDGE LEVEL: Beginner

PROBLEM: No Problem
COMPUTER TYPE: Gateway 2000
MODEL: Pentium II 300
RAM: 64meg
OS VERSION: Windows 98
SERVICE PACK:

DESCRIPTION:

Have a gateway 2000 PC with Pentium II 300 mhz processor running Windows 98. In the PC I have (as per gateway tech support) 'The system is a pci bus with agp video card'. further they state 'you have a STB mpact video card with integrated dvd'. The board contains 4 meg of video memory.

My 1st question is: I though agp was a type of bus like pci. Is it possible to have a agp video board on a pci bus as tech support states?

Question 2: I am unable to run certain game software with this video board as it seems to only run 'direct 3d' games and no other 3d based games. Can I install a 3dfx (or something simular) also into my pc and somehow plug my monitor into the 3dfx board instead??

Question 3: If I can do it, per question 2, what exactly would I need in the way of boards and cabling??

Any help that you can provide is greatly appreciated. I have been trying for awhile to get an answer to these questions, but was getting no where. Saw this web site mentioned in the current issue of PC Magazine and am hoping that you guys can assist.

Thanks again for any/all help.

Best regards,

Tom Smith
tsmith3959@aol.com

No Wonder Tech - Nov 14, 1998 - 3:12 pm

Tom:

I will answer your questions by the numbering you had them in.

1) No...you can not use a AGP video card in a PCI slot. You can though, have a PCI video card (to plug into your PCI slot) and not a AGP video card. AGP and PCI are not backwards compaitible.
2) Yes, you can purchase a 3dfx card, such as a Creative 3D blaster, Diamond Monster 3D I or II, Pure 3D, etc. (Question 3) These video cards plugs into a PCI slot and include a extra cable. This extra cable is used to hook your exisiting video card into the 3D card. It is a external cable that goes from your "video out" into the "video in" 3D card. Then you plug your moniter into the 3D card. The 3D card is ONLY used when apps need it (such as 3dfx games). Any other time you are using your regular video card.
Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
James Kelley