Will a PCIx2.0 video card work in this mobo?

[Whitedog]

I've got this mobo... ASRock 4CoreDual-Sata2 with an E6750 CPU (yea, I know - I can only get it to run at 2.33, but that's fine).

I've got 2 gigs of DDR2-800 in it, a good PS (600watt)... but I'm running an x1950pro (256mb) video card. YUK!

I play LOTRO (only game I play) and want better video.

I'd like to plop an 8800GT (G92) in it - if possible. I just want to know if it "will work"? I'm sure it won't run at it's prime, but it sure as heck will work better than what I have.

==============

No, I'm not going to buy anything else. New mobo... anything. I have another 52" LCD TV to buy in a month, so I have to conserve.

Thanks.

 

[Rike]

That's the beauty of PCIe2.0, full backwards compatibility whether it be the mobo or vid card. You won't have the 2.0 bandwidth, but that card doesn't really need it.

I run my 8800GT on a first gen PCIe board and it cooks along just fine.

 

[Whitedog]

Great! Cool beans.

I do intend to replace the mobo later. I really want to get the full use out of my CPU.

The reason I bought the board to begin with was I had a lot of DDR400 ram and the AGP video card... but my old Athlon Mobo fried.... I wanted to get the C2D CPU.

I've got DDR2 in it now, so there won't be anything holding me from replacing it once I get the PCI video.

Thanks!

 

[Cogman]

Just chiming in to confirm what Rike has said, I have a 9600GT and it works fine on the older PCIe standard.

 

[myocardia]

Unfortunately, you've received some bad advice in this thread, Whitedog. Your board isn't even going to post with an 8800GT (or any PCIe 2.0 card), unless you are able to download and update the card's BIOS, using a compatible motherboard.

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Unfortunately, you've received some bad advice in this thread, Whitedog. Your board isn't even going to post with an 8800GT (or any PCIe 2.0 card), unless you are able to download and update the card's BIOS, using a compatible motherboard.

Yikes, Well, I guess that just goes to show that no two MOBOs are the same. I had no Idea that some wouldn't support the new standard.

 

[Whitedog]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Unfortunately, you've received some bad advice in this thread, Whitedog. Your board isn't even going to post with an 8800GT (or any PCIe 2.0 card), unless you are able to download and update the card's BIOS, using a compatible motherboard.

Nice. :brokenheart:

Well, I ordered a 9800GTX last night... From the Egg....

So... If this thing doesn't post. I guess I won't have any choice but to buy a new Mobo. Oh well, such is life.

[edit] I am NOT downgrading my video card... going to replace the Mobo....[/edit]
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That said, given the above mentioning about needing to "conserve" to purchase another TV next month, can anyone recommend a mobo on the "conservative" side?

I could probably spend around a 80 to 120 on one. I'd be happy to get it clocked to ~3GHz if I could on the stock cooling I have.

Again, I have a C2D-E6750 cpu and 2 gigs of DDR2-800. I'll probably buy new ram after I get the TV... and if I have to wait for the new ram to OC, no biggie there either.

No more A$$Wipe mobo's for me.

Thanks again.

[edit] UPDATE: I just cancelled my order from the EGG. I am going to go cheaper on the video card so I can buy a mobo combo.

I have decided on the HD4850 instead. $180 after rebate looks dang good... and it meets or exceeds the 9800GTX in most benches.[/edit]

 

[Rike]

Wow, sorry Whitedog. I really had no idea it would be a problem. My mistake in thinking specs are specs and stuff will just work. I should have known better.

Not that my advice is worth much at this point, but I'd stick with MSI, Asus, or Gigabyte if you get a new mobo. An Intel P35 would work, or you could look for a P43 or P45 board that will support PCIe2.0. The only trouble is the P43 & P45 boards are so new that the companies are working the kinks out of them. I've been burned on the next big thing in mobos before, so I don't buy a new mobo until AT does a round up.

Again, sorry for the crap advice.

 

[Whitedog]

I'm seeing a good deal on an ASUS HD4850 + ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard at the Egg.

$320 for both. And there's a $30 rebate. Only problem is it looks like the board needs better RAM than my DDR800.

Hmmm.... I suppose I could get a couple gigs of 1066 ram for about $60. 2 gigs is all I need. I run XP.

