Simple English, dear!
Motherboards have various slots for additional components like video cards, audio cards etc.
A long time ago those were ISA and then E[nhanced]ISA slots. They were very long, almost as long as the Motherboard itself and the contacts seemed like 1/4 inch wide.
You can't find them on any regular motherboards since around 2000.
Since the early 90s they were slowly replaced by the PCI slot. Much smaller, and the contacts were about 1/8th inch wide (not exactly but I'm just saying)
They are still in use for peripherals like net cards, audio etc.
In the mean time graphic cards moved from the PCI to an AGP slot. What an improvement in bandwidth that made.
Anyway, since 2003 we have now the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express slot, or PCIe, replacing the AGP slot.
PCIe is of course much much faster than any of the previous slots.
First PCIe Version 1.0, then 2.0/2.1 and soon 3.0. Most motherboards sold today have PCIe 2.0 slots.
Of course there are variants like the full length PCIe x16 slot, the short PCIe x1, and in between the x4 and the x8 slot.
Some motherboards have just one x16 slot, and usually the pricier the board, the more x16 slots are available.
Some motherboards have two x16 slots but split the bandwidth between each other if both slots are occupied. Some don't.
Some geeks want at least 2 or more PCIe x16 slots going full speed so they can install two, three or even four graphic cards.
There are freaks out there running 10 24-inch monitors in an array of 5x2 and they need some serious Graphic cards and the necessary PCIe slots.
Now we're talking "eyefinity". One large surround sound picture spanning 180 degrees for a 3D experience of a lifetime.
Now, back to reality. I
need want to upgrade. A budget build it
will should be. Got the perfect graphic card.
Need basically everything except the case and the power supply.
I'm toying with top of the line motherboard, cheap memory/processor now and get something better down the line, or great processor now but cheap motherboard, and throw that to the curb next year for something more advanced.
Decisions, decisions!
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