AGP Compatibiliyt - Graphics Card Upgrade

[Flinx]

Hi People,

I'm having some difficulty understanding compatibility with the various legacy AGP (1x,2x,4x,8x) offerings with regard to mobo<->graphics card. For reference and the source of my confusion <A HREF="http://www.ertyu.org/~steven_nikkel/agpcompatibility.html" target="_new"> THIS LINK </A>

The mobo is an ASUS P3V133 and states

VIA VT82C693A system controller
... with support for AGP 2X mode

The graphics card states:

4X (1.5V), 8X(0.5V) or Universal AGP 3.0 bus configuration 4X/8x

I had put the card in the machine and it booted just fine. Didn't go as far as installing an OS before I noticed that the BIOS options only had 1X/2X. I immediately got suspicious because this is a newly purchased card.

So will this card fry or is it compatible?

<A HREF="http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/nv18-nv28.html" target="_new"> Additional Link </A>

The loving are the daring!<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Flinx on 03/29/05 06:44 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The GF4ti supports more than just 1.5 and 0.8V[not 0.5 FYI], so I wouldn't worry. I assume that is the card you're using or is it something else?

Radeon 9600s and all the new ATi and nV cards are 1.5/0.8 IIRC. It'd be easier if you mentioned the card in question more than me picking and chosing those that do and don't support 3.3v.

Now if it's something like and R9700PRO/FX5900 you may be limited by your AGP bandwidth under certain situations, but it should still function properly.


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[Unolocogringo]

Is that 1x,2x or 1.0 ,2.0 Agp. Big difference.

I aint signing nothing!!!

 

[Flinx]

I didn't want to mention the card because I thought it would take away from the answer. The information provided is the information on the package of the graphics card (besides the name).

Shouldn't it be possible to tell from that?

The card is a Radeon 9250 Sapphire 64bit (ok it sucks)

The loving are the daring!

 

[Flinx]

What I don't understand is this.

It says on the box of the card "Universal AGP 3.0" and then (4X/8X).

But if you look at the link I gave you Universal AGP 3.0 supports 8x,4x,2x,1x and 3.3,1.5 and 0.8V. Further the card has both keys (cutout pins).. the 3.3V and the 1.5V

So now I'm confused !!!

The loving are the daring!<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Flinx on 03/29/05 08:57 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Spitfire_x86]

Radeon 9250 should work with AGP 2x. I think the card manufacturer didn't feel the need to advertise this on the box.

For example, most 8x cards (except R9600 Pro and newer ATI/NV cards) should work at AGP 2x, but you're probably not going to find this info on the card box.

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[Crashman]

You're reading at the wrong sites. <A HREF="http://www.sysopt.com/articles/agpupgrades/index.html" target="_new">Here's a better article</A>

If the card fits, it's supposed to work. Cards with 2 keys are "AGP Universal" and work with all AGP boards. AGP Universal cards support at least 2x and 4x, some also support 8x. The voltages related to those speeds are 3.3v, 1.5v, and 0.8v.

Unfortunately we have a bunch of noobs out there, if they see a card rated as 3.3v/1.5v/0.8v compatable, they WON'T buy it because their board says "1.5v cards only". They don't understand that the card adapts automatically and assume that any card compatable with multiple voltages will fry their board.

To combat that ignorance, most manufacturers have stopped advertizing 2x compatability for their 2x compatable cards.

So the way you can tell if a 4x or 8x card is compatable with 2x is if it has dual key notches. Simple as that.

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[Flinx]

Thank you everyone!

The loving are the daring!