I'm Clueless...

[Stockmonkeys]

Lately ive been looking into upgrading my mobo so it can handle some new ram and a better proc than my current system. Once i'm done i want to be able to run some demanding games like R6V2, Farcry2, and Crysis. I also want to keep the price as low as i can. so here are my various requirements, questions, and issues.

I Don't know whether to go intel or AMD.

I don't know wether to go dual or quad core. I do play RTS's like supreme commander, but i read a tech report somewhere that questions the necesity or quad cores in current games.

I need a mobo that can handle 2 8800 gt's in sli (i have one now, and i'll probably get a second in the near future)

I'm not extremely tech saavy atm (still learning) so i'm not any good fiddling with bios or overclocking, so i would prefer a mobo that is fairly user friendly without many (if any) known issues. I want to eventually get into overclocking a bit, but at the moment thats not a very big consideration to me.

one more quick thing, my current PSU is a 500 wat enermax.

all things considered, could you guys give me a few recommended mobos?
I really appreciate your input, give me anything you have on your mind.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Well you've kinda locked yourself into an Nvidia chipset for Intel cpu by needing an SLI board.

But 500 watts is kinda the bottom end of the spectrum for an SLI setup, imo. Also Nvidia chipsets can be a bit fiddly so I'd suggest doing some serious research for yourself and then reevaluate what your needs are.

Nobody is better able to know what I want then me, and I would hesitate to suggest anything other than to do some research and compare the pros / cons of an intel chipset versus the current offerings from Nvidia. Once you decide that the rest of the pieces like the cpu, ram, etc... are fairly easy choices.

 

[lopri]

What components do you currently have and what components do you need to purchase? You may want to keep an eye on 750i offerings that just started coming out.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[noxiousCaitSith]

this is just me, but i think sli is kinda useless...i have an 8800gt but the extra $200 i don't think really is worth it. the way things are going, there'll probably be a better graphics card by next year that's better than 2 8800gt's in sli. also it takes more power.
also, can't you use different cards with crossfire?

 

[TheJian]

Originally posted by: noxiousCaitSith
this is just me, but i think sli is kinda useless...i have an 8800gt but the extra $200 i don't think really is worth it. the way things are going, there'll probably be a better graphics card by next year that's better than 2 8800gt's in sli. also it takes more power.
also, can't you use different cards with crossfire?

agreed. Also super fast video isn't needed unless you're gaming at super high res. I'm running my 8800GT 512 OC (msi) on a dell 24in. 1920x1200 in almost all games. In the ones it can't do (crysis? World In Conflict at max qual only hits 25, but slightly down fixes that) I'll wait until I can get a card that can (probably the nextgen, yeah 1 yr or less). ATI's next chip (amd) is supposed to be really good. I'm not impressed with the GX2 quite yet but it's early in drivers dev. 3870X2 and 9800gtx2 are both examples of why we probably don't need sli nor get caught up in the chipset war problems (nvidia/skulltrail for sli etc). Though if I want bragging rights its a must. Most games hit 60fps+ unless you crank AA etc. I have not run into a game yet at less than 30, even oblivion hits 43fps. I don't find much use for 4xAA when gaming at 1920x1200+. Things look so good already and I don't even notice when rockets flying by and my hair on fire...LOL. Most of the time I can turn on 2x and get away with it, beyond that not a lot different in looks to me especially when i'm playing. Quake wars hits 77, Stalker hits 38 (max qual). UT3 hits like 60, HLife2 hits 135! I have to search to find games I want to wait to play until nextgen.

So if you have anything below 1920x1200 I say look at the numbers and save for nexgen. Or possible sell the card and apply it to 3870x2 or 9800gx2 if you really need that much performance. I love more fps, but I'll take it when it's not a power pig and doesn't force me into a board I don't want. Same with quad, 32nm looks golden for me. Games/apps should catch up to quad by xmas too (I hope...LOL).

