Bit Interface and AGP 8X SLots?

[ChrisHarris]

I'm looking at a new graphics card. Aren't we all?

I am looking at the GeForce 7800GS. It's an AGP card with 256-bit interface.

Whats the interface on the AGP slot? Mine is 8x But whats that mean?

I realize that 256 bit is probably the best I can get for a card that will plug into AGP. But, how does that relate to the capability of the AGP slot? Whats the interface speed on the AGP slot?

Am I wasting money on a 256 bit card as oppossed to a 128 bit card? If the AGP slot can't handle the transfer rate of 256 bits--it's kinda like putting PC 5000 in a board that can only support PC3200.

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks

 

[The_Other_One]

I don't think you need to worry so much about the 'bit interface' of your AGP slot. 8x is 8x... What you should be looking at would be the bits of the RAM. However, I think most any 7800 would be 256.

As for what 8x means... It's just the standard. 8x faster than the original AGP

 

[ChrisHarris]

Okay. So, in this instance--buy the fastest bit interface I can afford, on my graphics card. Correct?

 

[Jet]

there are more factors to video cards than the bit interface. like: pixelpipelines, core and memory clocks, vertex shaders....

 

[The_Other_One]

Yeah, there are many things that make a video card 'good', but I figured he was pretty set on getting that 7800

 

[apj101]

2 facts

1. The 7800gs is the best agp card you can buy
2. read video 101 from top to bottom 4 times http://www.computerforum.com/showthread.php?t=26602 before you spend anything

 

[ChrisHarris]

there are more factors to video cards than the bit interface. like: pixelpipelines, core and memory clocks, vertex shaders....

Here's the specs on the card I'm looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150131

I'm not stuck on this card, but I think it's about the best thing I can shove in my 8X AGP slot.

Everything else on this rig is pretty decent, I just screwed up and bought a GeFroce MX 4000 card without researching it first. It's 128mb ram, and AGP 8X, but the bit interface is only 64 bit and it's only DirectX 7.0 Not good for playing Counter Strike. It works--for 20 minutes at a time--then it locks up and I have to reboot.

Is there a better card I could put on my board?

 

[DCIScouts]

Yeah, you should be all set with that card. The amount of memory (256MB) is standard for a "good" card right now, and the 256-bit interface is good as well. Overall, you should be set for awhile with this card before you have to think about upgrading. (raw guess, 2-3 years...)

P.S. I have a GeForce MX400, so I know your pain, man...

EDIT: had a MX400. But now I have a GeForce 6600, and all's good