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AGP 8X ...

What difference does it make to any of us if the Radeon 9700 Pro is an AGP 8X or not? The AGP port in any of the current PowerMacs max out at 4X AGP NOT 8X. Gotta wait for the next iteration of the PowerMac to fully enjoy 8X AGP and the full benefits of the 9700 Pro Radeon.
 
Re: AGP 8X ...

Originally posted by Prom1
What difference does it make to any of us if the Radeon 9700 Pro is an AGP 8X or not? The AGP port in any of the current PowerMacs max out at 4X AGP NOT 8X. Gotta wait for the next iteration of the PowerMac to fully enjoy 8X AGP and the full benefits of the 9700 Pro Radeon.

There will be no benefit in running the ATI9700 or 9800 for that matter in an 8x AGP port neither even comes close to filling the bandwith of a 4x AGP bus. The AGP bus is one of the few places in all computers were the tecnology of the port itself has far exceeded the evolution of the video cards. Basically by going to 8x AGP with the ATI9700 they are basically making sure the card is compatible with any AGP port on any computer. The AGP standard is fully backwards compatible but I am not sure you could say that the other way around. Also it's a way of marketing bigger numbers.
 
Re: Re: AGP 8X ...

Originally posted by MacBandit
There will be no benefit in running the ATI9700 or 9800 for that matter in an 8x AGP port neither even comes close to filling the bandwith of a 4x AGP bus. The AGP bus is one of the few places in all computers were the tecnology of the port itself has far exceeded the evolution of the video cards. Basically by going to 8x AGP with the ATI9700 they are basically making sure the card is compatible with any AGP port on any computer. The AGP standard is fully backwards compatible but I am not sure you could say that the other way around. Also it's a way of marketing bigger numbers.


That is entriely correct. No video card on the planet can fill the expansive AGP 4x bandwidth, let alone AGP 8x.

The newest comings from nVidia and ATI will probably be able to fill the AGP 4x bandwidth eventually, but AGP is a dying standard, which will soon be replaced by the faster PCI-X, or PCI Express.

NOTE TO EVERYONE: Plugging in an AGP 8x card like a Radeon 9[]00 Pro into an AGP 4x slot will not diminish, nor hinder the ability of the card to do its job properly. So, anyone with any AGP equipped Powermac can use it, though AGP 2x will probably hinder it a bit because the Radeon will come quite close, if not exceed, the bottleneck of AGP 2x.

AGP 4x equipped powermacs can run any graphics card availible for the mac today.
 
It looks like the card won't fit the Cube unless you do a little dental work on the case...

The biggest card you can effectively put in the Cube without too much hassle is the Radeon 7500 (fanless), or the nVidia GeForce3. Although, there are some reports of "gutsy" people putting in the Radeon 8500 - and even a 9700!!! (www.cubeowner.com/faq.html - Graphics/Video Card Upgrades)

I've just upgraded my Cube's card with a Radeon 7500 - and it's PHENOMENAL!!! Now, finally, I can run 2 displays side-by-side if required (I haven't checked that out yet - gotta get another monitor.... ....hmmmm). I have, however, tested it out with Medal Of Honor - and I don't have the "Fog of War" effect I had before with the Rage 128. Now, I can see EVERY single BRICK in the walls - and where the baddies are hiding (heh, heh!).

Imagine what you'd get with the 9700...

Whoa!

:D
 
Originally posted by kiwi_the_iwik
It looks like the card won't fit the Cube unless you do a little dental work on the case...

The biggest card you can effectively put in the Cube without too much hassle is the Radeon 7500 (fanless), or the nVidia GeForce3. Although, there are some reports of "gutsy" people putting in the Radeon 8500 - and even a 9700!!! (www.cubeowner.com/faq.html - Graphics/Video Card Upgrades)

I've just upgraded my Cube's card with a Radeon 7500 - and it's PHENOMENAL!!! Now, finally, I can run 2 displays side-by-side if required (I haven't checked that out yet - gotta get another monitor.... ....hmmmm). I have, however, tested it out with Medal Of Honor - and I don't have the "Fog of War" effect I had before with the Rage 128. Now, I can see EVERY single BRICK in the walls - and where the baddies are hiding (heh, heh!).

Imagine what you'd get with the 9700...

Whoa!

:D

whoa congrats on the upgrade. a Rage 128 pro to a Radeon 7500 is a HUGE jump in graphics power. While the Radeon 7500 may seem crappy compared to such heavy Mac graphics hitters as the 9700 and the Geforce 4 Ti, it makes you appreciate the work you put into upgrading the cube. I bet you love seeing all those bricks :D
 
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