AGP 4X and 8X

[Desert Rain]

I am putting together a pc for my mum using an old abit bd7II mb, which has an AGP 4X slot.

Does anyone know if I can put an 8X card into this board or have i got to find an old 4X card?

Thanks

Peter

 

[sunlitsix]

an AGP 8x card will work fine in the slot, it will run at AGP 4x speed

 

[semi-pro waster]

It works fine and if memory serves there is only about 5% difference in performance normally anyway so it isn't any great problem.

 

[Rick_Barnes]

i dunno, but isnt there issues if its an AGP 2x-4x slot when trying to use a 8x card?

 

[ob1]

Really old boards used a higher voltage, think it switched from 3v to 1.5v at some point and they are not compatible. Check the manual I guess, I think 4x is 1.5v

 

[semi-pro waster]

i dunno, but isnt there issues if its an AGP 2x-4x slot when trying to use a 8x card?

AGP 4x is 1.5v as said, AGP 2x might be either 1.5v or 3.3v and AGP 1x was 3.3v but if the motherboard supports AGP 4x then it shouldn't be any problem because it will support 1.5v AGP cards which is what AGP 8x needs.

 

[hp7909]

It works fine and if memory serves there is only about 5% difference in performance normally anyway so it isn't any great problem.

What he said really, i.e. perfromance doesn't really take a big hit. Ran my 9800PRO at 4x for quite sometime (issues with Asus A8V-Deluxe Mobo ).

There are two versions of the AGP physical interface, for 3.3 V and 1.5 V cards respectively. The 1.5 V version has a key further away from the external connector, while the 3.3 V version is the opposite. But some poorly designed older 3.3V cards incorrectly have the 1.5V key, which may result in burnt mainboard if installed in a AGP 4X/8X slot.

 

[Desert Rain]

AGP 4x is 1.5v as said, AGP 2x might be either 1.5v or 3.3v and AGP 1x was 3.3v but if the motherboard supports AGP 4x then it shouldn't be any problem because it will support 1.5v AGP cards which is what AGP 8x needs.

I think that explains things. The (very old) AGP X2 i intended to use in the BD7II doesn't fit (the division bit is in the wrong place) so is probably 3.3v and what I need is 1.5v X4 or X8.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Regards

Peter

PS I have got an ad in 'wanted' if anyone has an old card they want to get rid off