X800 XT at 2X AGP?

[Robin Watts]

Hi all,

My motherboard has an AGP slot that supports both 2X and 4X
operation. I'm looking to get an X800XT to go into this (to replace
my aging, but excellent 8500). X800XTs are supposed to cope with
being run at both 4X and 8X, so it sounds like it should work OK,
but there is one wrinkle...

When the CMOS gets cleared on my motherbard it drops back in the BIOS
to only supporting 2X operation. Clearly, I'll need the X800XT to
boot far enough at 2X operation so I can get back into the BIOS to
set it to 4X again.

Does anyone know if this'll work?

Thanks,

Robin

 

[Jeff B]

Hi all,

My motherboard has an AGP slot that supports both 2X and 4X
operation. I'm looking to get an X800XT to go into this (to replace
my aging, but excellent 8500). X800XTs are supposed to cope with
being run at both 4X and 8X, so it sounds like it should work OK,
but there is one wrinkle...

When the CMOS gets cleared on my motherbard it drops back in the BIOS
to only supporting 2X operation. Clearly, I'll need the X800XT to
boot far enough at 2X operation so I can get back into the BIOS to
set it to 4X again.

The x800xt should work at 2x. However, your post suggests that you are
using an old mobo, consider an upgrage to a modern board that
can fully utilize the x800xt.

Jeff B

 

[McGrandpa]

Robin, you'd do well to check your mobo manual and make sure it can set
AGP voltage to 1.5v, because if it cannot and you manage to get the X800
in that slot and turn the system on, you probably will kill both
motherboard and video card.

So, it will work *only* if your motherboard can autodetect the vid card
and set voltage to the AGP slot to 1.5
McG.

 

[JTS]

Confucius say, "If you are going to cough up that much coin for an X800XT,
also throw a few sheckles at a new motherboard."

 

[Robin Watts]

Confucius say, "If you are going to cough up that much coin for an
X800XT, also throw a few sheckles at a new motherboard."

Confuscious also say: New Graphics card now; new mobo when I can get
more than a 33% performance increase.

I'm at a 2400+ now. The best I can realistically move to is a
3200+...

Robin

 

[Robin Watts]

Robin, you'd do well to check your mobo manual and make sure it can
set AGP voltage to 1.5v, because if it cannot and you manage to get
the X800 in that slot and turn the system on, you probably will
kill both motherboard and video card.

My motherboard is an Abit KR7A-133. The Abit website says:

"AGP Connector supports AGP 2X (3.3V) and AGP 4X (1.5V) mode
(Sideband) device."

It doesn't say anything about autodetecting it.

So, it will work *only* if your motherboard can autodetect the vid
card and set voltage to the AGP slot to 1.5

And now you've got me worried.

Apparently it uses the Apollo KT266A chipset (VT8366A north bridge
and VT2333A south bridge)

I've done some hunting on the web and there appear to be people
happily using 9800's with this board, and thats also specced as being
4X/8X only...

Anyone else shed some light on this? I guess I'll try calling
Sapphire or someone to see what they say...

Thanks,

Robin

 

[First of One]

1. Just leave it at 2x. There are no gains to be had at 4x for even the
newest games. See
http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=554

2. A 3.3 V card like the 3dfx Voodoo3 and Voodoo5 cannot work in newer
motherboards, but the cards have keyed AGP connectors that cannot go into
newer motherboards. The reverse is not true. That is, a new 1.5 V card will
work fine in all motherboards new or old.

3. Do you have the VIA 4-in-1 drivers installed?

 

[McGrandpa]

Robin, here's this. Since the manual shows the slot does support 4X at
1.5v, and if you can put the card in the slot (it's keyed), then it
should work and show AGP 4X only. I kept using "IF" because I've seen
people carefully cut the bit of keying plastic out of the slot. It's
there for a very good reason. So again, it should be fine if it slips
easily into that slot.

 

[@ndrew]

1. Just leave it at 2x. There are no gains to be had at 4x for even
the newest games. See
http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=554

2. A 3.3 V card like the 3dfx Voodoo3 and Voodoo5 cannot work in newer
motherboards, but the cards have keyed AGP connectors that cannot go
into newer motherboards. The reverse is not true. That is, a new 1.5
V card will work fine in all motherboards new or old.

This statement is incorrect and you should treat it with a grain of
salt .. look at the information here:
http://tinyurl.com/yr939
Some motherboards do accept the connectors for 1.5 or 0.8 voltage but
the cards will not work.

The advice to get a new motherboard is correct, use your old CPU in a
newer board .. if cash is a problem look at the Nvidia 2 boards.

regards

@ndrew