problem with graphic card compatibility with motherboard

mojos · 12-05-2005, 08:21 AM

I've just bought a new pentium 4 478 socket motherboard (MSI PM8M-V). It support AGP 8x. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 PRO edition which also support AGP 8x. I am using Windows XP Professional.

There's no problem when I install the graphic card with the motherboard. It works just fine. I can do all my routine work.

But when I checked the ATI display settings, i noticed that it shows the current AGP speed is 4x. When I set it to 8x, it asked me to restart the computer. I restart the computer, then I checked at the ATI display settings again, but it still stated the current AGP speed is 4x. I've done it over again, and its still the same.

I've also checked at BIOS and it state AGP 8x. So i think its nothing wrong with the motherboard cause it can support AGP 8x.

I dont know whats the problem. At the moment, i cannot use the full capability of the card. I can only use speed until 4x. Can anybody help me.....

**UncleMacro** · 12-05-2005, 08:45 PM

ATI's drivers for the 9800 pro include a program called SMARTGART. Whenever you change the AGP speed, SMARTGART runs a series of reliability tests the next time the machine boots. If it sees any kind of data corruption during the test then it slows the AGP speed down (and can also disable fast writes) to make sure that it runs reliably. If your motherboard has AGP 8X enabled and SMARTGART keeps resetting it to AGP 4X then it's probably because the motherboard can't transfer data reliably at AGP 8X.

You shouldn't worry about it being limited to AGP 4X. You only lose a few percent of performance by slowing down from AGP 8X to AGP 4X so it's nothing you'll notice. Lots of people run at AGP 4X rather than 8X for stability. My computer can run at AGP 8X with the occasional crash so I slow it down to AGP 4X with no noticeable loss of performance.

12-05-2005, 08:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
mojos Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1 OS: Win XP SP2	problem with graphic card compatibility with motherboard I've just bought a new pentium 4 478 socket motherboard (MSI PM8M-V). It support AGP 8x. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 PRO edition which also support AGP 8x. I am using Windows XP Professional. There's no problem when I install the graphic card with the motherboard. It works just fine. I can do all my routine work. But when I checked the ATI display settings, i noticed that it shows the current AGP speed is 4x. When I set it to 8x, it asked me to restart the computer. I restart the computer, then I checked at the ATI display settings again, but it still stated the current AGP speed is 4x. I've done it over again, and its still the same. I've also checked at BIOS and it state AGP 8x. So i think its nothing wrong with the motherboard cause it can support AGP 8x. I dont know whats the problem. At the moment, i cannot use the full capability of the card. I can only use speed until 4x. Can anybody help me.....

12-05-2005, 08:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	ATI's drivers for the 9800 pro include a program called SMARTGART. Whenever you change the AGP speed, SMARTGART runs a series of reliability tests the next time the machine boots. If it sees any kind of data corruption during the test then it slows the AGP speed down (and can also disable fast writes) to make sure that it runs reliably. If your motherboard has AGP 8X enabled and SMARTGART keeps resetting it to AGP 4X then it's probably because the motherboard can't transfer data reliably at AGP 8X. You shouldn't worry about it being limited to AGP 4X. You only lose a few percent of performance by slowing down from AGP 8X to AGP 4X so it's nothing you'll notice. Lots of people run at AGP 4X rather than 8X for stability. My computer can run at AGP 8X with the occasional crash so I slow it down to AGP 4X with no noticeable loss of performance.