Gigabyte warns GEAR can shorten AGP card's life

**MIG-31** · Oct 3, 2004, 12:49 PM

"MOTHERBOARD COMPANY Gigabyte has included an enhanced AGP riser interface for one of its Intel-based PCI Express products, but read the small print before you plug your graphics card in and start to play.

The GA-81915P Duo Pro-A PCI Express uses the Intel 915P chipset for the LGA 775 processor, but includes the Gigabyte enhanced AGP riser (GEAR) slot for people who don't want to plump for expensive PCIe cards yet. The specs for this board are Here.

But on page 17 of the manual for this board, in PDF format Here,Gigabyte warns that using the GEAR slot might shorten the life of your AGP card.

It says: "G.E.A.R. interface is designed to provide a temporary AGP solution before the mass availability of PCI Express graphics card. It is suggested to use PCI Express X 16 interface graphics card to avoid the damage of your AGP graphics card".

And it continues: "G.E.A.R. interface is created through PCI interface signal and voltage switching to AGP interface, due to this technical specification difference, it might cause AGP graphics card life-span shortens".
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Source: theinq.net

Shinjikun · Oct 3, 2004, 03:09 PM

That's just wonderful, a motherboard with a PCI-e bus and an AGP slot for people unwilling to purchase a new video card -- but it happens to shorten the life (possibly) of your AGP card so you'll have to get a newer one (*cough* PCE-e) anyway. I wonder why they release the board under those circumstances... seems fishy.

kelticknight · Oct 3, 2004, 05:41 PM

proply to sell a lot of these type of board with pce-e and agp on same board.lm sure there a better way to make it so it doesn't shorten agp g-card
another manfacture might do it?????????

kelticknight · Oct 3, 2004, 05:42 PM

mean't pci-e and agp

***craig5320*** · Oct 4, 2004, 01:36 AM

Surely it just means it'll be running at different voltages/frequencies than a typical AGP slot which could in some cases shorten the life. Extra heat etc. No more than overclocking would. I'm sure they're just covering there asses.

mainman · Oct 4, 2004, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig5320

Surely it just means it'll be running at different voltages/frequencies than a typical AGP slot which could in some cases shorten the life. Extra heat etc. No more than overclocking would. I'm sure they're just covering there asses.

Yep exactly, and its great marketing, i see no problem in that, it just offers consumers an option that other companys dont.

Oct 3, 2004, 12:49 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,860 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Gigabyte warns GEAR can shorten AGP card's life "MOTHERBOARD COMPANY Gigabyte has included an enhanced AGP riser interface for one of its Intel-based PCI Express products, but read the small print before you plug your graphics card in and start to play. The GA-81915P Duo Pro-A PCI Express uses the Intel 915P chipset for the LGA 775 processor, but includes the Gigabyte enhanced AGP riser (GEAR) slot for people who don't want to plump for expensive PCIe cards yet. The specs for this board are Here. But on page 17 of the manual for this board, in PDF format Here,Gigabyte warns that using the GEAR slot might shorten the life of your AGP card. It says: "G.E.A.R. interface is designed to provide a temporary AGP solution before the mass availability of PCI Express graphics card. It is suggested to use PCI Express X 16 interface graphics card to avoid the damage of your AGP graphics card". And it continues: "G.E.A.R. interface is created through PCI interface signal and voltage switching to AGP interface, due to this technical specification difference, it might cause AGP graphics card life-span shortens". _______________ Source: theinq.net __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Oct 3, 2004, 03:09 PM	#2
Shinjikun 第3 子供 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nerv HQ Posts: 1,319 Rep Power: 0	That's just wonderful, a motherboard with a PCI-e bus and an AGP slot for people unwilling to purchase a new video card -- but it happens to shorten the life (possibly) of your AGP card so you'll have to get a newer one (cough PCE-e) anyway. I wonder why they release the board under those circumstances... seems fishy. __________________ Xfire: [Shinji1225 \ Status] A7N8X-E Deluxe Athlon XP 2500+ (@ 2.2 GHz 11x200 MHz FSB) Corsair TwinX XMS 1GB PC3200 Dual Channel (2-2-3-5) [color=red]ATi [/color][color=white]Radeon 9500 Pro (@ 330\310) \ [/color][color=white]Omega Catalyst Drivers v2.5.90[/color] [color=white]Ultra X-Connect 500W PSU[/color]

Oct 4, 2004, 01:36 AM	#5
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,578 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	Surely it just means it'll be running at different voltages/frequencies than a typical AGP slot which could in some cases shorten the life. Extra heat etc. No more than overclocking would. I'm sure they're just covering there asses. __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Oct 3, 2004, 05:41 PM	#3
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	proply to sell a lot of these type of board with pce-e and agp on same board.lm sure there a better way to make it so it doesn't shorten agp g-card another manfacture might do it?????????

Oct 3, 2004, 05:42 PM	#4
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	mean't pci-e and agp