# Motherboards
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 3, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109 "2002-06-03T07:16:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@timjw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timjw)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/1 "2002-06-03T07:16:34Z")
I am about to upgrade my video card from 8meg pci card to a 64meg agp card. The motherboard has an agp slot made with two sections, but the agp video card has three sections. Does that make sense?
Also, what video cards are good in regards to performance?
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### Author:  [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/2 "2002-06-03T09:31:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The motherboard has an agp slot made with two sections, but the agp video card has three sections. Does that make sense?
In other words, your AGP slot looks like this: ==== ===
While your AGP card looks like this: ==== === ==
Yes?
That is weird, because all the AGP slots I’ve ever seen only have one section…
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### Author:  [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/3 "2002-06-03T10:51:23Z")
Tell us what motherboard you have, so we can see it.
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### Author:  [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/4 "2002-06-03T12:39:17Z")
There aren’t any leads on that third section of PCB board on which your video card resides are there? I’m not exactly sure why they do that but don’t worry. Uninstall your current video card drivers under safe mode. Boot back up into safe mode and install the plane jane VGA drivers that work with any card. Power down then throw that new card in and turn on your computer. Voila! You are done.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/5 "2002-06-03T13:47:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Amazing Tiki God \*
> **There aren’t any leads on that third section of PCB board on which your video card resides are there? I’m not exactly sure why they do that…**
This is the AGP Pro (or Extended AGP) specification. That extra third bit is there for workstation caliber graphics cards and is used (if it is used) for extra power (as in extra electricity to run the card). Most cards for home use won’t have any contacts printed there so it appears unused.
I am not certain if an Extended AGP card will fit in a non-extended AGP slot. I think it might (just kinda hanging over the end of the slot) but you might want to double check to be certain.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/6 "2002-06-03T14:00:28Z")
I guess I should note that if the graphics card you bought actually has metal leads on that third bit of the connector then you WILL need a mobo with an AGP Pro graphics slot on it. Mobos that have such a slot almost always say so in their specifications so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one.
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### Author:  [@timjw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timjw)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/7 "2002-06-03T16:59:22Z")
Which AGP graphic cards are not AGP Pro. Is there AGP cards with only two sections?
The m/b is a matsonic MS7192S
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### Author:  [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboards/112109/8 "2002-06-03T17:17:08Z")
Very few cards are of the AGP Pro variety. If you want recommendations on a video card and some more information e-mail at the address in my profile and I’ll do my best to help you out.