Motherboard change help!!!

[tom444]

Basically,
Last week, downloaded the new BF2 demo, and realised that finally, after 2 years of loyal service and dedication, the sun had begun to set on my GeForceMX440, and it was time for a new card. Anyway, after a week of trawling through endless etailers, i found the card that i wanted, and NVidiaGeForce6800GT 256MB, etc etc. Now, when checking out my PC to see if it could actually handle such a card, i realised that my motherboard only supported x4 AGP, which as you guys know out there, is not the x8 that is required of this generation of card. Seeing that i really don't want to get a card any older than this because i want it to last me a few years at least, i have come to the conclusion that infact i am going to have to purchase another AGP supporting motherboard, obviously of x8. As this is expensive and not to say the least, bloody complicated, i was wondering if any of you bright sparks out there may have any other solutions! ok this is my pc
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/mypc/index.php?sernr=024519220789
yeah i know its 2 years old but it hasnt faulted me yet lol. anyway thanks for reading and some intelligent advice would be greatly appreciated.
thanks guys

p.s o yeah also like- if a motherboard change is the only option, can you tell me at least where to start because i am way out of my depth- i.e. what i need in my new motherboard apart from agp x8 lol, and how to replace my old one with it! thanks again

 

[Bob McBob]

What's your budget?

I think the answers will largely depend on how much money you want to put into this project.

If you are looking for a graphics upgrade and you are replacing your mobo consider moving to a board with PCI-Express graphics. That would give you a longer life to your investment and the graphics boost is nice indeed. Of course, if you go that far you are probably looking at a new processor and memory as well.

Also, what size power supply do you currently have? Newer graphics cards need more power and most stock computers don't supply much of that.

- Bob

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Hello and welcome to Techspot.

The graphics card you are thinking of buying, would work with your existing mobo.

There really isn`t that much difference between agp 4x and agp 8X

So if you put an 8X agp card in a 4X agp slot all it means is the card will run a little slower. Although probably you wont notice any difference.

Regards Howard :wave: :wave:

 

[tom444]

ok thanks guys. Bob my PSU is 250w, which i am thinking of changing anyway cos yeah all the new cards eat like 300-350w. But if i change my motherboard to a PCI-Express like you suggested, why while i need to change my processor and memory? I really know nothing about this subject lol hence the post. I mean, using UK prices i was prepared to pay like 200 pounds no more for my card, and the one i mentioned just went over that (i think thats like $400), but when it came to the motherboards, i was looking at some that were like 50-80 pounds (once again i think thats about $100-$150). I mean i dont know what to look for in a new mobo at all, apart from maybe PCI-Exp like you suggested, and yeah like you said it would be looking at not having to replace it for a while, so maybe you could advise me on that too? lol thanks.
Also, Howard, why would the card not be notciably slowed? Eventhough i probobaly am going to get a new mobo now, i am intruiged all the same.
Thanks guys this is really helpful advice.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

If you do a Google search for "whats the difference between 4x agp and 8x agp"

You will find lots of info on the subject.

Regards Howard

 

[luv2playcs]

Hey Hey,Beware!

If Your MotherBoard support only 4X,Bewear u might not hav any display when u start your com up!Get A MSI Motherboard course it is good.it has a input for subwoofer.NO ONBOARD GRAPHICS suports 8x n 4x graphics


GOT SOME MORE PROB??email me at luv2playcs@gmail.com

 

[tom444]

cool thanks

 

[vnf4ultra]

Yeah, you could just get an agp 8x/4x compatible card, it would work. 4x is half the speed of agp 8x, but graphics cards don't use all the speed of agp 8x yet, let alone pci-express. So a 4x slot will not degrade speed much at all, that's about all graphics cards use.

But if you want more "future readiness", pci-e is the way to go, as it is newer, faster, and not significantly different price wise.

You may need a better psu, as has been stated, be sure to get a name brand, as no name psus are junk. Get somethink like enermax, antec, vantec, ocz, tagan, seasonic, power pc & cooling, and fortron/sparkle(the higher models).


Most pci-e motherboards use newer cpu sockets, 775 for intel, and 939 for amd, so older cpus are most likely not going to work.

What is the primary use of the computer?