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The GeForce 7800 GS was a late-generation graphics upgrade for people who wanted to keep an AGP PC rather than replace it. NVIDIA listed the card in its AGP 8X lineup in May 2006, pairing 256 MB of memory with GeForce 7-era features. Its “alive and kicking” promise was a period-specific bridge for aging systems—not a reason to choose it over modern hardware today.
What the GeForce 7800 GS AGP offered
NVIDIA’s May 2006 GeForce 7 specifications describe series-level Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0 support. The company’s May 2006 desktop GPU guide identifies the 7800 GS specifically as an AGP 8X card and lists these period specifications:
| Specification | NVIDIA’s listed figure |
|---|---|
| Memory | 256 MB |
| Maximum resolution | 2048×1536 |
| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s |
| Texture fill rate | 6.0 billion texels per second |
| Interface | AGP 8X |
These are manufacturer-published specifications, not benchmark results or promises of performance in a particular game. The API details above come from NVIDIA’s GeForce 7 overview; the AGP classification and figures are from its card-level guide.
How it brought GeForce 7 to an AGP system
ComputerBase’s retrospective on its reviewed board explains the key engineering compromise: the G70 GPU was designed for PCI Express, so the AGP card used an HSI bridge to connect it to an AGP system. The reviewer recorded eight pixel pipelines, eight ROPs, a 375 MHz GPU clock, and a four-pin auxiliary power connector on that particular test board. Those observations describe the reviewed model, not every board partner’s version.
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That bridge helped make a late GeForce 7 upgrade possible without changing the motherboard. It did not make PCI Express cards interchangeable with AGP cards; the 7800 GS itself must be an AGP model, and its board-specific power and physical requirements still matter.
How it compared with the GeForce 7800 GT
ComputerBase’s retrospective reports average performance-rating scores from its 2006 test at two resolutions. These are review-specific relative scores, not a universal percentage or an estimate of performance in current games.
| Resolution | GeForce 7800 GS | GeForce 7800 GT | Source and context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1280×1024 | 83.7 | 99.0 | ComputerBase’s 2006 test results, reported in its retrospective |
| 1600×1200 | 83.1 | 100.0 | ComputerBase’s 2006 test results, reported in its retrospective |
The review’s findings varied with settings. Without anti-aliasing, the GS could perform around the level of its older AGP comparison; with anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering enabled, it averaged a 16–17 percent gain over the GeForce 6800 comparison in that test. The GT was faster, but the comparison GT required PCI Express. That distinction was the point of the GS: retain an AGP platform and accept less performance rather than replace the system to use the faster card.
Why the card mattered in 2006—and what that means now
The card addressed owners of AGP PCs who had already invested in their systems. In the February 2, 2006 launch announcement reproduced by Techgage, NVIDIA desktop GPU general manager Ujesh Desai said the new card would let enthusiasts “extend the life of their systems.” In that context, “alive and kicking” meant access to a then-current graphics upgrade while keeping an older motherboard—not a claim that the card remains a practical modern gaming choice.
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- Item Package Dimension: 13.5L x 10.5W x 3.5H inches
- Item Package Weight - 2.35 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - VIDEO CARD
- Nvidia GeForce 7800GS 256MB AGP Video card
ComputerBase recalls a February 2006 price context of about €300–350. It also notes that a faster 7800 GT was available for similar money, but only for PCI Express. Those are historical comparisons, not current prices or evidence of present-day availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before buying one for a restoration
There is no established current price or availability figure for the 7800 GS, and condition and compatibility depend on the individual card and PC. Before buying, verify the exact listing rather than relying on the family name alone.
- Confirm the interface. Check the card’s exact model and board-partner details, plus clear photos of the connector. It must be an AGP card for an AGP motherboard; a PCI Express 7800-series card is not a substitute.
- Check the specific power requirement. Inspect the board and its documentation for an auxiliary power connector, then confirm the power supply has the matching connection and is suitable for the system. ComputerBase documented a four-pin connector on its test board, but that does not establish the connector on every variant.
- Check physical clearance. Compare the card’s dimensions and cooler with the space available in the case, including nearby components and any obstruction around the AGP slot.
- Assess condition and evidence. Look for clear photos of the actual card and ask about its working status, damage, corrosion, repairs, and included accessories. Do not treat a model name or stock image as proof of a specific board’s condition.
- Match the rest of the system. Confirm the motherboard’s AGP compatibility and the power supply’s capacity and connectors before purchase. A card that fits the slot can still be unsuitable for a particular build.
The best case for this GPU today is maintaining or completing a compatible vintage AGP PC. Whether it is worth using depends on that restoration goal and the condition and fit of the exact board; the 2006 specifications and scores do not establish a current used-market value.
Quick Recap
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- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX400 AGP Video Card General Features: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX400 GPU 4x AGP
- 350 MHz RAMDAC TwinView Architecture Digital Vibrance Control 256-bit graphics engine
- Single-pass multitexturing 32-bit colors, Z/stencil buffer DirectX and S3 texture compression
- NVIDIA Shading Rasterizer (NSR) High-Definition Video Processor (HDVP)
- Comprehensive 1x/2x AGP and VAGP support
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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