AGP vs 4xAGP

[bbsan]

I've finally begun building my 'real' computer - glad to be rid of the Frankenstein thing I'm currently using. You may recall the MoBo is warped.

Anyway, on to my new computer:

I went to seat the video card and the slot sits too far back for my AGP card. MoBo manual says I need a 4xAGP card.

Aside from the physical shape, clearly the 4x is longer, what are the other differences between AGP and 4xAGP?

Yes, I could put an old card in a PCI slot, but I don't want to.


Intel 845E Chipset
2.80Ghz
4x AGP slot
ATX (you knew that)

Thanks, kids. As always, I pay in chocolate.

bb

 

[joemcse]

AGP2x offers 533 MB/s, by transferring data at the rising as well as the falling edge of the clock. The new addition called AGP4x doubles this bandwidth another time to 1066 MB/s.

 

[Skivvywaver]

The voltages are also different. It won't work. New boards have a 1.5v slot, and the old ones were 3.3v.
If the card doesn't line up with the board installed, consider it a red flag.

 

[bbsan]

Thanks, kids. If you think of anything else, let me know.

Right, if the card doesn't line up, it won't fit anyway, so there's no mistake there. I love these idiot proof gadgets, just wish I'd read up on the diffrences in cards, B4 I bought the thing.

Any other surprises I need to know about? I read in another thread that I might have to reinstall XP. That pains me.

 

[bbsan]

Okay, I'm studying TigerDirect for a new card.

All the AGP cards are 3 slotted. Has the AGP card evolved that much? Can I assume the 3 slotted AGP is now standard?

 

[Skivvywaver]

Yes, pretty much. They have universal slots. If you look where the card snaps in, you will most likely have only 1 divider but the cards are made to be backwards compatable.

 

[bbsan]

Ah. Okay.

Problem is, the old card is about a half inch too short for the board, if I managed to seat it, the bracket sits about half an inch INSIDE the board. It almost looks like the socket is backwards.

Oh well, for all this trouble, I should just buy a new card.

Thanks!