agp backwards compatible

[Ciffer]

i have spent all of my money on a motherboard and need a video card that works well enough to last me a few weeks. the motherboard uses agp 8x and was wondering if i can use a agp 1x card until i can get a good card.

[glock19owner]

Yes you can...and it is a waste to get a 8x AGP card right now...4x is more then pleanty right now...will be for another year or so...

[ninthebin]

well most newer motherboards now will carry 8x so you maynot have a choice if your getting a recent one

[SunRedRX7]

Depends, some AGP8X boards will not work with the older 3.3V, which tends to be cards before AGP2X cards and back.

The A7N8X has a red LED that lights up to let you know that the card is incompatible and it also disables the ability to power on the board to prevent frying the mobo.

[glock19owner]

Originally posted by ninthebin
well most newer motherboards now will carry 8x so you maynot have a choice if your getting a recent one

Just beacause the MB supports 8x doesn't mean you have to use a 8x AGP card...hence why you can disable 8x in the BIOS on most MB's...and if you can't it will automaticly detect what AGP the card is...

Originally posted by SunRedRX7
Depends, some AGP8X boards will not work with the older 3.3V, which tends to be cards before AGP2X cards and back.

The A7N8X has a red LED that lights up to let you know that the card is incompatible and it also disables the ability to power on the board to prevent frying the mobo.

Good point...forgot about the older cards being 3.3v's and the newer cards being at 1.5v's...


key thing is...what MB did you get?

[Avatar28]

AGP 8X spec is NOT backwards compatible to before 4x. Just as 4x wasn't compatible with 1x. Where the heck did you find a 1x AGP card anyways? Pay $15-20 and get an el cheapo 4x agp card. Even the TNT2s were mostly 4x.

Something like this.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AG315P-64

You can also find some other cheap 4x cards floating around too. Try ebay. A lot of them can be had for a song.

http://listings.ebay.com/pool2/plistings/lowest/all/category40156/index.html?from=R4

[glock19owner]

So you are saying 8x is not backwards compatible...then how can I run my 4x AGP GF3 Ti200 when 8x AGP is enabled...and it still reads as a 4x AGP card...

If you statement was true...then my system should not be able to boot up with 8x enabled...

Also, how was I able to run my old GF2 MX400 which is 2x on my 4x AGP 8KHA+?

8x AGP means it will handle up to 8x AGP...but what isn't backwards comp. is the voltage...you cant run a 1.5v card in a 3.3v AGP slot...same as you can not run a 3.3v AGP card in a 1.5v AGP slot...

[four4875]

Originally posted by Avatar28
AGP 8X spec is NOT backwards compatible to before 4x. Just as 4x wasn't compatible with 1x. Where the heck did you find a 1x AGP card anyways? Pay $15-20 and get an el cheapo 4x agp card. Even the TNT2s were mostly 4x.

Something like this.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AG315P-64

You can also find some other cheap 4x cards floating around too. Try ebay. A lot of them can be had for a song.

http://listings.ebay.com/pool2/plistings/lowest/all/category40156/index.html?from=R4

my rage is 2X, and ran on my asus, WITH 8 x enabled ven...

[SpaceyWilly]

agp backwards is PGA. i don't think that's compatible with many mobos ;)

[Avatar28]

No, I said that BY THE SPEC it's not backwards compatible to before 4x AGP. I.E. to 1x and 2x. It IS compatible with 4x AGP. I do know that it's possible to fry the slot by putting in a 2x card and personally I wouldn't risk it. If your 2x card uses 1.5v signaling, the same as AGP 4x, you might be all right.

Incidentally, I think Asus uses AGP Pro slots, so I'm not certain how that would affect the backwards compatibility.

[glock19owner]

Originally posted by Avatar28
Incidentally, I think Asus uses AGP Pro slots, so I'm not certain how that would affect the backwards compatibility.

As long as you don't pull the Pro sticker off the front of the AGP slot when using a non pro card...everything should be ok, as long as it is a 1.5v AGP card...but once you pull the AGP Pro tab off the AGP slot...you will have to buy a AGP Pro card...

[Ciffer]

i have the "DFI Motherboard for AMD Processors, "LAN Party" Model NFII"

it is a seriously leet motherboard

[Avatar28]

Originally posted by glock19owner


As long as you don't pull the Pro sticker off the front of the AGP slot when using a non pro card...everything should be ok, as long as it is a 1.5v AGP card...but once you pull the AGP Pro tab off the AGP slot...you will have to buy a AGP Pro card...

No you don't. I think they just tell you to leave it in there for protection. I took it off my CUSLC and it still worked just fine.

[glock19owner]

Thats cool...glad you gave it a try first...lol...I was always told not to remove it or you would have to get a AGP Pro card...even on my A+ cert. test that was the correct answer...but I also took mine a year or 2 ago...when AGP Pro slots first started comming out...