Can I currently build a system for gaming with PCI-Express

[tinydancer]

Are there any mobo out with PCI-Express. I want to use either an X800 pro or a 6800 GT along with an Athlon 64 3500. I don't think I have any options right now if I went with the 6800, but if I go with the X800, are there any options for me? I guess my next question is: Is there any reason to wait for being able to use the 6800 over using the X800. I heard things like SLI and dual. This computer jargon means nothing to me, but should it? You guys who know something about this give me some advie. What does my system need to look like?

Oh and what socket mobo? 939?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well neither of those video cards are out in PCI-E (in sufficient quantities IIRC). The GT IMO is a better card than the Pro. Also if you want PCI-E you are going to have to wait for K8T890 and Nforce 4, because currently only Intel has it on the market.

-Kevin

 

[mnarciso]

I don't believe the 6800 GT's are available for PCI-E yet... but X800 XT PCI-E is available. The X800 XT is pretty rare and pretty pricey as well. SLI is available on the nForce4 boards which I don't know if they are out or are shipping yet but should be very very soon.

SLI helps you prolong your investment towards a graphics card. You could buy a relatively cheap 6600 GT right now for under 200 and then use that wait a a couple years or a year for the 6800 GT to come down in price for PCI-E and purchase that and SLI both cards and gain a pretty good performance benefit. This helps so you don't fall too far behind the gaming market without spending a lot of money right off the bat.

I have a 6600 GT in a on a Intel 915 chipset and for 200 dollars this card screams. It is much faster then a 9800 pro and the 9800 pro goes for around the same price and sometimes more.

Also, the nForce4 boards I believe will be S939 for AMD 64 processors. I would recommend getting a 3200+ 90nm processor from newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/app/view...iption=N82E16819103500

its around 200 dollars and faster then a Pentium 3.4 Ghz Prescott.

If you wanted to upgrade right now... you would have to go Intel for PCI-E, however I don't know of any Intel boards that have SLI yet.

Good luck!