Is the 3870 incompatible?

[blamb425]

Seeing as the 8800GT was PCIE2 and was incompatible without the GEN1 BIOS, does the same hold true for the 3870? I was going to upgrade to an 8800GT256mb for Xmas but don't want to go through the hassle of using a different motherboard to flash the bios

 

[spittledip]

The 3870 is PCIE 2.0 also. So if your motherboard is not compatible with that (some PCIE 1.0a slots are compatible from what I have read), it won't work with the 3870 either.

 

[Mana]

The 8800 GT isn't PCIE2 if I recall correctly.

Additionally, PCIE2.0 is supposed to be fully backwards compatible. Much like PCIEx16 is backwards compatible with PCIEx8, etc. There may be individual issues with certain boards, but I doubt that they would be related to any issues regarding the 8800 GT due to the 8800 GT not being PCIE 2.0.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Mana
The 8800 GT isn't PCIE2 if I recall correctly.

Additionally, PCIE2.0 is supposed to be fully backwards compatible. Much like PCIEx16 is backwards compatible with PCIEx8, etc. There may be individual issues with certain boards, but I doubt that they would be related to any issues regarding the 8800 GT due to the 8800 GT not being PCIE 2.0.

The 8800GT is PCIE 2.0 and unfortunately, many older motherboards that use pcie 1.0a slots do not work with these newer cards. PCIE 1.1 and newer have had no issues.

I know this thread lists one Asrock mobo. - http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?...8&mpage=1&key=&#158518

 

[Mech0z]

This made me worried, is the P5K-E PCIE 2.0 ? I am thinking of buying that and a HD3870 next week

 

[Capt Caveman]

The only mobo's that have PCI-E 2.0 are one's using the Intel X38 chipset. However, I'm more than certain the P5K-E has PCIE 1.1 .

 

[Mech0z]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
The only mobo's that have PCI-E 2.0 are one's using the Intel X38 chipset. However, I'm more than certain the P5K-E has PCIE 1.1 .

And I sense its not a problem then!?!

 

[spittledip]

I am also trying to find out if my motherboard will work with PCIE 2.0- it's an Abit kn8 ultra. Thisis all very annoying. However, I have read that a chipset driver update or video card bios flash might address the issue. not sure though

 

[Mana]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Mana
The 8800 GT isn't PCIE2 if I recall correctly.

Additionally, PCIE2.0 is supposed to be fully backwards compatible. Much like PCIEx16 is backwards compatible with PCIEx8, etc. There may be individual issues with certain boards, but I doubt that they would be related to any issues regarding the 8800 GT due to the 8800 GT not being PCIE 2.0.

The 8800GT is PCIE 2.0 and unfortunately, many older motherboards that use pcie 1.0a slots do not work with these newer cards. PCIE 1.1 and newer have had no issues.

I know this thread lists one Asrock mobo. - http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?...8&mpage=1&key=??

Ah, thanks for correcting me

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Mech0z
This made me worried, is the P5K-E PCIE 2.0 ? I am thinking of buying that and a HD3870 next week

The P5K-E uses the Intel P35 chipset and has PCIE 1.1, so you'll be fine with a HD3870.

 

[Stumps]

Originally posted by: blamb425
Seeing as the 8800GT was PCIE2 and was incompatible without the GEN1 BIOS, does the same hold true for the 3870? I was going to upgrade to an 8800GT256mb for Xmas but don't want to go through the hassle of using a different motherboard to flash the bios

Which Asrock board are you refering to?

I have tested a 3850 with the Asrock 4coredual VSTA and it was a no go on the current bios (2.10), same goes for the 8800GT.

I haven't tested any other but at a guess I would say the the 775Dual VSTA and 4coredual SATA2 would be a no go as well for PCI-E 2.0 video cards.

 

[blamb425]

Yep, it's the 4CoreDual-VSTA

Guess I'll get a new mobo to flash and return it

 

[ManWithNoName]

Originally posted by: Stumps

Originally posted by: blamb425
Seeing as the 8800GT was PCIE2 and was incompatible without the GEN1 BIOS, does the same hold true for the 3870? I was going to upgrade to an 8800GT256mb for Xmas but don't want to go through the hassle of using a different motherboard to flash the bios

Which Asrock board are you refering to?

I have tested a 3850 with the Asrock 4coredual VSTA and it was a no go on the current bios (2.10), same goes for the 8800GT.

I haven't tested any other but at a guess I would say the the 775Dual VSTA and 4coredual SATA2 would be a no go as well for PCI-E 2.0 video cards.

Asrock blamed the incompatibilty of the 4CoreDual-VSTA on the Chipset/BIOS of that motherboard. The SATA2/775 uses the PT880 Pro / Ultra Chipset rather than the PT880 (non-Pro) / Ultra chipset that the 4CoreDual uses, so I don't know if there would be a difference. Best bet would be to contact Asrock directly.

