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Resolved Compatible video graphics array card

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Michel, 2013/03/15.

  1. 2013/03/15
    Michel

    Michel Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi everyone,

    I have a Gigabyte motherboard " G41MT-S2P ", And my VGA card is a Geforce XFX 8600 GT 1 GB, and I wonder if I can replace the VGA card with a PCI express 2 or 3, and I don't know if it will be compatible with this old Motherboard.

    If so and it's compatible, can you suggest me a VGA card since I don't know any cards other than the XFX Geforce generation which seems to have stopped a while ago?

    Thanks in advance
     
    Michel,
    #1
  2. 2013/03/15
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    What is the power rating (watts) of your power supply?

    What is your budget?
    What games do you play they you'd like to be able to play better?
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #2
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  4. 2013/03/15
    Michel

    Michel Inactive Thread Starter

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    Power rating: I will replace the power supply coz I know the one I currently have won't support a good VGA card.

    Budget: 1,500 Egyptian pounds ( I live in Egypt, so am not sure if someone knows the VGA prices in here)

    Games: Guild wars 2, Assassin's creed 3 and Hitman Absolution.
     
    Michel,
    #3
  5. 2013/03/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    According to the spec of your Gigabyte G41MT-S2P there are onboard graphics, but there is 1x PCIe x16 slot available for a plug in graphics card.

    As you post that you currently have a Geforce XFX 8600 GT 1 GB graphics card installed this must surely be a PCI card.

    I favour nVidia GeForce cards although I am not a gamer and my best suggestion for upgrading your card is to look for the minimum graphics requirements for those games you listed on the game makers site and go a stage or 2 higher - nothing runs well on minimum specs :)
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2013/03/15
    Michel

    Michel Inactive Thread Starter

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    Which VGA for my MB

    Hello,

    I am still a bit confused about this, I am considering my options at the moment buying a new graphic card.

    I've been suggested a few cards at the store in my price range but the dealer didn't have a clue about compatibility. I currently have a G41MT-S2P motherboard and it's very old so I assume I might have to replace it.

    So are any of these cards possibly compatible with my MB, and if not what specific feature am I supposed to be looking for while buying a new MB?

    evga geforce gt 630
    gigabyte geforce gt 640 oc 2gb
    evga gt 640 4g

    P.S My PSU is not an issue I can replace the one I have atm if necessary.

    All insight is appreciated. Thanks!
     
    Michel,
    #5
  7. 2013/03/15
    Michel

    Michel Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thnx for the replies guys, so I was wondering which one if I should get:

    1) EVGA GF GT 630 2GB DDR3.
    2) Gigabyte GF GT 6400 OC 2GB DDR3.
    3) EVGAGT 640 4 GB DDR3 Dual Core.

    Or would any of them cause an issue with my old motherboard or reduced performance.
     
    Michel,
    #6
  8. 2013/03/15
    Admin.

    Admin. Administrator Administrator Staff

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    No need to start a new thread.
     
    Admin.,
    #7
  9. 2013/03/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    As your motherboard is relatively old it is reasonable to assume that the PCIe x16 slot is version 1 although the manufacturer's spec does not state the version.

    The cards you posted are all PCIe x16 version 3 which are not AFAIK compatible - the mobo slots are different.

    I doubt you will find a high end PCIe v1.0 card.

    To achieve compatibility with PCIe x16 version 3 you would need to change more than the motherboard - CPU and memory too.

    Here's a good read on The final answer to the controversial PCIe x16 version compatibility.
     
    PeteC,
    #8
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  10. 2013/03/16
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Ummm, I don't think so. Did you mean PCI? XFX GE Force 8600GT PCI Express x16

    NVIDIA GeForce 8 Series mentions only PCIe.

    In fact, I cannot find a 8600 that is not PCIe.
     
    Bill,
    #9
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  11. 2013/03/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    My bad, Bill, slip of the finger :) - PCIe it is - OP's mobo has PCIe x16 slot which must be in use with the 8600GT
     
    PeteC,
    #10
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  12. 2013/03/16
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Yep - my fingers have minds of their own too! Okay - good! All on the same page now.

    @Michel - do note that PCIe versions are frontwards and backwards compatible - meaning if your card is 2.0, it will still work on a 1.0 motherboard and vice-versa. It will just work at the speed of the slowest interface.

    Also, many graphics cards require additional power connections directly from the PSU. And many motherboards, including yours, require 2 or more power connections. Yours needs the main 24-pin plug, and another 4-pin located in the upper right behind the monitor connectors.
     
    Bill,
    #11
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  13. 2013/03/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Yes & No according to the article I posted above - 3.0 not compatible with 1.1 ??
     
    PeteC,
    #12
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  14. 2013/03/16
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Yeah, but I think that illustrates the exception rather than the rule. As noted by the Intel White Paper, Creating a PCI Express Interconnect full compatibility "is of paramount importance for a Third Generation general purpose I/O interconnect. "

    What I am saying is that IF a card is not compatible, it is the card maker's fault for not writing good software, and not the PCIe standard.
     
    Bill,
    #13
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  15. 2013/03/18
    Michel

    Michel Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Bill, PeteC and Steve for your help
     
    Michel,
    #14

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