New graphics card and interesting AGP setting
Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/New graphics card and interesting AGP setting
I have bought a new mid-range graphics card (just till I get my next PC).
Decided to stay with ATI in this computer and got a Radeon X800 XL.
This is the interesting bit - since installing it I have had nothing but grief - the card was locking up, computer crashing, random lines and stuff all over the screen at various points - could only play about 10 mins of FPS games.
So, in desperation, I merely turned the AGP off - completely off - set it to 0. My card works fine now - speed is great.
Anyone have any idea why the default AGP 8 was causing so much grief. I think it possible that I really ought to upgrade my motherboard bios/drivers. However, its working quite nicely with AGP x0, so I might just leave it be.
ps, currently, I don't have an AGP option between 0 and 8.
AGP option?
You can set the AGP aperture for memory and bandwidth (I'm guessing) for more performance typically in the BIOS. With my card I got quite quite a boost by increasing the aperture to 256 MB and setting it to 8X.
0 is an odd setting for memory speed/bandwidth...
most motherboards setting it at 0 will allow the video card to decide.
AGP Aperture
The AGP Aperture is actually the correct name for the AGP Memory, as laid down in the specifications but most people use the term to refer to a setting within the motherboard BIOS. This setting tells the PC the maximum amount of the system's memory, including virtual memory, which can be allocated to be used as AGP memory. Most motherboards default to 64MB, but many allow you to change it from 4MB to 256MB. The minimum size has to be 12MB but once above this, the actual value does not have a great impact on the overall rendering performance if your graphics adapter has 32MB or more of local memory. Contrary to popular belief, there is no formula to work out what setting you should use but many people will tell you that a good starting place is to keep it at half the value of your system memory (e.g. 256MB of system RAM, use an AGP Aperture Size of 128MB).
http://www.futuremark.com/community/hardwarevocabulary/?page=1#A
I don't believe puki is adjusting the AGP aperture. It sounds far more like he is setting the transfer rate. Sounds also like his board does not like to use 8X with the card he currently has.
Without him running a sysinfo tool, I'd guess that setting '0', as mentiond by ckob, causes the gfx card and mobo to decide on 4X or even 2X.
The sooner we all move to PCI Express, the better ;)
Sounds also like his board does not like to use 8X with the card he currently has.
Sounds right - the docs for my motherboard advise me similarly.
PCI Express = Overhype...
I have upgraded to PCIe, and it is far better simply for other reasons such as not needing to fiddle around with the above crap any more...
I had the problems you describe once. It took forever for me to figure it out, but the trick was just slightly underclock my Gpu and Video ram. stability magically return after that.
Rook: Quite a sweeping statement there. Despite the multitude of benefits PCI Express can bring to PC's, what do you think has been overhyped?
Interesting - I didn't know you could underclock a card.
The overhype is people alleging all sorts of additional benefits beyond what it actually does. Sorry, no, PCIe will not make the internet faster. Also, I once had a guy skoff when I mentioned the AGP slot on my computer (note that this was two years ago.)
Interesting - I didn't know you could underclock a card.
nVidia offer a registry patch that allow over/underclocking from within their section of the display properties... I assume ATI would offer something similar. There are programs that will help in this area too (specially built for ATI cards, even)... it might be better for you to slightly underclock than to halve the bus speed... if that's what's happenning...
Well, I'm kind of stuck with it now - I can only run it in AGP 0 - sniff.
Still, at least it is a lot faster than my Radeon 9800 Pro. So, even if my new card is broken - I'm still gaining.
Larging all the way! Coz, when Vista is released, I'm going to splash out on a whole new system anyways.
Still, this is a warning to all of you out there - buying a new card doesn't guarantee it will just work with your current system - take into account you may need a new motherboard, or PSU, or something else. Cheaper to just buy a new system.
Not really. I recently bought a new CPU, motherboard, PSU, gfx card and even RAM and it still cost me less than half of what I originally bought the system for...