Is it correct that the purpose of nVIDIA’s HSI chip is simply to allow the use of current GPUs in the new cards with the new (non-AGP) PCI-E interface?
Yes.
The description of the AGP8x nV6800 features mentions full PCI-E support.
Which is PR BS. The only true fully PCI-EX card from nv will come out later. It may have some PCI-EX support, but won't be 100% PCI-EX. But there's no indication that will make any difference yet so the PR may not matter since there may be no appreciable difference, but no one knows yet.
But how is this possible if the card is AGP8x and uses a standard AGP interface connector? Is this to say that there will be hybrid AGP/PCI-E motherboards?
No, the connector will be PCI-EX, not AGP, the only part AGP connects WITHIN THE PCB to the HSI chip which then connects to the PCI-EX tab. And while there could be PCI-EX and AGP boards, there will likely NOT be any, for economic and marketing reasons. You'd have to make sure your chipset supported both at the same time, and likely no onbe will go that route because it means extra money, and who's going to spend significantly more money for and AGP/PCI-EX board over just a plain FAST PCI-EX or AGP board? Just like you CAN have 2 AGP slots on any of our current and older boards, but no one ever felt the expense was worth it. Also like it is unlikely that there will be dual PCI-X 16X boards in the near future either.
The think it's clear, but no one knows yet, it's not just a change to twice the speed of AGP. Likely no impact but I doubt Lars knew for sure at the time of writing (unless he had an X880 in his hands/rig).
It is also clear that PCI-E motherboards will likely require new everything: memory, CPU, PC case, etc. (and it seems to me that the full line of well-tested PCI-E compliant components will not be available at reasonable prices for at least a year or two).
Not necessarily new memory, alot of them are DDR400 compliant (many socket 939 solutions are DDR400 based [some have DDR and DDR2 support simultaneously, like the initial SDRAM/DDR boards, which is easier to institute than AGP+PCI_EX16X]). PC case, nope, most are still ATX, not the new BTX. As for CPU, well that was the case anyways, heck my board doesn't support the latest Bartons, let alone AMD64. The PCI-EX compliant parts are ready to be sprung on the world, the PCX line of the last generation nV parts have been waiting for a while, and nV and Creative have soundcards waiting to go. So the wait isn't as long as you think. Reasonable, nothing's 'reasonable' in this area of upgrading, we are talking about bleeding edge for the first few months, just like everything else. Were AMD64s all that cheap first month?).
I am now thinking that the way to go is NOT to wait for PCI-E to become a widely accepted new standard which replaces AGP since this will take a long time
ATI and nV don't agree with you, and neither do I. Once they start, he end is near for the old standards. They'll be legacy PCI slots, but AGP will go very quick indeed, and unlike PCI graphics cards, there will be little reason to keep the old AGP going for as long.
I am now thinking that a good AGP8x motherboard + nV6800 (or this next ATI card if it beats nV6800) is a reasonable solution that will go strong for 2+ years
It may play games for 2+ years, just like GF3s/R8500s still play games now, but they won't be anywhere near the forefront of the buyers' guides by even next year (except for as a foot not like the FX5600PCI and R9100PCI).
Am I seen this right or I am completely misguided here?
I just don't think you realize how behind all of this Intel, nV, and ATI are. Look at their roadmaps, there are no AGP cards in them beyond this fall.
- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram