- Aug 21, 2007
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I'm getting ready to update my "office" PC (I only call it that because it's in the room designated as the office). The PC will be used for games (mostly), some TV watching (if possible) and probably some general ms office use and web surfing.
I'm currently planning on the following as the main components:
1. ASUS P5K Premium Motherboard (with the P35 chipset)
2. Intel Core2Quad Q6600 CPU
3. Dual Radeon HD2900XT Video cards (Crossfire enabled) - probably the ASUS Card
4. 4GB RAM (Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1066)
5. 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor (future purchase, currently use 19" 4:3 LCD)
6. Vista Ultimate x64 OS
7. Antec 900 case
8. Enermax Liberty 620W PSU
Since I'm going Crossfire (although possibly not in the initial build), and given the location of the PCIEx16 slots, I'm guessing that I am going to have to replace my existing PCI Cards (Audigy 2, ATI eHome Wonder tuner and DVICO FusionGold Digital Tuner).
To put a tuner back into the system, I was planning to pick up a AverMedia7 PCIEx1 dual tuner (analog and digital). My first question, though, is will the PCIEx1 slots operate with the two graphics cards operating in CF mode? What I've read indicates that if the second video card operates at x4 (the max with two cards), then the x1 slot is disabled, but this board has two, so I'm not sure how accurate that statement is. After the two video cards are installed, I may have one useable PCI slot, should I focus the TV Tuner to go into that slot or keep it open for cooling?
Secondly, if I used the internal crossfire cables across the two cards, does the change the limitation of the bandwidth used by the second PCEx16 slot at all?
Thirdly, will the Power Supply be big enough or should I go bigger?
Thanks for all of your help, in advance!
Jim
I'm currently planning on the following as the main components:
1. ASUS P5K Premium Motherboard (with the P35 chipset)
2. Intel Core2Quad Q6600 CPU
3. Dual Radeon HD2900XT Video cards (Crossfire enabled) - probably the ASUS Card
4. 4GB RAM (Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1066)
5. 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor (future purchase, currently use 19" 4:3 LCD)
6. Vista Ultimate x64 OS
7. Antec 900 case
8. Enermax Liberty 620W PSU
Since I'm going Crossfire (although possibly not in the initial build), and given the location of the PCIEx16 slots, I'm guessing that I am going to have to replace my existing PCI Cards (Audigy 2, ATI eHome Wonder tuner and DVICO FusionGold Digital Tuner).
To put a tuner back into the system, I was planning to pick up a AverMedia7 PCIEx1 dual tuner (analog and digital). My first question, though, is will the PCIEx1 slots operate with the two graphics cards operating in CF mode? What I've read indicates that if the second video card operates at x4 (the max with two cards), then the x1 slot is disabled, but this board has two, so I'm not sure how accurate that statement is. After the two video cards are installed, I may have one useable PCI slot, should I focus the TV Tuner to go into that slot or keep it open for cooling?
Secondly, if I used the internal crossfire cables across the two cards, does the change the limitation of the bandwidth used by the second PCEx16 slot at all?
Thirdly, will the Power Supply be big enough or should I go bigger?
Thanks for all of your help, in advance!
Jim