Nvidia 9500GT question

Dman7 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 01:36 AM

Ok so I want to buy an NVIDIA 9500GT graphics card and I would like to know if my motherboard BIOS can handle the card. I have a VIA K8T890 chipset and I've heard numerous complaints over the internet that nvidia graphics cards has a compatibility issue with VIA chipsets. So I would like to know will this graphics card be supported by this chipset. I have an MSI K9VGM-V motherboard with PCI Express 1.0a specification.

Thanks in advance

Mr. Chris · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 05:38 PM

Shouldn't be a problem, PCI-E 2.0 cards are backwards compatable with PCI-E 1.0 spec. Chris.

tcsenter · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dman7

Ok so I want to buy an NVIDIA 9500GT graphics card and I would like to know if my motherboard BIOS can handle the card.

Its not the motherboard BIOS, its the graphics card BIOS that needs to implement a work-around for PCI-E 1.0 compatibility.

If the 9500GT has this revised VGA BIOS, it should work fine. If it doesn't, it won't. Not all manufacturers are shipping cards with this revised VGA BIOS.

Remember what Forrest Gump's momma said about life (i.e. box of chocolates)? Well, its the same with VGA BIOS. Let us know what you get.

Dman7 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 09:38 PM

So does the 9500GT support the revised vga bios?

tcsenter · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 11:28 PM

OK, read very carefully this time:

If the 9500GT has this revised VGA BIOS, it should work fine. If it doesn't, it won't. Not all manufacturers are shipping cards with this revised VGA BIOS.

Dman7 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-08, 01:12 AM

So how would I know if a manufacturer has this revised vga bios or not? Would palit or pny have this revised vga bios? since those are the most likely manufacturers I'll be buying the card from.

tcsenter · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-08, 05:42 AM

You could ask the manufacturer, but the answer won't necessarily be correct. Other than that, you have to buy one and find out.

tcsenter · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-08, 12:05 AM

Here is a bootable BIOS update CD image for MSI K9VGM-V BIOS Release 1.8 (latest available), in case anyone happens acrossed this topic:

http://s89934018.onlinehome.us/BIOS/K9VGMV_180.iso

Standard ISO image file that should be compatible with any CD burning application. After creating the CD, you should find a README file on the disc for further information.

tcsenter · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-08, 12:48 PM

In case anyone else finds this topic, I've tested the following PCI Express x16 cards on two different motherboards using VIA P4M900 + VT8237A chipset:

- GeForce 8400GS (PCI-E 1.0)
- GeForce 9400GT (PCI-E 2.0)
- Radeon HD 3650 (PCI-E 2.0)

Motherboards were Foxconn P4M9007MB and PC CHIPS P53G V1.0, each using the latest BIOS. While all cards were stable and completed multiple benchmarks without error, the HD 3650 appears to be under-performing by at least 20% on both P4M900 boards, using Catalyst 8.10 and 8.11 drivers. I haven't tested Catalyst 8.12 or any Hotfix versions, yet.

P4M900 and K8M890 are substantially similar, there should not be any difference between them insofar as PCI-E graphics card compatibility.