Nic> How many different motherboards are there currently available to end users?
How many more are created for OEMs with special needs?
ATI themselves said that they've tested many configurations, but that there is no way that they could've tested every motherboard on the market...
Especially since no motherboard maker is adverticing the fact that they've decided not to follow the specs to the letter...
I'd much prefer that mobo makers did tell us if they'd followed the specs precicly...
I've had problems with my graphic card (the V5, not R9700pro), cpu hsf etc... If they'd told me ahead of time in what way they'd decided not to follow spec, it'd be much easier for me to see if my fan/gpu/whatever would fit or not...
But back to ATI
Their req's:
* RADEON 9700 PRO requires connection to your PC's internal power supply for operation. Consult your system builder or OEM to ensure your system has an adequate power supply. Otherwise ATI recommends a 300 watt power supply or greater to ensure normal system operation where a number of other internal devices are installed.
* Intel® Pentium® 4/III/II/Celeron™, AMD® K6/Duron™/Athlon®/Athlon XP® or compatible with AGP 2X (3.3v), 4X (1.5V), 8X (0.8v) or Universal AGP 3.0 bus configuration (2X/4X/8X).
* 128MB of system memory
* Installation software requires CD-ROM drive
* DVD playback requires DVD drive
As you can see, it tells you that you need a motherboard which is following one of the AGP specs... And that your PSU might not be up to the task, but that a 300w should suffice...
But I agree it's kinda hard to translate that into "will possibly not work with your motherboard if the mobo maker didn't follow the specs closely enough"...
[size=1]Unfortunately, having the latest model motherboard doesn't mean it's following specs[/size]
About tech support, they don't answer your emails? That is bad...! Hope they fix that ASAP, as having problems with tech support is a
very bad thing..
Oh, well... Guess I've been fanATIcal enough in this post...