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AGP 4x or 8x ??

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - AGP 4x or 8x ??

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HYDRA   04-20-2004 at 05:12:31 PM

Hi!

I'm using a GeForce FX 5600 256mb card, and it can handle up to 8x AGP. When I checked my Nvidia properties today, I noticed it only runs with 4x. I am not sure my system can handle 8x, but I would really like to know if it can, and if I can change it in BIOS or something. Maybe it would work in 8x automatically if it was supported?

I have upgraded from an older card (which was 4x AGP), and reformated when I installed this one.

Checked BIOS but can't find any information at all about AGP speed....

Help appreciated! Thanks!

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lik   04-20-2004 at 05:21:28 PM
- 0 +

if you know the model of your mb then check the web in brand site for it. but it won't make much diference between 4x and 8x...

P4-2800->FSB800, Asus P4P800, 512DDR-400, Radeon 9800 Pro - 128Mb

Reply to lik
HYDRA   04-20-2004 at 05:32:51 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for fast reply.

Don't know model of my mb.. Isn't 8x twice as fast as 4x? (If I use 8x I would get double speed comparing to 4x??)

What's the easiest way to check model and brand of motherboard? I opened up but saw nothing... I bought my computer with motherboard in it, so I have no papers etc about it.

Reply to HYDRA
Cleeve   04-20-2004 at 05:48:47 PM
- 0 +

8x is not twice as fast as 4x. As a matter of fact, in most cases there is 0 difference.

The reason is, video cards have a hard time using up the bandwidth that 4xAGP offers.

Think of it this way: If your car tops out at 100 MPH, it's not going to go any faster on a 4-lane highway than it would go on a 2-lane highway.

Double the lanes = no increase in speed when the limiting factor is your engine, dig?

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9500 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(hardmodded 9500, o/c 340/310)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~2750+</b></font color=red> <i>(2400+ @2.2Ghz)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,055</b>

Reply to Cleeve
Crashman   04-21-2004 at 04:51:28 AM
- 0 +

8x AGP has the same benefit on your video card as raising a speed limiter from 150 to 300MPH on a ford escort, the escort isn't going to go much faster than 110MPH regardless of the "limit".

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

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BigBobOz   05-13-2004 at 10:33:53 AM
- 0 +

I've got a 4x motherboard as well and am looking at upgrading my video card so how do you work out wether an 8x card will still work at its best in a 4x motherboard?

Any info appreciated!

Reply to BigBobOz
cryo   05-13-2004 at 10:58:18 AM
- 0 +

Yes. Definitely.
At least for the cards up to GF FX5950 or Radeon 9800XT.
I'm pretty sure that this is valid also for GF 6800 and X800.

"I cannot give you a brain, but I can give you a diploma"
- The Wizard of Oz, talking to the Scarecrow

Reply to cryo
Crashman   05-14-2004 at 12:12:46 AM
- 0 +

The 9800XT only gets a miniscule gain from using AGP8x instead of 4x, every card noticably shower than that should have not gain at all.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

Reply to Crashman
BigBobOz   05-14-2004 at 12:35:20 AM
- 0 +

That's what I've suspected! But how do you work that out without trying it in two motherboards? I'm having an argument with one of our IT guys at work on the issue.

Reply to BigBobOz
Cleeve   05-14-2004 at 01:04:45 AM
- 0 +

It's been tried on the same motherboard with 4x AGP Ti4200s and 8x AGP Ti4200s, notably on toms:

<A HREF="http://www17.tomshardware.com/graphic/200210041/nv18_nv28-05.html" target="_new">http://www17.tomshardware.com/graphic/200210041/nv18_nv28-05.html</A>

Absolutely no difference.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9500 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(hardmodded 9500, o/c 340/310)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~2600+</b></font color=red> <i>(2400+ @ 2145 Mhz)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,055</b>

Reply to Cleeve
Crashman   05-14-2004 at 01:13:00 AM
- 0 +

You can put the card on an AGP 8x board and kick it down to 4x, and back up to 8x, in software, to see!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

Reply to Crashman
Confoundicator   05-14-2004 at 01:15:15 AM
- 0 +

Or you could just run 3DMark at both settings and compare.

I can already hear the counter-argument, "But the Ti4200 is a much less powerful card than the 9800's and up."

If I had a 8X motherboard I'd do it myself and post the results. But I don't.

He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it, hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart. -C.S. Lewis

Reply to Confoundicator
BigBobOz   05-14-2004 at 01:24:32 AM
- 0 +

Of course! Great idea, thanks

Reply to BigBobOz
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