evga 9800 gtx+ sc - want to SLI

[imported_beagleguy]

I am building my first ground up computer and would appreciate some help.

new components
mobo
EVGA 132-YW-E179-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i SLI
memory
OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400)
case
Cooler Master RC-922M-KKN1-GP

pulled components from current puter
psu
OCZ 700w
graphics card
EVGA 9800 GTX+ SC p/n 512-P3-N876-CR
cpu
Q6600

3 HDD - WD 300 velociraptor - 2 Samsung 1TB HD103UJ
dvd rw cd rw


My question is:
when I decide to go with another graphics card, what should I use? Does it have to be an exact match part number - wise, or will any 98oo GTX card work?

Thanks in advance

 

[OCGuy]

Any 9800GTX+ will work. You may want to buy one that has around the same stock speeds as your current, just so you are guaranteed that it will match your SC card. Otherwise, you can buy one stock and just overclock them.

 

[vj8usa]

What's your current mobo? Wouldn't it just be easier (and possibly cheaper) to pick up a single new card to replace the 9800, instead of swapping mobos to go SLI?

 

[Denithor]

You need to rethink some of those parts.

DDR3-1800 memory on a Q6600? There's literally zero benefit to using DDR3 on that processor. Even if you plan to overclock hardcore some good quality DDR2-800 will be more than adequate. (Q6600 has a 9x multiplier - at 400fsb [DDR2-800 equivalent] you will be pushing 3.6GHz which is about the max for Q6600 chips.)

And honestly, SLI with two 9800GTX+ cards - you're seriously better off with a single faster card. Here's proof.

In your position I would just sell the old system intact (nearly - replace those nice HDDs with a single 500GB drive) and build new from scratch. An i7 system with mid-range DDR3 will cost you about the same as that fancy 790i motherboard with extreme high-end DDR3 and another 9800GTX+. And completely smoke your old setup.

 

[Henrah]

Originally posted by: Denithor
You need to rethink some of those parts.

DDR3-1800 memory on a Q6600? There's literally zero benefit to using DDR3 on that processor. Even if you plan to overclock hardcore some good quality DDR2-800 will be more than adequate. (Q6600 has a 9x multiplier - at 400fsb [DDR2-800 equivalent] you will be pushing 3.6GHz which is about the max for Q6600 chips.)

And honestly, SLI with two 9800GTX+ cards - you're seriously better off with a single faster card. Here's proof.

In your position I would just sell the old system intact (nearly - replace those nice HDDs with a single 500GB drive) and build new from scratch. An i7 system with mid-range DDR3 will cost you about the same as that fancy 790i motherboard with extreme high-end DDR3 and another 9800GTX+. And completely smoke your old setup.

+1

Also, how can DDR3 be SLI-ready? How can any RAM be SLI-ready? What difference can it provide? ^_^

 

[imported_beagleguy]

Since my current mobo IS up in smoke and all the other parts are healthy and available, this is the route I have chosen to take. Staying within a budget for new components and recycling others is part of the process. The next round of improvements will include a Q9650, 4gb more of ram and 64 bit os. It's like choosing between a shiny new car or a low mileage used one. I'll go with the used one every time. All the bugs are worked out and the original owner paid the majority of the depreciation. Besides, the question was what to use with my current parts if and when I decide to go with dual graphic cards. Who knows, when that time comes I may try something completely different. But in the mean time, if a cheap 9800 gtx+ sc pops up I'll grab it.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Just for the record I was running 4 gb of DDR2-800 with my Q6600 @ 3.01GHz

 

[Denithor]

If that's the situation - just replace the bum mobo with an EP45-UD3R and use your current memory. The money you save from the expensive-ass SLI board and crazy DDR3 will probably buy you a GTX 285. Sell the 9800GTX+ to make up the difference.