PCI slots

Harleybutch,

 

The Dimension 3000 has 3 PCI slots on the system mainboard.  Check this link for a picture of the system mainboard (motherboard):

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/techov.htm#wp1061217

 

Note that you are viewing the mainboard as if your computer were laying on it's side and your knees were up against the back of the computer.  Here is a definition for PCI slot:

 

http://peripherals.about.com/od/computertermglossary/g/definepci.htm

 

PCI slots are usually white.  You can plug PCI cards into PCI slots.  PCI cards can add functionality to your computer, such as a modem, or a network card or a firewire card or a wireless network card.  There are many different PCI cards which can be added to your computer to add functions to it. 

 

Here is a definition of AGP slot:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Graphics_Port

 

AGP slots are usually brown and a video card will be installed into it.  Your computer does not have an AGP slot.  Instead, your computer has the functionality of a video card built right into the motherboard. 

 

Firewire is actually the name given by Apple Computer to a particular high speed data connection port.  You can purchase a PCI card with a firewire port to add that function to your computer. 

 

Steve

PCI slots are used to add optional circuit boards, known as "cards", such as a modem, firewire card (used typically for connecting a video camera to the computer or sometimes an external hard drive, and yes, the 3000 has 3 PCI slots but typically only one or two are unused and available for an add-on card.)  The one AGP slot is used for an optional video card, which would be superior to the integrated video standard on many 3000's.  There are no firewire slots bult into the computer.  It is part of an optional firewire or possibly a higher-end audio card added to an open PCI slot.  Go to wikipedia.com for answers to questions like yours. 

:-)

 

 

Sorry, I forgot the 3000 does not have an AGP video slot.  Thanks BigBrother.