Help understanding different kinds of AGP slots

New member here. I've got a Tyan S1854 M/B bought 12/00. The manual indicates it as having a "4x AGP" slot. I recently considered purchasing a newer graphics card, but noted the box warned that I had to have at least "AGP 2.0" or "AGP 3.0"--both 1.5 volt--it was very emphatic to be sure not to use it in an "AGP 1.0" slot which is 3 volts. Does "4x" implicitly define the voltage one way or the other? If not, how can I tell whether I could have used that card or not?

 

Hi welcome to Major Geeks!

here is the specs for your motherboard. Under expansion slots it lists your Agp slot as 2.0

 

Interesting--I had contacted Tyan, and got an ambiguous response--wonder why they didn't know themselves!

Oh--important: THANKS

 

I also just purchased a NVIDIA GE Force 5200 AGP that states you must have an AGP 2.0 or 3.0 slot... how do I determine this?
I've got a "Gigabyte" 7IXE4 motherboard with a BIOS date of 2002. When going to Gigabyte's web site, I can't find out anything about the AGP slot. Is there any help out there?
Thanks,
Mike

 

OK--I've done a little more research, and now know AGP 2.0 includes 1x, 2x, and 4x data flow rates. And, based on the spec sheet OverCooked sent me to, my m/b has a 2.0 slot. Can I plug in a card identified as 8x, with the understanding I'll only get the 4x data flow rate? Or must I have 8x capability on the m/b?

 

Should work fine. 8X is the max rate, but they're all backward compatible for the slower AGP speeds. Voltage requirements, and in a few cases just having enough power to feed the hungry beast with some of the new high-end cards are the show-stoppers.

 

mharris672 its best if u start a thread urself ...and ask a question but if u have then ignore what im saying...that way ppl dont get things mixed up with other ppls stuff ...but for your mother board ...here is a link http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-7IXE4.htm also here is a thread that was started about this MB on a diff site and i hope no one gets mad for me posting it here but here is the link for it http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/index.php?fn=view_thread&t=323523

 

Thanks, wickedtaylor...
Those are helpful links. All appears to be working ok, other than some lag-time with on-line games...(Everquest, etc.)...I'll likely do some experimenting with the BIOS & Drivers, etc.

M.H.

 

thank you!