AGP and Motherboard Compatiblities

Hey there all. How's it going?

I am starting this new thread because I have some problems with AGP Cards.

I have an Athlon XP Processor ~1.3Ghz 3D Now
Gigabyte GA 7VKML Motherboard
450Watt PSU
768Mb RAM

Three months ago, I thought that I would spoil my computer by buying a Radeon 9550 256MB AGP card and everything was going great. Until the other night. I flashed my AGP BIOS and all of a sudden, the card stopped working. I am not sure if I am the one that ruined it or if there is a compatibility problem between my motherboard and the Radeon. The funny thing is, I have another PSU that I installed before my Radeon stopped working and it was driving the Radeon well for a while. The other PSU was 350Watts I think. I have searched the internet for possible compatible AGP cards for my computer but to no avail.

At the moment, I am running a 32Mb nVidia RIVA TNT2 Model 64/64pro and that is an AGP too. It's working great.

Has anyone have any suggestions in what my computer needs when it comes to AGP Cards or is there any way that I can get the current AGP Card fixed. Also, the Radeon won't boot my monitor, but my computer does still tries to start up.

Thanks heaps.

Kryptic06

 

Hi again. Also, I have also reinstalled Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 2 still the AGP won't do anything. I do not understand the Radeon won't work. Anyways, please help, this is urgent because if I need to buy a new AGP, I want to know that I can buy one without any future hassles. Also, can anyone tell me if the following cards are compatible with my Mobo?

AGP Cards:

Radeon 9600SE 128Mb
Radeon X1300 256Mb
Radeon X1600 Pro 512Mb

PCI Cards:

Radeon X1300 Pro 256Mb
Radeon X1600 XT 256Mb
Radeon X1900 GT 256Mb
Radeon X1900 XTX 512Mb

Please remember that it is for a Gigabyte GA 7VKML Motherboard.

Thanks

 

Seems to me that any of the listed cards will work as long as your mobo has an AGP 8x slot.... older mobos can usually only support AGP 1x, 2x and 4x. Its a voltage and bit transfer speed thing. If the wrong card goes into the wrong slot, you run the chance of burning up both the AGP card and the mobo. I think the 9550 that was working and died on you is due to a faulty Radeon BIOS flash. Just some advice: if things are working fine, there's no real reason to flash any BIOS. It can cause unneeded and unforeseen problems as it did in your case. The rule of thumb with BIOS: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

hopperdave2000

If you want to be 100% sure of AGP card compatability, visit the mobo manufacturer's web site for detailed info....

 

Thanks Hopperdave2000. I can see where you're coming from. So, what your saying is that I damaged my AGP for flashing it for no reason? My mobo is just a 4x but I still would like to update it to a 8x. I thought that the Radeon 9550 was 4x and 8x compliant. Well, time to buy a new AGP card. Once again, thanks heaps Hopperdave2000.

 

It's not the flashing for no reason that may have damaged it. It could have been any number things. Just for kicks, try the 9550 in another mobo and see what happens..... if you just recently bought it new it should still be under warranty. Just try to be a bit 'vague' when applying for the warranty return (usually called an RMA)....

hopperdave2000

 

Thanks again Hopperdave 2000. The unfortunate thing is, I do not have another mobo to play with so that means that I have only one option. Thank God that I found the receipt today and I bought it back in July, which means that I have had it less than 6 months. The other querie that I have is you know how AGP slots are different, regarding the voltage thingy? Well, the nVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64 is slightly different to the Radeon 9550 in regards to the voltage grooves, or whatever they're called. I am referring to the 1.5volts and 3.3volt thingy. Do you think that I should get an AGP card that is equivalent to the nVIDIA that I am currently running? With 256Mb Graphics of course!