 

[Rike]

That's a nice deal.

You could use a divider to keep the DDR2 800 ram in spec and upgrade the ram later if you feel like to will make a big difference.

 

[myocardia]

That's a nice board, if you don't mind dealing with having to wait for BIOS updates, which seems to happen with every new chipset. Then again, for the price, it's hard to complain. I'm glad you were able to cancel your order.

edit: BTW, I wasn't meaning to sound rude to you guys. I just didn't want a fellow AT'er to get stuck with an expensive paperweight. Sorry if I came across as rude.

 

[Whitedog]

NO NO! Not at all myocardia! You're info was very helpful. I would have gotten the card and went nuts trying to figure out what the deal was. You saved me lots of headaches. - Thanks!

My order is now shipped! I got the above mentioned ASUS mobo. However, I got the Sapphire video card though... it had a better Combo deal than the ASUS ($300 vs. $320).

I also went ahead and got some ram.

I got:

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported

Mobo - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Ram - G.Skill 2x1 GB 1066

All for $402.91 shipped. That incudes tax and shipping. Not bad. Only 100 bux more and I got RAM too! My original order price of the 9800GTX was.... $302.88.

All in all I would have liked to had just spent about $200 on a card shipped.... So, the TV will just have to wait an additional 2 weeks. I feel I did good.

Thanks for all your help. I'll post once I get it up and running...

I'll also post pics of me stomping the guts out of that $39 junk mother board.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Whitedog
I'll also post pics of me stomping the guts out of that $39 junk mother board.

Umm, I want video.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: myocardia
That's a nice board, if you don't mind dealing with having to wait for BIOS updates, which seems to happen with every new chipset. Then again, for the price, it's hard to complain. I'm glad you were able to cancel your order.

edit: BTW, I wasn't meaning to sound rude to you guys. I just didn't want a fellow AT'er to get stuck with an expensive paperweight. Sorry if I came across as rude.

No way you were rude, myocardia. Actually, in light of the info you posted and the previous errors, I thought you were very neutral. I completely agree with the sentiment about helping people. I thought I was helping but you actually were. :beer: for you.

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Whitedog
I'll also post pics of me stomping the guts out of that $39 junk mother board.

Umm, I want video.

You can add my first post to the stomping. I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

 

[jjmIII]

Great mobo choice, but you really coulda' kept the ddr2-800...or 4gb just for kicks .

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: myocardia
That's a nice board, if you don't mind dealing with having to wait for BIOS updates, which seems to happen with every new chipset. Then again, for the price, it's hard to complain. I'm glad you were able to cancel your order.

edit: BTW, I wasn't meaning to sound rude to you guys. I just didn't want a fellow AT'er to get stuck with an expensive paperweight. Sorry if I came across as rude.

No way you were rude, myocardia. Actually, in light of the info you posted and the previous errors, I thought you were very neutral. I completely agree with the sentiment about helping people. I thought I was helping but you actually were. :beer: for you.

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Whitedog
I'll also post pics of me stomping the guts out of that $39 junk mother board.

Umm, I want video.

You can add my first post to the stomping. I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

Yep, agreed, you corrected us very well without being rude or anything (Though, I do feel like I have egg on my face for posting so rashly, not from you )

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Whitedog
[edit] I am NOT downgrading my video card... going to replace the Mobo....[/edit]

Every 2.0 card will downgrade to PCI 1.x bandwidth in this board due to the chipset, even worse since the PCI-E x16 slot is only x4 lanes wide on PT800.

The revised VGA BIOS doesn't change anything except the card's initialization code. Most 2.0 cards are coming from the factory with the revised VGA BIOS needed to work-around the VIA chipset issue.

ASRock had to patch the BIOS for the last two ATI product cycles; HD 2xxx and HD 3xxx. It may need to patch the BIOS for HD 4xxx as well, based on this pattern, and it usually takes them a few weeks after release. You may have been better off with the GF 8xxx and 9xxx, since all issues with those cards on this board have been identified and solved.

 

[nyker96]

OP you better check their supported list, I think it has some boards that's certified for it listed on their site. I do remember some boards back last year at least don't work with this board at all. So check it out first.