Distraught about AGP 8x

I recently went full out and baught a full blown X800 from newegg.com.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814123159
When it arrived today, I plugged it in, and was particularly happy for a while.
As I was fiddling with the settings, I saw that it was running on AGP 4x, instead of AGP 8x.
My heart sank. I realized that my computer might not have AGP 8x, and I am very worried.
Is my card still working to near its capacity?
Am I only getting half of what it is supposed to?
Is there an easy way to upgrade my agp slot(without a new motherboard)?
Should I return the card?
Thanks.
I hope you settle my worries.

 

Take a read... I belive that PCIe 8X and AGP 8X are about the same but keep in mind PCIe has the ability to recive data over the bus will sending data at the same time will AGP cannot. But all in all i belive the X ratings are very close. ( any one here know for sure ? ) What mobo are you running do know if it supports AGP 8X ?? Thare might be a setting in the bios to allow 8x..

 

I'll check when i get home, thanks.
Please feel free to add more responses, so i can better understand my situation.

 

http://www.cpuplanet.com/features/article.php/30231_2117941_3

 

What brand of MOBO or if an off the shelf system post the Brand & Model?

 

It is a Dell Motherboard. My computer is a Dell Dimension 4550.
I have upgraded the RAM, PSU and most everything is upgraded but the mobo.

 

Your dell should have around a p4 2.6 combined with the card you should get a score of around 8-9000 on 3dmark 2003,set your performance slider in your vid card controls to max performance before running the benchmark,if your score is much lower something may be up

 

The card has 2 settings, normal and turbo.
on normal I got 7406 3Dmarks
On turbo i got 8418 3D marks.
Do you know if it would be higher on 8x?
Thanks.

 

I doubt it would be very noticeable.

Read the link I posted.

 

How do I test to see whether I have 4x or 8x?

 

Here is the technical specifications for your computer from the Dell website
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4550/specs.htm#1101572

It says that the motherboard only supports AGP 4x.

 

Thanks