Edit: Someone on Hardforum contacted Asrock regarding the 775Dual and they said this one doen't work with the 8800GT either. So it's probably a no-go for the HD 3870 on this board as well.

Good news for 939Dual owners though. A friend of mine on HardForum also contacted Asrock regarding the 939Dual-SATA2 and they said that one was fine with the 8800GT/HD 3870. Different Chipset, so it makes sense. Email form Asrock below .....

Dear ASRock America Customer,

We tested nVidia 8800GT 2.0 on 939Dual-SATA2 with no problem.

The PCIE slot of 939Dual-SATA2 is 1.0a.

Please check with nVidia if the performance will be reduced on PCIE 1.0a
motherboard.

 

[spittledip]

UPDATE: for those who have Abit boards, I sent an email to Abit tech support and they sent back to me today stating that the BIOS team is currently working on a fix for the incompatibility issue.

 

[SinceCCF]

Originally posted by: Stumps

Originally posted by: blamb425
Seeing as the 8800GT was PCIE2 and was incompatible without the GEN1 BIOS, does the same hold true for the 3870? I was going to upgrade to an 8800GT256mb for Xmas but don't want to go through the hassle of using a different motherboard to flash the bios

Which Asrock board are you refering to?

I have tested a 3850 with the Asrock 4coredual VSTA and it was a no go on the current bios (2.10), same goes for the 8800GT.

I haven't tested any other but at a guess I would say the the 775Dual VSTA and 4coredual SATA2 would be a no go as well for PCI-E 2.0 video cards.

I'm feeling sad for my 3870 will be here on wednesday, I'm using 775dual vsta...
Hope they will release a new BIOS soon for the 3870.

 

[barnesacres]

I have two 4coredual-sata2 systems built. I currently have a X1950 Pro AGP card in one and a X800 XT AGP AIW in the other. I want to replace the X800 XT, but I'm confused about which card to buy. Since the PCIE slot is at X4 and not X16, would the X1950 XT AGP card be better than let's say a HD2900 XT PCIE card? I was just wondering if anyone ran any benchmarks against the top end AGP card and a somewhat top end PCIE card on this motherboard?

 

[Belles Toaster]

Hello barnesacres , I have a Asrock 4core dual vsta. The performance hit with the 4X
pci express slot is a well documented ~ 10%. Is it readily apparent - no. I have
benched an MSI X800XT PE against a EVGA superclocked 8600GTS (720mhz) and they trade blows on par. I had the opportunity to bench an EVGA 8800GTs 320mb vanilla.
It scored about 20% faster in futuremark 05 and nearly double in the 06 test. If you search OCW reviews there is a detailed review of the Asrock 4CoreDualVsta against
(http://www.ocworkbench.com/200...4coredual-vsta/g4.htm) reference boards
and cpu combos.

 

[deizel]

I thought the P35 chipset had PCIE 2.0 as well? http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2.../p35_supports_pcie_2/1

 

[barnesacres]

Thanks for the fast response and the information Belles! Now I have to decide if I should get the 8800 GTS, or the HD2900 XT. I am leaning towards the 8800 GTS now since I've read your info. Actually I would like to get the GTX or Ultra. Maybe after I win the lottery.

It would be interesting to bench the 8800 GTS up against the X1950 PRO (AGP version) on this motherboard. Since I already have the X1950 PRO I guess I can do that.

 

[Kalessian]

What about the old DS3? It's PCIE 1.0a

 

[SinceCCF]

Just got my sapphire 3870 this afternoon, after three hours of hard work to put on watercooling, it's working with 775dual-vsta, so 4core vsta should be okay too. I'm using a FSP 400W powersuppy with 27A on 12V, no problem at all, it surprises me alot for 3870 is not consuming a lot of power, after 2 hours of CS source, my Zalman reservator 1 plus is just barely warm, my room temperature is 80F. Well done, ATI!

 

[tuteja1986]

I know that the 8800GT works on Asus A8N32 SLi

 

[VChuck]

SinceCCF, interesting since I do have the 4core dualvista.(unused b/new)
I need a little more assurance though,really glad that it's working for you !:thumbsup:

 

[barnesacres]

SinceCCF or anyone, I have two 4coredual-sata2 boards and I, as would VChuck would like someone with a little more proof that the 3870 works with at least the SATA2 board. I was getting close to buying the 8800 GTS, but before I do that I would also look at the 3870 very closely.

 

[SinceCCF]

I thought 4core vsta and 775dual vsta are same board, though having a little differenc with the chipset, for 775dual is using pt880pro, 4core vsta is 880 ultra, 4core-sata2 is 880ultra with 8237s. I read another person posted his result with 775dual-vsta at hard forum
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1243459
but I haven't seen anyone posting their results with 4core vsta or 4core-sata2. I would assume they are both okay with 3870, or there will be lots of posts going around like 8800GT does with 775dual-vsta, like the nvdia forum of hardforum.