# Video card question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-card-question/260226>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 17, 2004, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-card-question/260226 "2004-08-17T11:00:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-card-question/260226/1 "2004-08-17T11:00:46Z")

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I need to upgrade a video card for a friend.

Her motherboard has 4x AGP.

ASUS A7V266-E

Can I install an 8x AGP card, or will it be incompatible?

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**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-card-question/260226/2 "2004-08-17T11:09:15Z")

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Yes you should have no problems as the AGP standard is backward compatible regarding 8x and 4x boards and cards at least.  
The difference is the supply voltage on the AGP slot.

4x = 1.5volts and 8x = .8volts

But an 8x card _should_ always detect that it’s in a 1.5volt slot and adjust it’s speed.

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**Author:** ![RevCo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@RevCo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RevCo)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-card-question/260226/3 "2004-08-17T12:01:38Z")

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Hey - I had that same motherboard/chipset and your should be able to BIOS upgrade it from the manufacturer for 8x compatablility. Follow this link:

[http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7V266-E&Type=All](http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7V266-E&Type=All)

and make sure you read up before you do any bios upgrades. They have an executable that will query their web site and check for BIOS upgrades if necessary also.

The problem I had with it, that you may have, is that the 8x video card combined with it being an AMD chip caused too much heat to build up in the case. I eventually replaced the whole set to stop the agro. Good luck.