AGP Video Cards

[anerki]

Hey

2 Questions really

1) Is it possible to use AGP 8x cards in AGP 4x and 2x slots? Will this make my machine buggy or make it stop functioning at all?

2) Is it possible to install drivers for PC Video Cards or can I just plug them in? The problem is I need a new gcard and the Apple stores in Belgium are offering me either a 120 euro PCI card or a 600 euro AGP cards for a G5 (which I don't have). More specifically, can I use this video card in a PowerMac MDD?

ASUS VGA A9550GE/TD/256MB AGP8x 1xDVI 2xVGA
A9550GE/TD/256MB

Help would be, as always, incredibly appreciated!
Frederik-Jan

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

1) I believe you can use an 8x card in a 4x slot, but not in a 2x slot. I think you can use a 4x card in a 2x slot...

Short answer: I think you can use a card in a slot that is half the speed of the card, like 8x in a 4x slot, 4x in a 2x slot, 2x in a regular 1x AGP slot and so on... not absolutely sure on this one, though.

2) No. You cannot use a PC-specific graphics card in a Macintosh, period. No amount of drivers will solve this -- the PC card's ROM is different (and differently sized!) than a Mac card's ROM.

People have had some success with flashing the PC card's ROM to a Mac-compatible ROM, but results vary widely -- some cards work perfectly after the flash, and some cards are left absolutely useless after the flash -- leaving the card in a permanent, non-working state. I would not recommend it; however, as always, YMMV and do at your own risk.