Use only recommended video cards?

[AllDressedUp]

This is undoubtedly a newbie-type question, but when mobo manufacturers list compatible video cards for their boards, is that meant to be taken literally?

Or are those simply the only boards they've had a chance to test, and more will probably be added later?

Tyan only lists 4 video cards as being compatible with their TigerMP, for example: The Wildcat 5000, Rage 128, Radeon VE, and WinFast GeForce2 Ultra, only two of which support 4x.

Not much to choose from.

 

[SocrPlyr]

you shouldn't have a problem running most any video card w/ the motherboard...
basically i'm sure those companies paid or sent them cards to test just so they could be "approved"...
but if you do notice there is a somewhat wide variety of card types(considering only four cards) that you could pretty much infer that any ati or nvidia based card will work w/ their settings...
i have never seen any companies do compatibility w/ their mobos but i'm sure tyan is aim this at servers obviously and you don't want and compatabilty issues w/ servers (therefore the recommend a few that they know will work flawlessly)
basically take the list w/ as a grain of salt

Josh

 

[Tschaft]

They probably just hadnt tested more, or those folks paid them to say their name. But as long as its a newer board, and has an agp slot you should be fine. Especially since it recommends that geforce 2 ultra, any card should work.

 

[Swanny]

I don't usually follow the guides like that. Especially if a card on the list uses the same chipset as the card you want to get.

 

[AllDressedUp]

Thanks folks,

I suspected as much.

Now that I think about it, I suppose they'd have to test every brand of Nvidia board before they could certify that a Geforce2 MX, for example, is compatible. So I guess it makes sense.

I'd like this system to be rock solid though, so perhaps I'll do the wimpy thing, and stick to their suggestions.