AGP 3.0

[TheCrackedJack]

Is the MSI 845G MAX-L AGP 3.0 compliant? or are there not many AGP 3.0 motherboards. If it doesn't support 3.0, I'll know I can't get an NV30 or R300 because they are AGP 3.0 cards. I already looked at my manual and MSI website, but it doesn't say what it supports. Does anyone know?

 

[zephyrprime]

I really doubt that the nv30 or r300 won't run on AGP 2.0 even though they support agp 3.0

 

[TheCrackedJack]

The AGP 3.0 standard isn't compatible with AGP 2.0 slot's, I know that for a fact. http://www.motherboards.org/articlesd/tech-planations/920_2.html
"While AGP 3.0 spec uses existing AGP 2.0 and AGP Pro 1.5v connectors, this does not mean you can use an AGP 3.0 card on a AGP 2.0 motherboard, you cannot. What is does mean is that some AGP 3.0 motherboards will accept AGP 2.0 1.5v cards. It depends on the design of the motherboard. Some AGP 3.0 motherboards will support only AGP 3.0 and some will support both AGP 2.0 and AGP 3.0. Since this is still a draft spec any of the info on AGP 3.0 is subject to change.

 

[AndyHui]

I don't think AGP 3.0 cards will be incompatible. The explanation that you have quoted isn't even coherent; why not look directly at the Intel specs for AGP 3.0?

 

[TheCrackedJack]

I did read the intel specs, but they were 129 pages long, and it really didn't give a great answer.

 

[gennro]

well i read thet agp 3.0 (8x) is backwards compatible with 2.0 (4x) but not 1.0 (2x)

 

[jbond04]

Originally posted by: gennro
well i read thet agp 3.0 (8x) is backwards compatible with 2.0 (4x) but not 1.0 (2x)

That's what I heard, too.

 

[zephyrprime]

Alrighty, let's clear this up. I got off my ass and actually did some research. Here's a link to the draft spec. (being a draft, this implies that there must be some newer spec out there somewhere)
agp 3.0 draft spec

On page 10,
"However, since the electrical signaling and clock rates are significatly different between AGP and AGP 3.0, compatibility at the platform level is achieved using a "Universal motherboard". A Universal motherboard is one that supports both AGP 2.0 and AGP3.0 signaling."

Also see page 33.