AGP cards and 3.3 vs 1.5 volts

Paymaster · 03-08-2001, 07:18 PM

I'm trying to help a friend build a reasonably inexpensive system. He has a motherboard that only supports 1.5 volt AGP cards. (The AGP slot is actually "keyed" so that a 3.3. volt card cannot be inserted.)

The system also supports AGP 4X, but I'm not sure if that has any correlation to card voltage. He actually doesn't even care about AGP 4X vs 2X... he would probably use a PCI card if he had one handy...

The problem is, none of the technical details on web sites (manufacturers, or retailers) seem to list the required voltage for the card. (I've looked at ATI, nVidia, etc.) The ATI web page has pictures of the cards, so I can see how they are keyed, but their picture of the Rage Fury doens't match the actual card I've got sitting on my desk here, so I don't trust that.

So, I'm afraid that if I go with an older card, that I will end up with a 3.3 volt one. Does anyone know anything more about this topic, and what I can look for to insure the right card and voltage?

Paymaster · 03-09-2001, 09:30 AM

DarkFury (and others)-

Heh, heh... The motherboard in question is a "Garibaldi" Intel 850 (Colusa) Pentium 4 motherboard with 128 Megs of PC800 RDRAM, integrated sound, LAN, and of course, 1.5V AGP 4x.

I didn't mention that originally, because then I would start getting GeForce2/Radeon type recommendations which is more than he wants to spend.

So, the "upgrade path" is not a concern. 1.5 V AGP is the standard these days, and all the new cards (like the Radeon and GeForce2) support it. Older cards (Like the ATI Rage Fury) do not. My problem becomes finding an older/cheaper card that DOES support AGP 1.5V.

The only way I've found to determine the voltage is to actually look at the card. A 3.3 V card has one "cut" in the connector, and the 1.5 V card has two. This keys the card to the slot.

Anyone have any recommendations?

G_Sup · 03-09-2001, 09:40 AM

Why not just a cheap TNT card? They can be had for about $20 to $25. BTW, I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about as far as compatability. I have a 3 year old ATI AGP card that fits perfect in my modern day ABIT KT7 Raid board, as will a TNT.

Paymaster · 03-09-2001, 10:26 AM

Here is a picture of a 3.3 Volt card:

Here is a picture of a 1.5 Volt card:

A 3.3 Volt card will not physically fit into a 1.5 Volt only slot...

Any other advice from anyone? Most manufacturers don't include pictures of the actual card, and the pictures on the ATI web site are WRONG!

Paymaster · 03-09-2001, 02:15 PM

It's more like, if someone gives you the engine of the Ferrari, you can't just let it sit in your garage, right? You've got to build a car around it.

However, if all you can afford is a Pinto, it's difficult. You've got to find a way to shoehorn that engine in there.

He *can* pay $150, but he *wants* to pay much, much less.

I'm going to start emailing manufacturers and see where I get. Thanks for the help, everyone! (And if anyone has any more, let me know!)

hapoo · 03-09-2001, 02:19 PM

screw all that!! Just take a dremel and cut yourself a slot in that sucker!

Bires · 03-09-2001, 02:22 PM

I thought that slot is to designate AGP 4X. Your AGP slot should have no interfering pieces of plastic. An AGP 2x board should run the card jsut fine.

Am I off base here?

Paymaster · 03-09-2001, 03:57 PM

There IS a piece of plastic preventing you from putting the card without the two notches in the AGP slot on the intel850 motherboard.

I actually tried it with an older card I had kicking around. Short of the dremel idea, it ain't gonna work.

03-10-2001, 12:53 AM

umm, why would a new mobo like that would need an older agp card like that? doesnt make any sense to me.

03-09-2001, 02:19 PM	#6
hapoo Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield USA Posts: 9,276	screw all that!! Just take a dremel and cut yourself a slot in that sucker! __________________

03-09-2001, 02:22 PM	#7
Bires Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 5,064	wait a minute.... I thought that slot is to designate AGP 4X. Your AGP slot should have no interfering pieces of plastic. An AGP 2x board should run the card jsut fine. Am I off base here? __________________ Five years...

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03-08-2001, 07:18 PM	#1
Paymaster Commander Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,367	I'm trying to help a friend build a reasonably inexpensive system. He has a motherboard that only supports 1.5 volt AGP cards. (The AGP slot is actually "keyed" so that a 3.3. volt card cannot be inserted.) The system also supports AGP 4X, but I'm not sure if that has any correlation to card voltage. He actually doesn't even care about AGP 4X vs 2X... he would probably use a PCI card if he had one handy... The problem is, none of the technical details on web sites (manufacturers, or retailers) seem to list the required voltage for the card. (I've looked at ATI, nVidia, etc.) The ATI web page has pictures of the cards, so I can see how they are keyed, but their picture of the Rage Fury doens't match the actual card I've got sitting on my desk here, so I don't trust that. So, I'm afraid that if I go with an older card, that I will end up with a 3.3 volt one. Does anyone know anything more about this topic, and what I can look for to insure the right card and voltage?

03-09-2001, 09:30 AM	#2
Paymaster Commander Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,367	DarkFury (and others)- Heh, heh... The motherboard in question is a "Garibaldi" Intel 850 (Colusa) Pentium 4 motherboard with 128 Megs of PC800 RDRAM, integrated sound, LAN, and of course, 1.5V AGP 4x. I didn't mention that originally, because then I would start getting GeForce2/Radeon type recommendations which is more than he wants to spend. So, the "upgrade path" is not a concern. 1.5 V AGP is the standard these days, and all the new cards (like the Radeon and GeForce2) support it. Older cards (Like the ATI Rage Fury) do not. My problem becomes finding an older/cheaper card that DOES support AGP 1.5V. The only way I've found to determine the voltage is to actually look at the card. A 3.3 V card has one "cut" in the connector, and the 1.5 V card has two. This keys the card to the slot. Anyone have any recommendations?

03-09-2001, 09:40 AM	#3
G_Sup Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: CA Posts: 262	Why not just a cheap TNT card? They can be had for about $20 to $25. BTW, I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about as far as compatability. I have a 3 year old ATI AGP card that fits perfect in my modern day ABIT KT7 Raid board, as will a TNT.

03-09-2001, 10:26 AM	#4
Paymaster Commander Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,367	Here is a picture of a 3.3 Volt card: Here is a picture of a 1.5 Volt card: A 3.3 Volt card will not physically fit into a 1.5 Volt only slot... Any other advice from anyone? Most manufacturers don't include pictures of the actual card, and the pictures on the ATI web site are WRONG!

03-09-2001, 02:15 PM	#5
Paymaster Commander Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,367	It's more like, if someone gives you the engine of the Ferrari, you can't just let it sit in your garage, right? You've got to build a car around it. However, if all you can afford is a Pinto, it's difficult. You've got to find a way to shoehorn that engine in there. He can pay $150, but he wants to pay much, much less. I'm going to start emailing manufacturers and see where I get. Thanks for the help, everyone! (And if anyone has any more, let me know!)

03-09-2001, 03:57 PM	#8
Paymaster Commander Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,367	There IS a piece of plastic preventing you from putting the card without the two notches in the AGP slot on the intel850 motherboard. I actually tried it with an older card I had kicking around. Short of the dremel idea, it ain't gonna work.

03-10-2001, 12:53 AM	#9
Posts: n/a	umm, why would a new mobo like that would need an older agp card like that? doesnt make any sense to me.

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