Cheap Video Card...

[CaptainHaplo]

Standard vs low profile - cases come in various "sizes" - business ones usually are smaller "boxes" - the components are packed in a lot tighter. These use the "low profile" style card - its about half height of a standard sized card. This is because the box they fit into is not as high (or "thick") as a standard XT case. Basically your normal is 4.2"and a low profile is 2.1" height.

Standard is what you normally would get with a regular size pc case. If your existing 8800 is a regular card, then you need a standard sized card to fit.

The thing about the PNY I linked - is it is a smaller card but comes mounted on a standard size end - so it fits a standard pc. If you need it for a low profile machine - there is a "shorter" faceplate that you switch out - so it fits in the smaller machine. Really nice design to work in either "size".

Now - PCIe. "x16" - It has 16 "lanes" for data to travel back and forth. More lanes = faster data transfer.

But the version is important. V1 or 1.1 can transfer stuff at 250MB/s - while V2 doubles that rate. This means that the version is a multiplier for the lanes. They have a x32 card - and running at v1.1 would be the same data transfer rate as a x16 card running v2.

Basically - as long as its a V2 capable card, and most are - your fine. Even if your running v1 - its backwards compatible.

V2.1 breaks that - but not many cards/boards are 2.1 for that very reason. 3.0 was released, but it is not readily available either.

Just stick with a x16 card - v2 preferably and you will be fine.