noob question on AGP 1X/2X and 2X/4X video cards

[HomeSA]

Greetings;
This is my first post here. Great site you all have here and I have learned a lot lurking around.

I have accumulated a few older/obsolete PCs as a way to experiment and learn without trashing the newer PCs at home. I brought my household into the computer world, last year, and quickley realized that I have to become my own "system administrator" in order to keep things working and upgrading. That's why I collect junk now.

I scored a PIII and decided to upgrade and pass to my kid whose PC right now is a Pentium 200MHZ, with 128 RAM, two 1.5 Gig HDs.

The part I got stuck on is video upgrade.
From Intel web site, I have:

Intel Desktop Board D815EEA
Video Options - Using Add-in AGP Graphics Card:
The Intel Desktop Board D815EEA accepts universal AGP cards that comply with the AGP 2.0 specification. It can accept 1X and 2X AGP cards operating at 3.3 volts. It can also accept 1X, 2X, and 4X AGP cards operating at 1.5 volts.

I already tried a 4X/8X AGP card without knowing what I am doing. That card was returned yesterday. I would like to get one of the following:

SAPPHIRE 100941L Radeon 7000 64MB 64-bit DDR AGP 2X/4X Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102435

SAPPHIRE RADEON 7000 VE 32M Radeon 7000 32MB 64-bit DDR AGP 2X/4X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102279

The problem is I can't find voltage for these. Would these work? Or, what is my best option for video card for the motherboard. Would a PCI card be a better option?

Recommendations would be awesome.

System as is:
PIII, 933 MHz
80 Gig HD (upgraded from 14.5 Gig)
DVD ROM drive (upgraded from CD ROM drive)
512 RAM (upgraded from 256)
8MB AGP 1X/2X video card (begging for upgrade)
USB 1.1
Windows XP Pro (upgraded from W2K)


TIA ...... & ...... Sorry for the long post

[saphalline]

Welcome to the PC Guide Forums!! :D

What's your budget for this?

$69 - Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102409)

$92 - Radeon 9600 XT 128MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102510)

$124 - Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131263)

Note that the 9800 Pro will put quite the burden on a low wattage PSU, so I'd recommend at least 350W for that - more if that system has or will have a lot of drives. Otherwise, the 9600's are much easier on the power and will still smack the $#*% out of a Radeon 7000!

Don't even get me started on the AGP fiasco... :rolleyes: I'm gonna be dealing with those damn spec changes for years. We all will. But in any case, these vid cards will work with an AGP 2.0 slot just fine. You have to avoid the newer vid cards that are 0.8V-only, though, because they definitely won't work in any AGP slot that isn't 8x certified. And the other problem is that there isn't enough info out there about how to correctly handle AGP specs.

[HomeSA]

Saphalline, thanks for the reply;

I did try an /8x/4X/2X AGP card and it did not work.
The card I tried was:
http://www.kasercorp.com/UploadFiles/200572182722314.jpg

After installing the card, all I got was a black screen and a blinking cursor :confused: So I figured the card was not compatible with my motherboard (voltage differences/problems), so I am looking for a lesser card. My budget for this upgrade is about $50 and I prefer not to replace the power supply.

_HomeSA

[jlreich]

[size=9][color=green]Don't even get me started on the AGP fiasco... :rolleyes: I'm gonna be dealing with those damn spec changes for years. We all will. But in any case, these vid cards will work with an AGP 2.0 slot just fine. You have to avoid the newer vid cards that are 0.8V-only, though, because they definitely won't work in any AGP slot that isn't 8x certified. And the other problem is that there isn't enough info out there about how to correctly handle AGP specs.
If the manufacturers would just list or make the voltage easily available for each card it would make it a lot easier. Or better yet, simply list what AGP spec/voltage it would be compatible with. ;)

[saphalline]

$35 - GeForce MX4000 128MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121181)

Cheap vid card, not very good gaming performance, but better than an old 8MB vid card and better than a Radeon 7000 (just barely).

I don't know why that other vid card wouldn't work without seeing it. You can tell by the keying sometimes, and sometimes you have to actually call the manufacturer and ask them.

If the manufacturers would just list or make the voltage easily available for each card it would make it a lot easier.Yeah, no kidding!

[HomeSA]

$35 - GeForce MX4000 128MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121181)



Update

I ordered the GeForce MX4000 128MB video card from Newegg. It arrived in one day, amazing!!!

The card and drivers installed without any problems. saphalline, thanks for the recommendation.

The driver is not MS certified. The installation CD installed DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904), FYI.

I haven't had a chance to test it with any games.

Thanks again for the replies .... HomeSA