Matrox G400 -- was it an AGP 4x card?

[WhipperSnapper]

Does anyone know if the Matrox G400 was an AGP 4x card? Would it also work with AGP 2x, or was it just AGP 4x? If a motherboard is currently operating with a Matrox G400 would it be safe to assume that it does AGP 4x and meets the AGP 2.0 specification?

 

[Aquila76]

According to some old reviews I found on Google, it was a 4X card. However, an AGP 4x (or 8x for that matter) card will still work in a 2x slot (they're pin compatible), just at a slower (really imperceptible in real world use, tho) rate.

It is not safe to assume that because the card works in your system that is is a 4X slot. What mobo / system are you running?

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't know. It's an HP Vectra VL600. I think it has the Intel 820 chipset. No idea what the motherboard is. I'd have to open up the rig and hope to find information on it somewhere.

 

[Peter]

Aquila, that's inaccurate. 4x/8x card don't necessarily have backward compatibility to 2x/1x modes. This isn't mandatory, and many new cards don't have it.

Similarly, 4x/8x boards don't /have/ to accept 1x/2x cards. Most don't.

Cards and slots are keyed to reflect this. If everyone got their engineering correct, then if it fits, it'll work. Screwups have been done on both ends, so double-checking certainly doesn't hurt.

 

[TStep]

If memory serves

G200s were 2x
G400s were 2x/4x

edit link

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: Peter
Aquila, that's inaccurate. 4x/8x card don't necessarily have backward compatibility to 2x/1x modes. This isn't mandatory, and many new cards don't have it.

Similarly, 4x/8x boards don't /have/ to accept 1x/2x cards. Most don't.

Cards and slots are keyed to reflect this. If everyone got their engineering correct, then if it fits, it'll work. Screwups have been done on both ends, so double-checking certainly doesn't hurt.

OK, thanks for that clarification. I assumed based on my old ASUS CUSL-C mobo that I had used all kinds of AGP cards in (from no-name AGP 2x Trident based cards to an 8X geForce 5700) that all mobos were that way.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

I don't know. It's an HP Vectra VL600. I think it has the Intel 820 chipset. No idea what the motherboard is. I'd have to open up the rig and hope to find information on it somewhere.

According to HP's tech specs for that system, it was a AGP 4x slot. See Page 18 of this PDF.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Thanks a lot Aquila. I'll feel free then to see if I can pick up an older video card via eBay.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Thanks a lot Aquila. I'll feel free then to see if I can pick up an older video card via eBay.

You may be able to get a newer card still. Like on my old system, it was AGP 4x, but I ran a 'new' 5700 8x card no problem. If you do go that route, make sure the store/e-tailer has a good return policy, just in case.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: Aquila76

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Thanks a lot Aquila. I'll feel free then to see if I can pick up an older video card via eBay.

You may be able to get a newer card still. Like on my old system, it was AGP 4x, but I ran a 'new' 5700 8x card no problem. If you do go that route, make sure the store/e-tailer has a good return policy, just in case.

It would have to be on clearance. I'm more interested in the "$10-15 out-of-pocket purchased used off of eBay (avoid shipping costs with local pickup)" variety. Of course, new would be great for that price.

 

[Peter]

Unlike the 2x-4x transition, 8x gear HAS to be backward compatible to 4x mode. The AGP standard demands this as a mandatory capability. So if you got a 4x-capable mainboard, 8x cards should work - possible power issues and engineering fsckups aside.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Aquila76

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Thanks a lot Aquila. I'll feel free then to see if I can pick up an older video card via eBay.

You may be able to get a newer card still. Like on my old system, it was AGP 4x, but I ran a 'new' 5700 8x card no problem. If you do go that route, make sure the store/e-tailer has a good return policy, just in case.

It would have to be on clearance. I'm more interested in the "$10-15 out-of-pocket purchased used off of eBay (avoid shipping costs with local pickup)" variety. Of course, new would be great for that price.

I'll have to check, but I think I still have my geForce 2 GTS in storage. If it works, would you be interested?

====EDIT:====
Sorry, don't have the card anymore. I thought I kept it as a backup for my old PC, but I must've have parted with it already.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Thanks for the offer, Aquilla, but I think I'll pass. I'm hoping to snag a Radeon 9000 series for under $15 locally. Or maybe I'll just hurry up and build my new rig. Damn, where are all of those Socket 939 Opterons? Vaporware perhaps.

 

[Steve]

S939 Opties are here.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Thx. Waiting for them to become more widely available and also for a price drop.

 

[Steve]

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[Steve]

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