Needing SLI MOBO for new System

[generalnewbie]

Hey guys I found a good deal for 2x XFX 8600GT's (49.00 each) and thought hey ill build a new system with new stuff.

So I really want to play Crysis and make sure the PC will last another 5 years.

Figure a 45nm Intel of some sort will do either quad or dual core.

What is a reasonable priced motherboard that does SLI and will fix these two new cards?

I havent seen a SLI 790i mobo for $150 yet but maybe someone else has.

 

[zod96]

Try the nvidia 750i chipset. Its about $150 and its the same as the 780i miss some extras that you wouldn't need anyway.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...scription=750i&x=0&y=0

 

[ZtyX]

Read this about SLI actually lowering performance.. http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2178762&enterthread=y

 

[Blazer7]

Hello Mr ZtyX,

That's BS. Have you read that thread yourself ? I've been keeping an eye on it since day 1 and I agree with the rest of the guys there. Clearly the originator of that thread doesn't know much about multi GPU setups. However It's definitely good that this thread exists because the guys over at the Video Cards and Graphics section need the laugh.

 

[generalnewbie]

Thanks Zod96 i was not aware of the 750i chipsets. I guess because they do not get that much exposure.

You found exactly what i was needing. I don't plan to go 3x SLI ever and 790i is more than i want to spend. Ill start reading and searching for 750i boards. Are there any that stand out from the crowds to read up on. Besides the ones linked?



Im sure a easy google search might help but do the 750i mobos have the two 16x PCI's on the motherboards? Basically are two 16x pci express slots needed for SLI to maximize performance?

 

[Blazer7]

Hello Mr generalnewbie,

If you are planning on using SLI then what you need is 2 PCI-E x16 slots that can be x8 electrical minimum. The 750 provides 2 x16 slots, 1 x16 and 1 x8 electrical, and that?s just enough for SLI. That?s about the same story as with the 680 and 3SLI. The 680 sports 3 x16 slots with one of them being x8 electrical and has no problem doing 3SLI.

These are nVidia?s specs for the chipset but things are a bit different with actual mobos as some mobo makers implement the chipset in different ways. For example MSI?s P7N SLI Platinum sports 3 x16 slots. 2 of them are x8 electrical. The reason that MSI?s board has 3 PCI-E x16 slots is that MSI also use the nForce 430i on their board.

I?m also under the impression that ASUS?s P5N-D sports 2 x16 slots both of them x16 electrical. I?m not 100% sure on this but it won?t come as a surprise if this is indeed the case.

The thing is that you won?t have any problem with a std 750 board. Even if 1 slot is just x8 electrical, SLI will function without any problems and I believe that you won?t suffer any performance penalties at all.

I hope that this is of some help to you.

 

[generalnewbie]

Thanks again

I am currently deciding and waiting for a slickdeal for either the
EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813188026

or
ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131232

Keep in mind that EVGA might have a mail in rebate soon!

I just cant make up my mind.. someone else care to help point me..

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: generalnewbie
Hey guys I found a good deal for 2x XFX 8600GT's (49.00 each) and thought hey ill build a new system with new stuff.

So I really want to play Crysis and make sure the PC will last another 5 years.

Don't take this wrong, I am not bursting your bubble, but don't expect stellar crysis performance from a pair of 8600 GTs .. I don't think I would build a system around them for gaming, especially for the next 5 yrs....

You will get better performance out of a basic p35 rig with a 8800 GT card, can you ebay the 8600's?.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: generalnewbie
Hey guys I found a good deal for 2x XFX 8600GT's (49.00 each) and thought hey ill build a new system with new stuff.

So I really want to play Crysis and make sure the PC will last another 5 years.

Don't take this wrong, I am not bursting your bubble, but don't expect stellar crysis performance from a pair of 8600 GTs .. I don't think I would build a system around them for gaming, especially for the next 5 yrs....

You will get better performance out of a basic p35 rig with a 8800 GT card, can you ebay the 8600's?.

Best advice yet.

I'm pretty sure even a 9600GT would beat two 8600GTs, and you can find 9600GTs for as low as $110 after rebate here and there. I would strongly consider selling the 8600s and going with a single 9600GT, 8800GT or 8800GTS. This will also allow you to save money on the motherboard and get something like an Abit IP35-E or Gigabyte P35-DS3L for as little as $90.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Heck if he wants it that long he should get a couple 8000 GTS 512mb and SLI them.

 

[generalnewbie]

Hmm i guess i could ebay them. What would they sell for on ebay?

They are brand new..
XFX PVT84JUSD4 GeForce 8600GT XXX Zalman Edition 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Ready Video Card (Dual DVI /S-Video)

Thats what they are..

 

[surfsatwerk]

Well I'd sell them for what you paid and since they're XFX the buyer will still get a warrenty for them.