rec.autos.simulators

But here seems to be one catch, it says agp8x, all my MB supports is 4x.
Most sites don't have a great return policy, and nothing local to walk in
and buy with hopes of returning...  anyone know if I can expect this to run
or not?  It would seem that it should fall back?  I did go through the faq
at one MFG, seems you could end up in agp4x mode, but the faq is almost
generic, and not specific to the 6600 (or 6600 gt cards).  Second of all by
the looks of things I haven't found any reviews of the AGP version
specifically, would love to see if the Horse Power of this card is at least
what I have now with my higher-end-but-older Geforce4 card?  I am seriously
not too interested in spending 200 bucks just to be exactly where I am
performance wise, lol...

Lastly anyone interested in this ol 4600 if I do find out what I need to let
me try the newer card?  it is an Xtasy, ti4600 128 ram, I still have the box
and the manual, and I hope the disk, but I DO NOT have the accessory (svideo
cable/ video out cable?  I think it was)  as I never had it.

1) There is no apparent (or noticeable) performance difference between
AGP 4x and AGP 8X.

2) All new boards are most certainly NOT coming out with PCI-e. In fact,
the few PCI-e boards being made are only just now showing up in the
retail channel.  I would say that some new boards are coming out, but
certainly not "all".

3) AGP is gonna be around for a few more years so there's no reason to
panic yourself into buying PCI-e equipment just yet.

6600GT is the best bang for buck card out at the moment.

--
(clear the weather to reply)

If you read the specs, the AGP slot on those boards is only AGP 1X - that
means that they are just basic PCI slots with AGP interface. That is the
case in at least 2 boards I have read the specs of, but I do not remember
which make/model they were.

Yep, both PCI-E and AGP.

--
Mika Takala

Yeah, I've seen that, too. I wonder what technical hurdle exists that
precludes them from doing a real AGP slot instead of the half-assed ones
they implement on the dual format boards...

The technical hurdle is that the chipsets only support PCI and PCI-E and not
accelerated AGP. The trick that motherboard manufacturers are trying now is
to convert on PCI slot to AGP interface, but not real AGP speed.

The reason behind the restrictions on chipsets, is money. Chipset
manufacturers are trying to sell new technology at a larger profit, and
disabling the older technology functions will sell more new technology.

--
Mika Takala