Skip to main content
Start a Conversation

Unsolved

This post is more than 5 years old

Vendetta4400

8 Posts

7991

May 24th, 2005 19:00

AGP 2x/4x Slot/Card Upgrade

Hey all, I have some interest in upgrading my video card. I currently have an nVIDIA 64MB GeForce4 MX 420 card. I have some questions that I need answered, so any help is appreciated.
 
First off, I believe this card is in my AGP slot, and not the PCI slot. My first question is: Is there a way to verify which slot it is in? I have no problem going into my computer tower, I'm just not sure on how to identify which slot as which.
 
Second, I think I have a 2x/4x AGP slot, and the GeForce FX 5700 card I'm looking at says it is for 8x AGP slots. Is this a requirement, or can it work with the slot I have? Also, is there a way to upgrade the slot I have incase the card won't work with my current slot?
 
Third, I'm not sure if I have enough power to support the 5700 even if I can use it. I am running:
Intel Pentium 4 2.5 Ghz, 512 SDRAM, nothing else special (I don't think) on a 250 W power supply. Would I be able to use the video card without frying anything on my computer?
 
Again, any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Message Edited by Vendetta4400 on 05-24-2005 03:44 PM

acidshadow

43 Posts

May 24th, 2005 19:00

Well, if you open the case the agp card should be installed in a green slot.... pci slots are kind of cream colored...
Second.... there is no way to upgrade the slot..... and a 8x card will not work in an 2x\4x slot... possibly you can find an older 4x card that is close to what you want but that will be as close as you can get.

acidshadow

43 Posts

May 24th, 2005 19:00

PCI is slower than agp with the exception of the pci express which is a newer technology.... any standard pci card (as long as it is not pcixpress) should work but I can't imagine finding a pci video board that would be faster than a agp 4
x....

Vendetta4400

8 Posts

May 24th, 2005 19:00

Ok, thanks for your help.
 
Since I probably won't find many decen 2x/4x video cards, is there a way to find out the amount of my PCI slot? Maybe that way I could get a different, but still decent, PCI video card.

Vendetta4400

8 Posts

May 24th, 2005 20:00

Ok, I did a quick search on Newegg and found this:
 
It says it is a PCI interface, but requires an 8x/4x AGP compliant motherboard. My slot is 2x/4x, so does that mean the card will work for me?

acidshadow

43 Posts

May 24th, 2005 20:00

Should work fine... since it is pci interface

Vendetta4400

8 Posts

May 24th, 2005 20:00

Ok, I opened up my tower and found a couple of things.
 
I saw a card in the green AGP slot that had the nVIDIA logo on it, but next to that I saw four creamy-white slots, which I assumed were PCI slots. One of them had a card in it, but I couldn't determine what that card was.
 
So do I have 3 open PCI slots, or is that something different? And could anyone recommend a good video card I could upgrade to given my current specs?

acidshadow

43 Posts

May 24th, 2005 20:00

Yes... those are your pci slots..... you will have to wait for someone else to suggest a card... not much of a pc gamer.... but if I see anything I will let you know

 

Brainonska511

1.1K Posts

May 24th, 2005 21:00

I would get a new AGP video card since they are backwards compatible (ie: an 8x AGP card will work in a 4x/2x slot, at least it does with Nvidia cards).

Vendetta4400

8 Posts

May 24th, 2005 22:00

"an 8x AGP card will work in a 4x/2x slot"
 
Really, cause acidshadow said it wouldn't. If that's the case, that would solve a lot of my problems. Could anyone else verify this information?

Brainonska511

1.1K Posts

May 24th, 2005 22:00

The card would fit.

See This

Vendetta4400

8 Posts

May 24th, 2005 23:00

Excellent. Thanks everyone for your help.

herb366

1.5K Posts

May 24th, 2005 23:00

@Vendetta4400 wrote:
Hey all, I have some interest in upgrading my video card. I currently have an nVIDIA 64MB GeForce4 MX 420 card. I have some questions that I need answered, so any help is appreciated.
 
First off, I believe this card is in my AGP slot, and not the PCI slot. My first question is: Is there a way to verify which slot it is in? I have no problem going into my computer tower, I'm just not sure on how to identify which slot as which.
 
Second, I think I have a 2x/4x AGP slot, and the GeForce FX 5700 card I'm looking at says it is for 8x AGP slots. Is this a requirement, or can it work with the slot I have? Also, is there a way to upgrade the slot I have incase the card won't work with my current slot?
 
Third, I'm not sure if I have enough power to support the 5700 even if I can use it. I am running:
Intel Pentium 4 2.5 Ghz, 512 SDRAM, nothing else special (I don't think) on a 250 W power supply. Would I be able to use the video card without frying anything on my computer?
 
Again, any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Message Edited by Vendetta4400 on 05-24-2005 03:44 PM

I also had the GeForce4 MX420 and it is an AGP card. The latest cards, 8x AGP, are backwards compatible. I upgraded to the GeForce 6800 in my Dimension 8200 with the stock 250W power supply. I recommend a better video card than the 5700. For another $25, you can get the 9800PRO.
 
_______________________________________________________________________
Dimension 8200 (July 2002)
3.06Ghz P4 w/HT 533fsb--------------------------------------- Dell 250W PSU
768mb pc800 rdram---------------------------------------------P992 19" Flat Screen Monitor
128mb BFG GeForce 6800oc (16 pipes enabled)---------Logitech 5300E 5.1 THX
56K PCI Data Fax Modem--------------------------------------80GB Ultra ATA HD
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz DSP sound card-----------------40X CD-RW
Intel 10/100M PCI Network Card-------------------------------USB Keyboard & Mouse

bizlimpkit

68 Posts

May 24th, 2005 23:00

yes, i am positive that graphics card that is 8x supported will also work on previous speeds such as 2x and 4x, all you need to do is verify online that it will work. positive. and also i wont recommend you purchasing a pci slot for video card it will definitely break your heart. so go with agp 8x and verify with the card manufacturer online for specs if it will work or it supports 2x and 8x as well. :)

B4runo

1.1K Posts

May 25th, 2005 04:00


@Vendetta4400 wrote:
"an 8x AGP card will work in a 4x/2x slot"
 
Really, cause acidshadow said it wouldn't. If that's the case, that would solve a lot of my problems. Could anyone else verify this information?


This is a frequent topic of discussion, you should review previous forum postings for "verification" from numerous forum inquiries.  If an 8X AGP card will work in my D4400, which is an older model than yours, you should have no problem!:smileywink:

B4runo

P.S. No need to double post, it just confuses things.  http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_upghw&message.id=56076

DIMM 4400
BIOS – A06, date 6/12/02
Win XP Home Edition, SP2
Pentium-4 2.8 GHz, 400MHz FSB, 512K L2
1 GB DDR SRAM PC2100
80GB WD 7200RPM, 200GB WD 7200RPM EIDE/ATA HDDs
Iomega 80GB USB 2.0 External HDD
Pioneer DVR-109BK, Samsung DVD-ROM SD-616R
XFX GeForce FX 5700LE 128MB DDR 8X AGP w/ TV & DVI
17”, 1702FP Digital Flat Panel Display
PCP&C Turbo-Cool 425 Deluxe Dell PSU
SIIG US2275 USB 2.0 / 1394a / NIC PCI card
Courteous Dell Community Forum members search first, then post.

Message Edited by B4runo on 05-24-2005 11:56 PM

niblue

84 Posts

May 25th, 2005 06:00

I've never encountered an 8x AGP card that wouldn't run in a 4x AGP slot, although I have encountered cards which won't work in a 2x AGP slot.

View More

View All

No Events found!

Top