Please suggest a video card that this motherboard will support

[robertsmcn]

My motherboard is an Abit KR7A-133Raid. I want to upgrade my current video card (GeForce 3Ti200) to the lastest video card possible without upgrading anything else.

This card is listed on Abit's discontinued product list. It specifically states: "AGP 3.0 4X/2X (1.5V/3.3V) spec support high performance graphic process purpose and at a peak bandwidth of 2.1GB/s."

So, what can I get? Will it support a 9800Pro? What about a 9600XT?

I just want to get better gaming graphics until the end of this year when I will do a full upgrade.

 

[Viper96720]

Anything available pretty much yes 9800Pro will work or 9600XT

 

[robertsmcn]

So there are no compatability issues with that motherboard and newer graphics cards such as a 9800Pro?

 

[Viper96720]

If you had a GF3 it should work no problem. May have to upgrade your powersupply though.

 

[BenSkywalker]

It specifically states: "AGP 3.0 4X/2X (1.5V/3.3V) spec support high performance graphic process purpose and at a peak bandwidth of 2.1GB/s.

According to that it should run any current vid card. I don't have that particular motherboard here to test it for you, but the 1.5V compliance(lack of 1.5V support actually) is the problem older mobos have with newer boards.

 

[robertsmcn]

 

[robertsmcn]

Thanks, good people.

I just ordered a PowerColor 9600Pro from Newegg (NOT the EZ version). That should be a major improvement over my current GeForce 3Ti200 and ought to hold me over for the next 6-9 months before I do a major upgrade of all my components.

One final question - I don't know if I should post it here or not but here goes: What's the process for installing the new video card? I know where it goes on the mobo, but do I need to uninstall drivers and all that? I'm also running Windows XP Pro. Will that need a fresh install? Thanks.

 

[Peter]

Uninstall old card's drivers. Power down, change cards, power back up. Let Windows detect the new card, install drivers, sorted.
Maybe an update to the mainboard's AGP bus drivers is in order too. Maybe.

 

[robertsmcn]

Thanks, Peter. I'll give it a go.

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: Peter
Uninstall old card's drivers. Power down, change cards, power back up. Let Windows detect the new card, install drivers, sorted.
Maybe an update to the mainboard's AGP bus drivers is in order too. Maybe.

NO! Do NOT do this. If you're switching from Nvidia to ATI you need to run a driver cleaner *at the very least* to eliminate all traces of the old card's drivers. I almost always do a full reformat of my HD and install a fresh copy of Windows when switching from ATI to Nvidia or vice versa.

 

[Bucksnort]

Format is not needed but driver cleaner in safe mode is. Let me rephrase that, someone that installs every program and utility known to man may need to format. Those with good maintenance habits do not need to.

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: Bucksnort
Format is not needed but driver cleaner in safe mode is. Let me rephrase that, someone that installs every program and utility known to man may need to format. Those with good maintenance habits do not need to.

I've always had better results doing a full reformat and reinstall of Windows than with just a driver cleaning utility. If I really don't feel like doing a reformat, I'll use a driver cleaner and check through the registry and .dll's myself to make sure there's no trace of the previous card's drivers remaining.

 

[Todd33]

always do a full reformat of my HD and install a fresh copy of Windows when switching from ATI to Nvidia or vice versa.

LOL. OCD?

 

[robertsmcn]

Can you guys give me some basic steps as to how to do a HD reformat? Does Windows XP get uninstalled as well?