You can get even more cards if you don't want to go PCI. They have the FX6800GS and the FX7800GS.
For me, I won't go back to PCI. I look at it, they started out with PCI. Then they went to SLI. Then they went to AGP. Then to AGP4X then 8X. Now they went back to PCI again. IMO, I'm just waiting for when they go back to AGP again. Which trust me won't be that long. :TU:

Bit off topic here but the local circuit city offers an eVGA 7800GS AGP for $299 which I am considering for the office machine. With a 3.2 P4 my bottle neck is the current 5900 card for maxing things out. I don't think they will offer anything in the 7900 series in AGP, ( I could be wrong on this ) and the 7800 could be the last blast for AGP, who knows.

Ed,
No-one has gone back to PCI. The new standard is PCI-Express which has substantially higher bandwidth than AGP. TRUST ME when I say there will be no return to AGP.

i4laine,
Can you confirm this problem doesn't arise when you're using another 3D application?

Also, Did you connect the designated power connector to the video card?

/TT

I have to agree with Calle on this one. I don't see a future for returning to AGP in any scenario. The bandwidth limitation compared to current PCI-E and even Quad SLI showing up now won't be overcome.

not to go off topic but I just about freaked out. Ed's face just winked at me. I never noticed that before and I then had to stare at it to make sure I wasnt just seeing things.

PCI was a great standard, just not fast enough to handle the best graphics. AGP was a stop-gap measure. It doesn't provide enough power, it conflicted with PCI sound cards, and they kept screwing around with the power requirements. Not to mention having only ONE AGP slot in computers has limited the capability of multiple monitors for years. I think a lot more people would use dual monitors if instead of a dual-head card, they can add as many PCI Express cards as they have room for.

PCI Express is the future. I just wish they'd introduced it sooner. Apple wasted a lot of time implemented a competing (and abandoned) card format PCI-X.

I guess I was one of the lucky ones not to have any trouble. My first multimonitor setup was with "1" agp of course, and 3 pci video cards and a soundblaster pci sound card. I guess if I'm going to have to update my system just for a new video card I'll wait for the new system to come out. It won't be for a while but it will be great. :TU:

Something that might help you
 

Hi i4laine,

Firstly,

1. go "Control Panel"
2. click on the "Power Management" or "Power Configuration" (I'm using Chinese Windows)
3. In the Power Configuration Tab, select "Always On"
( Don't let your computer get into sleep mode or power saving mode )

Secondly,

1. Open the computer case
2. Check if there has a Four Pins Power Connector on your 6600 display card.
3. If Yes, connect this Power Connector from the Power Supply.
( Some display card must connect an external power source to work normally )

Good lucky!

Questions
 

Hi everyone...This graphics card is PCI. This computer does not have
an AGP slot. I don't belive there is a power hook up to this card...am
I correct? It is not the PCI express.

When he tries to run another screen saver (the ones that come with
XP) all of them will run. Not sure if any of these are 3D..We are going
back over there tomorrow and flash the BIOS to the latest..I am going
to install the latest drivers for the Nvidia card. The only other thing
is that he installed a new Soundblaster Legacy card, but I wouldn't think
that would interfere with it?

You guys are great for all the suggestions...

We're fairly certain that the 6600 was never made available in a PCI version. Only AGP (1997-2005) and PCI Express (2005+).

I'm starting to believe this card isn't an nVidia 6600 card at all, but rather something else with a 6600 designation. i4laine, could you provide us with a bit more info on the card (i.e. brand, model and amount of memory)? The closest I've gotten is the PNY Quadro FX600, which is a ridiculously expensive card to put in that box (costs like a new lower-midrange computer).

Morgan,
PCI cards has been made all along AGP and PCI-Express and are still available today. (I just can't find one with a 6600 chip).

/Tiny Googlist

As usual, you're right.

http://www.directron.com/video---cam...deo-cards.html

The only thing I can find in the 6600 iteration is either an AGP card or PCI-Express. I haven't found one in PCI-Standard either. My first thought would be either that it is an AGP card, or like Tiny says it has a "6600" name for some other reason. I would also agree with ED, that if it is a true 6600 series it very well could require another power source plugged into the end of the card. So if you are sure it doesn't require that, then it would lend itself to the fact it might not be a true 6600 series.

Questions
 

:loco:
Okay..Here is the right card...sorry, I thought that was the wrong Model.
BFG GeForce 6200 OC 256MB DDR PCI Graphics Card
Model: BFGR62256OCP
wS('1','15')http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...isc/spacer.gif
This graphics card supports your Shader Model 3.0-compatible games, displaying them in remarkable 3D realism or an awesome gaming experience.

• Powered by the GeForce 6200 OC graphics processing unit (GPU)
• 256MB DDR memory
• PCI interface

OK here we go, this should be the card then. http://www.bfgtech.com/6200_256_PCI.html Which at least should alleviate the thoughts of another power source as I don't see one on the card.

Bascally the "drivers" link shown on their site takes you to nVidia where you can download the latest drivers, which are 84.21. Is this what you used?

For arguments sake I just updated to 84.25, which is available from ftp only, and with a "5900XT/unclamped/limit frame rate not checked" I get ~210 fps with those drivers. Your card is a later one than mine, you should at least see similar fps if not slightly more.

His CPU is going to be the bottleneck whatever he does. 6600 and a P3 850 is an insane combination, IMO. I also would be surprised if the older AGP slot on the board, while technically supported by newer cards, wouldn't cause problems anyway. I had nightmares trying to run a 8x card at 4x in an older 4x board, I had to switch to 2x for it to work.

He should try to look around for a second hand P4 or Celeron based socket 478 with AGP8x board and switch to that, keeping his card.

Morgan,
Thank you for those kind words... :)

Mike,
Higher model numbers don't automatically mean faster card. an AGP 6200 card can be had for less than $50 - I'm guessing your 5900XT packs more punch than that.

Falz,
It turned out to be a 6200 - not a 6600. You might've been on to something about AGP8x there, but this card is a PCI one as the rig lacks an AGP port.

/Tiny

More Questions
 

Still having the problem with the screen saver freezing up the computer.
I deleted all the drivers to the Nvidia..Reinstalled the latest drivers.
Installed the latest DirectX. Checked other 3D applications.
The Aquarium screen saver is averaging 90 fps. It will run for approximately 20 minutes before it freezes. The shark screen saver
is averaging 20 fps. I have limited the fps to below the 20, nothing seems to work. I have disabled live updates. I have disabled Nortons Anti Virus.
Nothing seems to work..The graphics card is not overheating. Any
other things it could possibly be?

Thanks once again.

[quote=i4laine]Any
other things it could possibly be?

Install the oldest driver that was come with your display
card. ( The manufactory default driver always works with
the special PCI-Non standard card like yours. )
Don't use the lastest Nvidia Geforce drivers!

How is about the the shark and golden fish screen saver running???
Did they freeze also ??