How many PCI slots do I really need?

[bball1523]

I am going to be making a computer soon with a MAX budget of $1500 for recording music and gaming. I chose the AMD 64 3200+ Venice s939 as my cpu choice, and now I am having trouble finding the right mobo for my needs. I want as much upgradeability as possible.

So for the upgradeability, I want pci-e for videocard, usb 2.0, firewire, s939, and some pci slots, but no clue how many I *need*.

Most of the mobos I've looked at have 3 pci slots, but I heard it's good to keep the pci slots next to the videocard free so that it doesn't interfere with cooling. So that means there's really 2 usable pci slots.

I will need to use a soundcard and a TV Tuner, and if the mobo doesn't come with firewire, then a firewire card. If there are any midi cards, I might get a pci midi card too.

So I don't know how many I really need though and most of the low priced mobos only have 3 pci slots, which confused me.

What do you guys think?

 

[boggsie]

Well, the number of slots you need, depends on how many devices you need to put in those slots.

I am going to stay away from PCIe, because I have no knowledge.

I will reply regarding 'normal' PCI, because I think I might be able to help.

Generally speaking, your PCI slots will be filled by a card for:
Firewire
USB 2.0
LAN
Sound
Modem
SCSI

So, if your motherboard had 0 integrated items, you would need 6 PCI slots for these devices. However, there are companies, like SIIG, who integrate multiple devices on a single card. I, for example, have a card from them that integrates USB 2.0, Firewire and LAN on a single card.

More often than not, you'll find that the motherboard will include some integrated features, like LAN, USB 2.0 and in many cases, Firewire. If you chose one of those motherboards, then you would only need PCI slots for your Sound, Modem and SCSI.

I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,
-boggsie

 

[The Sly Syl]

an Audigy 2 ZS has a firewire port on it already.

Just don't go with an SLI system, you can probably get more PCI slots that way.

 

[bball1523]

I will need pci slots for a soundcard, tv tuner, and firewire (if mobo doesn't come with).

What are some cheaper priced (less than $120) mobos that are good efficient, reliable, and have usb, firewire, ethernet, at least 3 pci slots, pci-e, s939, ata133, sata150, and are made for amd 64 processors?

 

[LED]

Newer Soundcards will come in PCI-e flavor, but you may want an extra Vid card so get 3 like on the Gigabyte Mobo which also has 1394b and SATA 300