x1, x2, x4 AGP Slot supported speeds??

[Crazy!]

Hiya as you know I've made a topic about graphic cards but I've just noticed alot of newer cards require x8 interface support but my computer doesn't have it, it's supports x1, x2, and x4 but no higher, what can I do?

[Jale]

If you saw a card with 8X on its box it means it works up to 8X, I mean, it works with 2X, 4X and 8X AGP speeds. My Radeon 9200 works up to 8X, but my AGP is up to 4X and it's doing fine, of course not at its full speed.

[Crazy!]

Thanks for clearing that up, no I didn't see it on a box, I saw it on Amazon.co.uk, here's 1 link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-6200A-25...&s=electronics

but now I understand it just shows the maximum it can handle, it's a shame mine hasn't got x8, anyway my new card will work great anyhow *when I decide to get it!!* Thanks!

EDIT_ This card sounds really cool and it say x8 on here too, I'd have to buy it from ebay though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-Rad...&s=electronics

[Jale]

A really nice card. 500 Mhz is hella fast compared to my 166 Mhz

I'm saving for a PCI-Express one.

[Crazy!]

Thanks, yeah it's a cool card, My intergrated S3 ProSavageDDR is only 100Mhz , I can't wait to get a new card! What's the difference between an AGP card and PCI-E or PCI?????

Thanks

[Jale]

PCI-Express is newer than AGP and PCI is the oldest of all:

PCI --> AGP --> PCI-Express.

Of course that PCI-Express is way faster than AGP, but your board has AGP support only. PCI-Express has a speed up to 16X (8 GB/s).

[Crazy!]

Oh ok that's interesting, PCI-Express must be pretty new then (16x, bloody hell)? Anyway getting a very good AGP card to upgrade will be enough for ages for me, I'm sure!

[onewecallgod]

of course not at its full speed.

it is running at full speed. the theoretical bandwith limit for 8x AGP of 4096mb/s was never maxed out for any card in the radeon 9 series or the nvidia 5 series. the highest ends of these series even had trouble reaching the cap of 4x.

since the nvidia 6 series is a whole 'nother beast, i'm not sure if that takes full, if any advantage of 8x. if you do end up buying the 6600GT, run 3dmark 2003 and post your results and i'll see if 8x makes a difference.

just a random aside: even the highest end (non single slot SLI) video cards (7900GTX, x1900xtx) don't max out 8x PCI-E, which has the same theoretical maximum as 8x AGP.

[Crazy!]

Hey, are you replying to me aswell as Butters?? Anyway I still haven't decided which card I'm getting, I'm going to make sure it's pretty decent though. I just NEED to get off ProSavage that's for sure! I would like to be able to play most of the newest games at good/very resolution. I'll do what you said, *if you were referring to me that is, it's only because you mentioned the 6600GT which I've mentioned before*. Thanks

[onewecallgod]

I would like to be able to play most of the newest games at good/very resolution.

that's not going to happen on a 6600GT budget. you need a 7800GS for the newest games to look good, which is the most powerful AGP card ever made.