A8N32-SLI or just an A8N-SLI? I'm torn.

[Pez D Spencer]

I can't seem to decide between the A8N32-SLI or just the A8N-SLI. Money really isn't the issue, the main issue is that with the A8N-SLI I would have 2 PCI slots versus only 1 with the A8N32-SLI. This would allow me to use a sound card since my TV card will be taking the 1 available space if I get the A8N32.

I have read several reviews of the A8N32 and found that there is no real gain at the present time when using X16 over X8. However, many are saying that it's just a driver update away until the power of the X16 is unleashed.

I don't want to get the older A8N and be kicking myself in the ass in 6 months wishing I would have gotten an A8N32. How much longer do you people think it will be until the PCI-E X16 is truly useful? I typically do a complete system rebuild every 18 months so in a year and a half or so all of this stuff will be replaced anyway.

Right now I am building this system to replace my "aging" P4 3.2GHz Prescott. I have compiled all the parts except the board. I will be using dual eVGA 7800GT's, an Opteron 170, and 2GB of Corsair XMS PC3500 (I was going to go with OCZ but I like the cool LED's ) I haven't really gotten into overclocking much aside from video cards, but I would like to do some on this new machine and hopefully push the 170 to 2.4GHz. Ive been reading a ton about overclocking the A64 and have learned a lot. Many people said that 2.4GHz should be easily attainable with the Opteron 170.

So will the A8N32 be truly worthwhile within the next year to year and a half or should I just go with the A8N so I have an extra PCI slot? FPS gaming and racing games are my thing and I really like to crank up the settings. Plenty of eye candy is a big deal to me. Plus I have a 24 inch dell widescreen so plenty of graphics power is essential for a 1920x1200 native res. I cosidered GTX cards but I feel like the eVGA GT's at 470/1100 are good enough.

In this current system I have an Intel D915GEV mobo. Back then I wasnt really experienced with PC building at all so please don't trash me for getting such a lame and un-overclockable mobo. When I got it about a year and a half or more ago, PCI-E was the "next big thing" and was a must have. It seems to me that PCI-E is just now getting really huge in the mainstream. This is why I wonder if PCI-E X16 is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors right now.

Plus because I am at the brink of my spending limit, getting the A8N will leave me enough money left over to get an LCD display for my case

Thanks for the help.

 

[Wentelteefje]

The benefits of PCIe 16x aren't huge compared to 8x these days... So I wouldn't consider one of those boards, saying that within a year and a half, you'll have a new comp anyway... Seeing that there is a respectable price gap between "normal" SLI boards and the ones with SLI 16x, I wouldn't hesitate on picking the regular ones... However, the moment you've bought your comp, it is already obsolete, or other (and better) alternatives are around... If you really want something that'll last, then you shouldn't buy a computer with that money...

BTW what is the biggest disadvantage (according to me), is the lack of competition in that sector... Asus has one, Abit (although that one isn't really available yet I thought), MSI and ECS... Doesn't seem to me like there is much choice, which is something I personally hate... Because the A8N32-SLI isn't perfect on its own...

Do you really have to buy your comp now? I'd just wait till the next-gen cards have arrived... The cash you want to get SLI cards with now, will probably buy you a high-end G71 within a month, and that one will probably simply blow your SLI setup out of the water... Wait some, read reviews when the new cards are available (with ATI and nVidia appearing to be in for hard launches, this shouldn't be too long anymore), and then make your decision...

Buying an Opteron 170, and only going to let it run @ 2.4GHz is a waste of the money... CPUs like those can get up to 2.8 - 3.0GHz with air cooling...

EDIT: The next-gen cards should be around end January...

 

[Iceword]

I have had both and I can tell you there's no real difference performance between the two. However, try to avoid the A8N-SLI. The chipset heatsink on that board, for the lack of a better word, sucks. There are numerous reports of the fan dying on that prematurely, and that piece of metal does a horrible job of cooling the chipset.

 

[Skott]

Personally, I'd go for the A8N32 Deluxe over the regular A8N simply because its a better mobo overall. It also has the newer technology. But thats just me. The MSI version of the A8N32 was originally supposed to have Audigy2 onboard sound. That was probably the one big difference between it and the ASUS A8N32 Deluxe. Not sure if it made it to the final release or not though. The ABIT A8N32 is pretty much identical to the ASUS I think but I havent seen all the final specs on it yet.

 

[Wentelteefje]

The MSI K8N Diamond Plus has the built-in SoundBlaster Audigy 24-bit... IMO, the MSI is overall an even better choice than the Asus... It's cheaper (16 bucks), comes with a higher rated audio solution, and at least it's available on Newegg...

Another thing to consider... Will I spend that much money on a mobo, while it's probably Socket AM2 that's going to make this technology huge? Within that year and a half, it will have matured and you will start to see the benefits of it... Faster graphics cards could maybe be limited by the "slower" PCIe 8x bus by then...

 

[Skott]

The onboard sound only makes a difference if you are the type of person that likes to use onboard sound though. Many folks like having a seperate sound card. I'm not a MSI fan but I'm glad to see the technology of the onboard sound finally move up to Audigy2 quality. Its long over due.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The MSI x16 mobo I believe is only 3/4 phase power unlike the 8 that the A8N32. Also, for overclocking, the A8N32 will provide much more in options/tweaks.

In regards to which board, maybe you should also look at the Asus A8N-SLI Premium. That board will provide you with 2 pci slots.