Is this a bad combination for a rig?

[imported_Doughboy]

I'm trying to build a new gaming rig and save as much money as possible.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if these parts where a bad combo.

I already have these parts:
P4 660 (hold the Intel bashing for now). It was free.
and I have 2GB of RAM from my current rig.

The parts in question are:
eVGA e-GeForce 7800 GTX KO
Asus P5GDC-V Deluxe - http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket775/p5gdc-v-d/overview.htm

Mostly I'm wondering about the Motherboard, is it a bad match for the video card?
Will I not realize the full potential of the video by using this MB?

 

[Deinonych]

That motherboard isn't SLI-capable, so you are limited from that standpoint if you want to add a second video card down the road. If you want SLI, you'll want to look at the P5ND2-SLI board from Asus. I'm not as familiar with Intel's recent chipsets, but isn't the 915P the lower end single-core one? If you don't care about SLI, you might take a look at boards based on the 925XE chipset, like the P5AD2. My 2¢.

 

[imported_Kensai]

It looks okay.. Get a board based off of nVidia's Intel SLI or the Intel 955X chipset instead.

 

[Deinonych]

Originally posted by: Kensai
It looks okay.. Get a board based off of nVidia's Intel SLI or the Intel 955X chipset instead.

Yeah, what he said.

Forgot about the 955X.

 

[imported_Doughboy]

I'd certainly like to get the SLI funtional MB, but then I'd have to spend big $$$ on DDR2 memory, and 2GB seems to be needed for BF2 play. I already have 2GB of DDR that can be re-used in this new board. Can you recommend some good, not too expensive DDR2 modules to get me 2GB. I'd like to overclock a little maybe 4GHz or so. will Corsair Value select memory do it. Maybe this: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85016-44

 

[agent2099]

Hasn't the 7800GTX proved how "useful" SLI really is.

6 months from now when you want to buy a 2nd 7800GTX, the next generation NVidia card will outperform the 2x7800GTX for less money, and card will probably be more efficient. Who out there would buy 2 6800 Ultras at this point.

 

[munchow2]

Originally posted by: agent2099
Hasn't the 7800GTX proved how "useful" SLI really is.

6 months from now when you want to buy a 2nd 7800GTX, the next generation NVidia card will outperform the 2x7800GTX for less money, and card will probably be more efficient. Who out there would buy 2 6800 Ultras at this point.

/agree

However, upgrading from a non-sli to a sli capable mobo isn't really that much. Maybe $20 depending on the manufacturer. I'd be willing to spend $20 of "just in case" money.

 

[imported_Doughboy]

Originally posted by: munchow2

Originally posted by: agent2099
Hasn't the 7800GTX proved how "useful" SLI really is.

6 months from now when you want to buy a 2nd 7800GTX, the next generation NVidia card will outperform the 2x7800GTX for less money, and card will probably be more efficient. Who out there would buy 2 6800 Ultras at this point.

/agree

However, upgrading from a non-sli to a sli capable mobo isn't really that much. Maybe $20 depending on the manufacturer. I'd be willing to spend $20 of "just in case" money.

I would agree with the $20 comment (even $50). but in order to get SLI you have to have DDR2 memory (for intel rigs). This cost is considerable, it's not simply an extra 20 bucks invested. I really can't see any down-side to the P5GDC-V Deluxe. When the time comes that I can afford 2 $600 video cards (or $400). I'll eBay the P5GDC-V Deluxe and get an SLI board. since I don't see that happening anytime soon... P5GDC-V Deluxe it is. Unless, anyone else has better reasons other than "it's not SLI".

Also, It seems that SLI can only do so much. Apparently, We're CPU limited already... I reference this quote from FiringSquad.com:
"If you?re lucky enough to afford a GeForce 7800 GTX SLI setup, you should definitely set your goals higher. In our GeForce 7800 GTX Performance Preview article, we were CPU-bound in many cases with the 7800 GTX SLI configuration even when running with an FX-55 CPU, which was the fastest processor we had at the time. We wouldn?t be surprised if 3.0GHz or more was required to truly keep a 7800 GTX SLI config running optimally."

