Is AGP speed a big factor?

[lauroy8]

I thinking about getting a ALL-IN-Wonder 9700 pro 128DDR.
I only have 4X AGP on my MB. Is this going to be a major factor?

[Lemon]

I don't believe that any current game even approaches the 8x data transfer rate. So for now a 4x AGP is fine.

[agathodaimon]

yeah, i've always heard that 8x AGP doesn't really do anything... Maybe a little, but not much.

Even if your motherboard only accepts 4x, the 8x should still work ok.

[EndobioticChaos]

Some reviews I've read claimed 8x at this point can even be a downgrade from 4x.

[Peter M]

No effect at all. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Niente.

The reason is that AGP transfers only ever happen when the card is running low on its own local memory - it then starts borrowing system memory.
Now since system memory is by a huge amount slower than graphics card memory, performance IS going to stink anyhow, no matter what AGP mode is being used - and on the other hand, as long as the card has plenty of RAM, AGP transfers aren't going to happen at all.

So I'd rather be worried about whether the card has plenty of its own memory. 128MB will be fine for a while.

[EndobioticChaos]

That's interesting Peter. I never heard that before. But of course the graphics card manufacturers wouldn't tell you that, ohhh nooo!

[skuz]

So basically the same card running at 2x or 4x or 8x AGP would run at the same speed until it needs more memory than it has ?

[lauroy8]

Thanks for the great info everyone. The card has been ordered!

[Dazbo666]

I just recently upgraded from a 32mb AIW card.... I now have a Radeon 9500 with 8x AGP - you will not be disappointed!!