AGP Signal Voltages

[ValeWhale]

Hi

I need to upgrade my AGP graphics card to try Vista with its AERO feature which requires a minimum of 128MB onboard memory

My motherboard is an ECS K7S5A V1.0 which supports AGP version 2.0 (x4 AGP cards)

I have read that many AGP x8 cards (AGP 3.0) are backwards compatible with AGP x4 (AGP 2.0) but to be aware of the signal voltages (AGP x4 uses 1.5 volts while AGP x8 uses 0.8 volts).

I hear using the wrong card CAN damage motherboard and graphics card - anyone know if its true ?

I dont play games much so graphics performance is not essential, just need the extra memory for Vista Aero.

I like NVidia AGP cards as they have never let me down, and good driver support for most Operating Systems.

Any recommendations or ideas please on which card to use with my motherboard, and how to avoid possible motherboard damage? :)

Cheers :p

[saphalline]

Yes, mixing voltages is a bad thing. Something usually gets damaged. Many of the high-end AGP vid cards tended to be AGP 8x only, meaning a 4x slot wouldn't work. Not many of these vid cards saw the light of day, but enough to damage computers of unsuspecting upgraders. This is partly why a more uniform spec (PCIe) was developed for expansion cards. Much fewer problems with PCIe.

If you just need Aero Glass support and no gaming performance, then something like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814141040) would be just fine.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I was going to reply earlier but had a sneakin suspicion you'd be on the prowl Saphaline ;)

I was going to say to stay with cards that specifically state 4x/8x and to shy away from those with only 8x mentioned. I guess I wouldn't have been tooo far off aye? :p

[ValeWhale]

Hi Guys :)

Big thanks for the input on AGP - didn't want to upgrade to Vista just to have to buy a new mobo ;)

Having just installed a 30 day trial of Vista Ultimate and found quite a few basic everyday cards and peripherals are not supported (drivers), I'm having second thoughts as to whether Vista warrants the expenditure of a cheap new graphics card (sic) :D

Its XP with a Linux interface and a few new toys - good marketing Bill but not for me.

Cheers

:p

[saphalline]

Quite true. Vista as of right now offers less than nothing to the average computer user. Only the 32-bit version is in any way backwards compatible with older software, and even then there are no guarantees. Without the ability to install basic productivity apps and other useful programs, Vista falls flat until these programs are ported over. And since most of the foundation of Vista is completely new, users as well as software will find it difficult to swallow.

The only real reason to go with Vista right now is if you're a gamer. The new D3D 10 and WGF 2.0 represent great strides in improving the PC as a gaming platform. But even with all the advancements and unprecedented usage of high-end hardware, gamers are still advised to dual-boot the new M$ monster with the tried-and-true WinXP. And yes, a lot of older hardware will simply never work in Vista. I'm going to have to upgrade my sound card for Vista, but at least the X-Fi's are cheaper these days. ;)