Help...I'm causing myself a HUGE headache. AGP Standards....

[mitchelt]

OK,

I have an older system:

Asus P3B-F Motherboard with a P3-600E

I want to invest a little money in the system so I was going to upgrade the processor to an P3-850 (I think that is the highest the P3B-F will accept), and I want to get a new video card to replace the Matrox G-400.

I think a GeForce2 xxxxxxxxx will do nicely in the system. The problem is that I am getting VERY confused when it comes to AGP specs.

The P3B-F has an AGP 1x/2x slot, so I understand that I cannot use a card that needs a 4X slot, but what in the world is "FAST WRITES" and "FULL" , as in


From the ASUS website:
ASUS AGP-V7100 Pro GeForce2 MX
Bus standard : Full AGP 4X/2X with Fast Writes


I have noticed that some AGP cards seem to have an extra connector, but no runs on it, as in this image (L SHAPED)
IMAGE

Do I need a special AGP slot for that...it seems longer than the slot on the motherboard.
Do I need to worry about voltages?


Thanks for the help.

Mitch

 

[Rand]

You've very little to worry about, the P3B-F used a universal 1.5/3.3V AGP 1/2X port, basically any modern graohics card will operate in their perfectly fine.
AGP 4X is backwards compatible with AGP 2X, so you can use an AGP 4X board. The L shaped connector you referred to does not need to be situated inside the port, it's mainly used as a simple bracket and potentially benefit power draw in some instances depending on the card.

The only cards that might not work in your board are those atht comply with the AGP Pro50/110 standard and such cards are high performance workstation cards and not meant for the home consumer anyway.

FastWrites is merely one of the many 'benefits' and advanced features the AGP specification supports.

The card you linked would operate in the P3B-F fine, as would almost any modern card.

BTW, the fastest processor the Asus P3B-F can reliably use would be a 1.1GHz 100MHz FSB Coppermine PIII.

 

[mitchelt]

THANKS!!!!!

Great response.

How did you figure "the Asus P3B-F can reliably use a 1.1GHz 100MHz FSB Coppermine PIII"

I was looking at the ASUS site and it really looked like it could handle up to a 850Mhz 100Mhz FSB?

Would the 1.1Ghz require overclocking? I don't overclock.

Thanks!

Mitch

 

[AndyHui]

You'd probably want to read this then:

FAQ: What is the fastest processor I can use on my ASUS Slot 1 motherboard?

 

[mitchelt]

Andy,

I read the FAQ, it mentioned:



<< As long as you have the latest BIOS, you can upgrade most of these boards to the fastest Coppermine processors: the Pentium III 1.1GHz and the Celeron 1.1GHz.
>>



I looked on Pricewatch.com, they list the:
Pentium® III 1100MHz(1.13GHz) (100mhz FSB) FC-PGA Coppermine 256k cache Socket370, not a 1.1...I am assumning that is the processor?

It looks like the 1.1Ghz does nto come in a Slot-1 configuration, so I need a Slocket adapter...any recommendations or tips?

Thanks!

Mitch

 

[Rand]

<< Andy,

I read the FAQ, it mentioned:



<< As long as you have the latest BIOS, you can upgrade most of these boards to the fastest Coppermine processors: the Pentium III 1.1GHz and the Celeron 1.1GHz.
>>



I looked on Pricewatch.com, they list the:
Pentium® III 1100MHz(1.13GHz) (100mhz FSB) FC-PGA Coppermine 256k cache Socket370, not a 1.1...I am assumning that is the processor?

It looks like the 1.1Ghz does nto come in a Slot-1 configuration, so I need a Slocket adapter...any recommendations or tips?

Thanks!

Mitch >>




That's the right processor. The 1GHz model comes in Slot 1 if you don't want to buy a Slocket.
As for the best Slocket to purchase... well I've never used more then one or two models so I'm not the best person to answer that question.

 

[mitchelt]

Amazing...it costs more than a P4 1.8Ghz!!!

 

[Rand]

<< Amazing...it costs more than a P4 1.8Ghz!!! >>




Supply/demand.... and the fact that intel is trying to phase out the P6 core and force people into buying the new P4.

 

[Mustanggt]

might be good idea to upgrade that mobo

 

[mitchelt]

The problem with upgrading the motherboard is I wanted a "cheap" upgrade.

If I upgrade the motherboard to allow for a P3 socket, then I need:

- new motherboard (hehe)
- new 133Mhz ram, I have 100Mhz ram.

I was trying to avoid that.

I was originally going to build a new, sweet P4 system, but decided I did not need to spend the money.