From this article:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ath...64_geforce_7800_gtx_scaling/page15.asp

It sounds like to me that you need a $1000 CPU to run SLI, unless your into wasting graphics horsepower. I'm a price/performance ratio kind of guy. The return on investment isn't quite there with SLI just yet.

 

[Marsumane]

The board will not hinder the performance of the card as u asked above. Usually mobos are within a few percent of one another in the majority of graphics benchmarks. Stick with the mobo and your 2gigs of ram unless u really want Sli NOW and cant wait till later

 

[imported_Doughboy]

Originally posted by: Marsumane
The board will not hinder the performance of the card as u asked above. Usually mobos are within a few percent of one another in the majority of graphics benchmarks. Stick with the mobo and your 2gigs of ram unless u really want Sli NOW and cant wait till later

Clear, level-headed thinking

Thanks

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: agent2099
Hasn't the 7800GTX proved how "useful" SLI really is.

6 months from now when you want to buy a 2nd 7800GTX, the next generation NVidia card will outperform the 2x7800GTX for less money, and card will probably be more efficient. Who out there would buy 2 6800 Ultras at this point.

/disagree

Many go with SLI not as an upgrade path, but to get the next-gen performance 6 months before next-gen is released.

You could SLI 6800Us back in January, run all the newest games at 16x12 4xAA/8xAF and just now, over 6 months later, the GTX is released. Look at the benchmarks for 16x12 4x/8x and see that the SLI'd Ultras hold up very well against the GTX, winning many benches. It isn't until 20x15 resolution that the single GTX pulls away in every bench.

The only way someone with SLI'd Ultras can get better performance right now is to SLI either of the 7800 series cards.

 

[canadianpsycho]

Originally posted by: deadseasquirrel

Originally posted by: agent2099
Hasn't the 7800GTX proved how "useful" SLI really is.

6 months from now when you want to buy a 2nd 7800GTX, the next generation NVidia card will outperform the 2x7800GTX for less money, and card will probably be more efficient. Who out there would buy 2 6800 Ultras at this point.

/disagree

Many go with SLI not as an upgrade path, but to get the next-gen performance 6 months before next-gen is released.

You could SLI 6800Us back in January, run all the newest games at 16x12 4xAA/8xAF and just now, over 6 months later, the GTX is released. Look at the benchmarks for 16x12 4x/8x and see that the SLI'd Ultras hold up very well against the GTX, winning many benches. It isn't until 20x15 resolution that the single GTX pulls away in every bench.

The only way someone with SLI'd Ultras can get better performance right now is to SLI either of the 7800 series cards.

:thumbsup:

People just don't seem to get that SLI is a "bleeding edge NOW" kinda thing. I don't buy the "upgrade path" BS. Newer tech is always around the corner. If you can't afford 2 7800GTXs now in SLI, you probably don't need to worry about SLI.

 

[VIAN]

P4 660 (hold the Intel bashing for now). It was free.

Oh, well, that's a totally different story.

I don't know much about mobo's but there is a mobo forum for you to check out.

 

[agent2099]

Originally posted by: deadseasquirrel

Originally posted by: agent2099
Hasn't the 7800GTX proved how "useful" SLI really is.

6 months from now when you want to buy a 2nd 7800GTX, the next generation NVidia card will outperform the 2x7800GTX for less money, and card will probably be more efficient. Who out there would buy 2 6800 Ultras at this point.

/disagree

Many go with SLI not as an upgrade path, but to get the next-gen performance 6 months before next-gen is released.

You could SLI 6800Us back in January, run all the newest games at 16x12 4xAA/8xAF and just now, over 6 months later, the GTX is released. Look at the benchmarks for 16x12 4x/8x and see that the SLI'd Ultras hold up very well against the GTX, winning many benches. It isn't until 20x15 resolution that the single GTX pulls away in every bench.

The only way someone with SLI'd Ultras can get better performance right now is to SLI either of the 7800 series cards.

I agree that that is the only place for SLI. If you want the absolute BEST gaming performance at the current time (although with severe diminishing returns since 7800GTXx2 rigs are CPU limited) then SLI has a place.


However, I'd imagine even amoung ENTHUSIATS such as ourselves, less than 1% of us is going to invest $1000 in videocards. But for those that are willing to (even while getting marginal benefits of the 2nd card) then SLI is justified.