I need to know the difference in AGP slots on motherboards. If the motherboard supports up to 8x AGP what does this really mean? And, if I have an AGP 4x video card can I use it in the 8x AGP slot on a newer motherboard that I might purchase? I'm assuming that I can, but I just may not get the full potential of the board. If so, that's fine with me as I'm further assuming that I can "grow" into the newer, better motherboard? Is this accurate?

no if your video card only support 4x and you use 8x mode, that will damage your video card, differnet voltage

and yes you can purchase a new motherboard with 8x agp..becaue next generation of video card is going to be all at 8x agp
but just to be sure to check your video card compatibility

i don't think it cause to damage if you were use 4x on the mainboard which will support 8x AGP....

for example your mainboard just support 2x AGP so your 4x AGP was not work on it..but if your mainboard has 8x AGP then you could run with 4x AGP without prob.....it just tell you the speed and transfer rate

The 2x/4x/8x Is the data transfer speed. An 8x motherboard can take a 4x card, as long as the voltages match. Here's something I found on another forum.

Motherboard and video cards can support multiple AGP modes. It is totally up to the manufacturer which modes are supported. The specs on the motherboard and video card will tell you things like: Supports AGP 2X/4X/8X (1.5V and 0.8V), or Supports AGP 4X/8X (0.8V only). The trick is not to look at the 4X or 8X, because this wont tell you everything. A motherboard that supports 4X (AGP3.0 standard @ 0.8V, which also supports 8X) is not compatible with a video card that supports 4X (AGP2.0 standard @ 1.5V, which also supports 2X). The AGP3.0 spec defines 4X and 8X. The AGP2.0 spec defines 2X and 4X. So just because your motherboard says 4X/8X and your video card says 2X/4X, definetly doesnt mean they'll work together at 4X. (P.S. - AGP1.0 standard defines 1X and 2X @ 3.3V)

So when shopping keep an eye on the AGPx.0 information of the components, or the voltage (3.3V, 1.5V or 0.8V) supported by the motherboard. Alot of the new 8X motherboards support the 1.5V 2X/4X modes and the 0.8V 4X/8X mode as well, but not all. Often on the spec page of the motherboard they only mention the 2X/4X/8X modes, so try and figure out from those specs which spec they are supporting. This is the same for the video cards.

1X/2X = AGP1.0 Spec = 3.3V
2X/4X = AGP2.0 Spec = 1.5V
4X/8X = AGP3.0 Spec = 0.8V

There are no dangers or incompatibilities whatsoever in your post.

All 8x mobo's made today will run 4x cards, but at 4x speed.

Yes you can grow into the board with an 8x card later.

The difference between 4x/8x is benchmark-measureable but not yet user-perceiveable today.