Counterfeit Retro Mainboards with Fake AGP Slots Are a Thing

Hackaday reports that counterfeit Asrock P4i45GV mainboards are circulating in the retro gaming market, typically sold through Facebook Marketplace, and they come with a dangerous flaw: fake AGP slots. These slots are actually PCI connections pretending to be AGP, which tricks buyers who think they're getting real AGP compatibility. The real danger is electrical—these boards expose graphics cards to potentially dangerous voltage levels, which can destroy hardware. The counterfeits are copying an original Asrock design that had the same flaw, a compromise connection Asrock called AGI that actually connected to the PCI bus rather than offering true AGP. For retro enthusiasts sourcing vintage components, the message is stark: verify your mainboards before installing expensive graphics cards.

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