PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect History Created by Intel to replace the IBM's MCA. Created for standardization PCI Ports Video Card (legacy or hard to find) Sound Card USB hubs NIC Disk controllers (IDE) http://www.barc.gov.in/technologies/images/pc_mca_if.jpg

PCI-X Peripheral Component Interconnect extended History Products Developed by IBM, Compaq/HP. PCI-X only found in servers Overcome limitations of PCI Introduction of faster products Products Raid Controllers Fiber & Gigabit Ethernet

North Bridge & South Bridge Communicates and handles all the information received from your components. North Bridge Handles communication from RAM (depends on manufacture) to the CPU Handles communication from the South Bridge to the CPU. Think of them like secretaries to the CPU. http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/motherboard-bridges-diagram.jpg

AGP Accelerated Graphics Port History Created by Intel Interface made for Graphics No longer used (legacy)

PCI VS AGP Why AGP when you have PCI? PCI can’t handle the Graphical Demand Integrated GPU into North Bridge Faster speeds.

PCI express History So WHY another Port? Created by Intel, Dell, HP, and IBM So WHY another Port? Design improvements Made to handle any component Replacement for AGP and PCI

PCI express versions x1x4x8x16 They are forward compatible with each other. Allows for high-end & low end card Also helps manufacture