New PC build Questions

[orton]

So I have decided to build a new or upgrade my current pc system. But there are some things I don?t understand. I have purchased the following.

ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600

My questions are.

I want to do a SLI set up but I do not have money for the new cards right away, can I use just my one PCIx card for now?

Is this CPU a 64bit cpu? The box says Inel64 on the side of it
And if this is the case should I go with vista 64 or still stick to the 32 bit system?

Also thinking of going to 4 gig of ram, good idea?

 

[MarcVenice]

Doesn't really matter if you go vista 64x because of the CPU, if you want to use 4gb of ram, then it does matter, because a 32x OS won't see all 4gb of ram. And no, you don't need dual videocards right of the bat, but SLI is a waste anyways, you will notice when the time comes around when you want to go SLI, you'll notice you are better of buying a single new videocard that will outperform both your SLI-ed videocards. Thats because SLI doesn't scale 100% like you probably think it does. Many games are not or poorly optimized for SLI, so performance boosts can vary between 25-75%. Besides, you're going to need a BIG PSU to run a q6600 and sli-ed 8800's or 2900's...

 

[orton]

so in your oppinion i would be better off with say
this

MSI NX8800GTS-T2D640E-HD OC GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $349.99

as aposed to 2 of
MSI NX8600GT-T2D256E OC GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card $109.00 Each

I play games quite often but i am a little budget light thats whay i went with the SLI withthe cheeper cards.

I currentley have in my pc now
MSI NX7900GS-T2D512E-OC GeForce 7900GS 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Over CLock Edition Video Card

thank you for your help

 

[MarcVenice]

Yes you would indeed be better of with the 8800gts 640mb then you would be with sli-ed 8600gt's. But, you should wait another week or so, and buy a 8800gt 512mb instead, for 250$ or so. It will outperform the 8800gts 640mb in most games, and will obviously cost 100$ less

 

[DSF]

Going SLI with the two cheaper cards won't give you the same experience. When you consider that the SLI motherboard costs close to $100 more than a decent non-SLI P35 chipset motherboard, the savings are more or less moot anyway.

As MarcVenice said, your best bet at present is to wait for the 8800GT to be released soon.

 

[orton]

thank you all, looks like I will not be going the SLI route. Should have asked befor i bought the MB, o well