I'd recommend buying NON SLI board. P35 ABit for $65, or better Gigabyte P35-DS3L/DS3R (depending on cash) and saving the extra SLI cost to put with your SOLD 8800GT money when you get around to thinking you would have wanted SLI. The savings on board/sold 8800GT should get you near a 3870x2 maybe with a few bucks, or splurge (if you already consider a $200 8800GT second card) on 9800GX2. $200 new card+ $50-100 (board savings) + sold 8800GT ($150?) looks like close to GX2 without slim board choices.

 

[fastman]

It comes down to what your budget is. Ask yourself what do you what to do with this system? Games or what ever?

You seem to be mostly into games which is fine, so I'd stay with dual, although SC likes the Quad and more games may take advantage if this in the future?

The new AMD's that just came out may be what your looking for as far as CPU's? But Intel has regained top honors after a long trashing.

Originally posted by: noxiousCaitSith
this is just me, but i think sli is kinda useless...i have an 8800gt but the extra $200 i don't think really is worth it. the way things are going, there'll probably be a better graphics card by next year that's better than 2 8800gt's in sli. also it takes more power.
also, can't you use different cards with crossfire?

I concur with this, sell the one you have now and put the cash into something else.

Good luck and read, read & read some more.

 

[Slappy00]

Originally posted by: noxiousCaitSith
this is just me, but i think sli is kinda useless...i have an 8800gt but the extra $200 i don't think really is worth it. the way things are going, there'll probably be a better graphics card by next year that's better than 2 8800gt's in sli. also it takes more power.
also, can't you use different cards with crossfire?

Im going to have to disagree, I have a old school 939 board that I have been using for years (Epox for lyfe!) and SLI is the way to go.

For one many midrange graphic cards outperform top end grapics cards when in SLI mode (the most recent being SLI's 8800gt/gts vs 8800GTX) for less $$$ than the single card solution.

Also SLI lets you add horsepower without the need to buy current gen tech. For instance say I want to run crysis later this year, I am sure whatever current gen tech is out will run it well, but I also know that I can pop in a now discounted 8800GTS into my setup and get similar performace.

With SLI you can take advantage of depreciation of tech and save money as well as allow yourself the flexiblity of choosing many different performance options.

Also some people like myself have 2 year rotations on video cards so the year 1 refresh (adding a second card to boost performance while waiting on next gen tech) is cheap and welcome.

There will always be better graphics cards around the corner what sli does is it allows you to strech your buck and recieve good performance for your investment.

 

[jaggerwild]

Good Morning Mr.Stockmonkeys!

I have put a link in this for PSU calculator




http://www.extreme.outervision.../psucalculatorlite.jsp

 

[TheJian]

Originally posted by: Slappy00

Originally posted by: noxiousCaitSith
this is just me, but i think sli is kinda useless...i have an 8800gt but the extra $200 i don't think really is worth it. the way things are going, there'll probably be a better graphics card by next year that's better than 2 8800gt's in sli. also it takes more power.
also, can't you use different cards with crossfire?

Im going to have to disagree, I have a old school 939 board that I have been using for years (Epox for lyfe!) and SLI is the way to go.

For one many midrange graphic cards outperform top end grapics cards when in SLI mode (the most recent being SLI's 8800gt/gts vs 8800GTX) for less $$$ than the single card solution.

Also SLI lets you add horsepower without the need to buy current gen tech. For instance say I want to run crysis later this year, I am sure whatever current gen tech is out will run it well, but I also know that I can pop in a now discounted 8800GTS into my setup and get similar performace.

With SLI you can take advantage of depreciation of tech and save money as well as allow yourself the flexiblity of choosing many different performance options.

Also some people like myself have 2 year rotations on video cards so the year 1 refresh (adding a second card to boost performance while waiting on next gen tech) is cheap and welcome.

There will always be better graphics cards around the corner what sli does is it allows you to strech your buck and recieve good performance for your investment.

While I understand the pricing thing, at the same time one should be aware of the fact that you might not be able to get another card later. I had this with 7950GT OC. There wasn't one available 2 months ago when I wanted one. That wasn't cool. So I had to buy 8800GT anyway. Also the power is quite bad on older cards compared to new cards (in any generation), so adding another of them is going to be a more painful power bill and create more heat. If it works out good for you, congrats. Glad it saved you some money.