can i use pci-e 2.0 on a pci-e 1.0 mobo

[Thomas]

hi

i m going to buy a asus hd 3870x2 grapich card but i wounder if it would
work with my k9n sli platinum?

i think it is 1.0 pci e on that mobo


and does any one know if you get less or more power on hd 3870x2 asuse ,
because there is two different version one with
2x dvi connection and one with 4x dvi , i really wany 4 but if you get more
power with the one with 2 i will go for that one .?

 

[xiowan]

Hello "Thomas":
Are you sure the graphics card is PCIE 2.0? Here are the specs from
the website for Asus Model EAH3870X2/G/3DHTI/1G:

Graphics GPU Features:

ATI® Radeon® HD 3870X2

PCI Express support

HDMI Output: built-in multi-channel 5.1 surround audio over DVI-HDMI Adaptor

Microsoft DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0 support

OpenGL®2.0 support

HDCP compliant

I/O Specifications:
PCI-Express
HDTV-out
DVI * 4
D-Sub
HDMI
HDCP compliant

It doesn't mention PCIE 2.0? Even if it is PCIE 2.0 it should be backward
compatible & operate on PCIE 1.0 slots but it probably won't operate as fast.
If, indeed, it is PCIE 2.0 then it might not operate fast enough to use all
4 DVI connections at the resolutions you may need.

xiowan.........in tucson

 

[Thomas]

yes i think it is pci-e2, just take a look at this page
http://prisguide.hardware.no/product.php?productId=89209

it is in norway but i think you will understand.
but at least if it is backward compatible its ok.

thanks for fast answering
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[xiowan]

Hello again "Thomas":
Here is some information AMD published about backward compatibility:
"AMD: No Compatibility Problems with PCI Express 2.0.
AMD Says It’s Graphics Cards Have No PCI Express 2.0 Compatibility Issues

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 01/24/2008 | 11:10 PM ]

ATI, graphics product group of Advanced Micro Devices, said that its
graphics cards do not and will not have compatibility issues with aging
platforms. Unlike some of the latest Nvidia GeForce 8800 graphics cards, ATI
Radeon HD 3000-series works on old problems without issues.

Back in August ’07 X-bit labs reported citing Asustek Computer’s claims that
some PCI Express 2.0 graphics cards may not function on mainboards that only
support PCI Express 1.0a and 1.1 2.5GHz transfer rates. Many, but not all,
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT-based graphics cards, which support 2.0 transfer rate
and are supposed to be backwards compatible with PCIe 1, could not function
on Intel 925 chipset-based system at X-bit labs.

“There were potentially compatibility issues with PCI Express 2.0 graphics
cards and certain PCIe 1.0/1.1 platforms. We asked Asustek to double check if
there were any issues with ATI Radeon HD 3800-series as we believed there
shouldn’t be. Asustek carried out that test and verified that, indeed, ATI
Radeon HD3000-series cards do work with no compatibility issues,†said David
Baumann, a technical marketing manager at AMD’s graphics product group.

The representative for AMD stressed that that ATI Radeon HD 3000-series
“bootstraps†in PCIe 1.0 mode and brings up to higher modes once detected
that they are available;

“This way ensures that there shouldn’t be any compatibility issues with
pre-PCIe 2.0 platforms,†Mr. Baumann said."

Good luck with your new graphics card.........I am envious!

xiowan......in tucson

 

[xiowan]

Hello again "Thomas":
I thought of something else you might consider.......you can buy 2 of
the AMD 3870 cards and run them in SLI mode for about $100 less than buying
the 3870x2 card and that savings would go a long ways toward a NEW SLI
capable motherboard WITH PCIe 2.0 and probably other nice upgraded features.
You might wind up spending $50 to $100 extra but would be getting the full
performance capability of the PCIe 2.0 which has twice the speed of PCIe 1.0.
and you might be able to upgrade to a higher CPU at some point in the future
without needing a new motherboard. Just a thot.

xiowan.........in tucson

 

[Thomas]

sorry but i dont think so because i just upgraded my computer with a new
mobo ,cpu and a power supply
so i cant aford it ,and the sli thing , isnt it called crossfire when the it
is ati cards ?


but is there possible to run crossfire on a sli ready mobo ?

 

[Thomas]

Hi

ok good then it shuld work
thanks for the answere

Hello again "Thomas":
Here is some information AMD published about backward compatibility:
"AMD: No Compatibility Problems with PCI Express 2.0.
AMD Says It’s Graphics Cards Have No PCI Express 2.0 Compatibility Issues

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 01/24/2008 | 11:10 PM ]

ATI, graphics product group of Advanced Micro Devices, said that its
graphics cards do not and will not have compatibility issues with aging
platforms. Unlike some of the latest Nvidia GeForce 8800 graphics cards,
ATI
Radeon HD 3000-series works on old problems without issues.

Back in August ’07 X-bit labs reported citing Asustek Computer’s claims
that
some PCI Express 2.0 graphics cards may not function on mainboards that
only
support PCI Express 1.0a and 1.1 2.5GHz transfer rates. Many, but not all,
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT-based graphics cards, which support 2.0 transfer
rate
and are supposed to be backwards compatible with PCIe 1, could not
function
on Intel 925 chipset-based system at X-bit labs.

“There were potentially compatibility issues with PCI Express 2.0 graphics
cards and certain PCIe 1.0/1.1 platforms. We asked Asustek to double check
if
there were any issues with ATI Radeon HD 3800-series as we believed there
shouldn’t be. Asustek carried out that test and verified that, indeed, ATI
Radeon HD3000-series cards do work with no compatibility issues,†said
David
Baumann, a technical marketing manager at AMD’s graphics product group.

The representative for AMD stressed that that ATI Radeon HD 3000-series
“bootstraps†in PCIe 1.0 mode and brings up to higher modes once detected
that they are available;

“This way ensures that there shouldn’t be any compatibility issues with
pre-PCIe 2.0 platforms,†Mr. Baumann said."

Good luck with your new graphics card.........I am envious!

xiowan......in tucson

yes i think it is pci-e2, just take a look at this page
http://prisguide.hardware.no/product.php?productId=89209

it is in norway but i think you will understand.
but at least if it is backward compatible its ok.

thanks for fast answering