Topic awaiting preservation: How to determine AGP slot on motherboard?

I have a dinasour of a computer. The computer is a Gateway Essential 4500 with a Tabor III motherboard.
I need a new video card but I need to know what size AGP slot it has to get the right one.

Searched google and didn't find anything.

Anyone know how to figure out what kind of AGP slot it has?

thanks in advance!

Later,

C:\

Don't you have the fucking manual ? it's written in it.
Otherwise, check in the BIOS to see which setting are available for the AGP, like enable the AGP x4 or AGP x8 ... that sort of thing.

Gateway (or any comp manufacturer) usually doesn't supply hardware information with their computers, FYI.

~edit~ H][RO's post should answer your questions.



(Edited by silence on 10-15-2004 02:36)

if the card fits in the slot it should run... some older agp cards wont work in newer slots vice/versa because of the physical slot differences meaning the card wont fit.

Read this: http://www.ertyu.org/~steven_nikkel/agpcompatibility.html

google is your friend

AGP slots are only one size, but they will run at different speeds. More info here.

The Tabor III is apparently a.k.a the Intel® SE440BX Motherboard, I think. From what I can see here (you'll need Adobe Reader), it seems you have the Intel 82443BX PCI/AGP Controller. The technical specifications are in sections 1.8.1 and 6.2, where it states that you have AGP 1.0 (AGP 1X/2X).

Lots of chipset detail here (another pdf).

AGP speeds are required to be backwards compatible - the voltages however, are not. You can use cards with the AGP 2X/1X and 4X/2X label, but not 8X/4X.

AGP 4X cards will tolerate the higher voltage, but will run only at the highest speed your AGP port can provide. Though AGP 3.0 (8X, 0.8V) cards may tolerate AGP 2.0 (4X 1.5V) ports, serious damage may result from inserting an AGP 8X card into your AGP 1.0 (1X/2X, 3.3V) port - to both the card and your PC motherboard. Consider yourself warned.

You may find this useful (ATI AGP speed compatibility).

Hope that helps.

==I don't believe it! Somebody stole my sig!!==

(Edited by White Hawk on 10-15-2004 03:09)

well for your information Poi, I do have the fucking manual. I have every fucking piece of information that was supplied with the fucking computer when I bought it. It fucking only says TABOR III AGP. So after going over the fucking manuals, it didn't fucking say what kind of AGP slot it had.
That being said, No not all AGP slots are the same, just like H][RO said.

I borrowed a card from a friend that was AGP 8X and it won't even fit in the slot. So...instead of buying a card and it not work I wanted to find out how to figure out which slot it has.

So...I will go back and try to find the AGP card I had, I think it was a Diamond and see if I can match it with the information that H][RO supplied.

Did google it but I found no information on the specific montherboard.

Fuckin apreciate the info...

Later,

C:\

lol

What's up poi!? Fall out of the wrong side of bed? you're not usually this terse with peeps!

Try and fin dout as much information about your previous AGP card, then you should be able to get a good match from a new card manufacturer, it's always worth trying their technical support lines/emails once you've found out what you need,to see if they offer anything that will work.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Blaise

I'm sorry you took my reply that way. It wasn't meant to be harsh or finger pointing. If I wanted to I'd have said "RTFM" and nothing else. The reference to the famous "RTFM" accronym in my first sentence was to be taken at the second degree.

CPrompt: Have you checked in the BIOS setup to see the available AGP features, and eventually if there's a mention about the voltage of the slot ?
You might also get the full name of you actual graphic card ( you may find some infos about the GPU manufacturer and version on the card itself, or its name should appear in the Control Panel ) and search some old reviews of that cards on the web. I suppose you already checked, but does the type of BUS appear in the advanced settings of the driver of your graphic card ?

Finally, you could also check the control panel to see if you have an AGP driver installed, and then search some infos about it on the web.

When did you buy that computer ? knowing the year will help to eliminate several versions of AGP slots.

quote:

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Fall out of the wrong side of bed?

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Well...not sure about Poi, but I sure the hell did. Appologies for that. Too many problems not enough solutions will soon make you a crab ass

Anyway...I didn't know you could check the BIOS to see AGP features. I actually forgot I still have the old AGP video card lying around somewhere. Just have to find it. With a 900sq ft. apartment, you would think i would be able to loose things, but damn if I don't all the time.

I bought the computer some 6 years ago. I think the motherboard and monitor are the only things left to original specs now.

The card I have now in there is a PCI bus. I think the old card was a Diamond Viper 770 or something like that. I think it may be easier for me if I just find the old card and see what AGP it runs on.

THanks!

Later,

C:\