MB with SLI

[BigfootKevin]

Can someone catch me up with the times? lol


I'm just now trying to learn about motherboard's with SLI. What exactly does it stand for? I know so far that they are PCI-E compatible boards, and have more than 1 PCI-E slot. I also heard that you can only use 2 nvidia PCI-E where as ATI doesn't support the use of 2? Or maybe im being fed wrong info.


Can someone please set me straight

I'm currently upgrading from a P4 system to an AMD system with a PCI-E so i'll be future proofed.

currently looking at using an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice socket 939 chip. Also, if anyone could recommend me a better CPU and a motherboard that'd be great.


I'm mostly a gamer if that'll clear some choices up.

 

[Bucks]

You can save a few $$ and go with the AMD Athlon64 3200+ Venice. Pair is with a nice heatsink/fan and you are good to go. It is the best bang for buck as far as overclocking. One of the best S939 motherboards is the DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard. Unless, if you want SLI support (it isn't worth the $$), go with the DFI LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard

 

[BigfootKevin]

Since these boards say "Nvidia nforce 4" does that mean that only Nvidia cards will work with it?

 

[Promethply]

Originally posted by: BigfootKevin
Since these boards say "Nvidia nforce 4" does that mean that only Nvidia cards will work with it?

You can use any PCI-E graphics card in a non SLI configuration (single card).

But in SLI, you can only use 2 X nVidia based PCI-E graphics cards.

 

[Promethply]

Unless you're into radical OCing, I'd go with the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe for the mobo. I have mine humming along happily since January (HT OCed to 233 MHz)

 

[BigfootKevin]

Alright, thanks for the info guys.

So SLI means you HAVE to use 2 PCI-E cards, or just an option?

I'm not into the whole overclocking area and don't want to plan on getting into it. I spend enough money on comp parts and I don't want to have to worry about blowing my stuff up or buying extra gadgets to keep my system cool because of overclocking

I probably would have gone with ABIT like my previous board, but the fan makes a loud noise upon turning the computer on. I read that ABIT is pretty notorious for this, otherwise it's a good board.

ASUS it is.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: BigfootKevin
I probably would have gone with ABIT like my previous board, but the fan makes a loud noise upon turning the computer on. I read that ABIT is pretty notorious for this, otherwise it's a good board.

ASUS it is.

Well then ignore that noise coming from the Asus chipset fan, it's just your imagination!

 

[Capt Caveman]

If you don't want to deal with a noisey chipset fan, the Asus A8N-SLI Premium, uses a heatpipe for silent cooling instead.

 

[BigfootKevin]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: BigfootKevin
I probably would have gone with ABIT like my previous board, but the fan makes a loud noise upon turning the computer on. I read that ABIT is pretty notorious for this, otherwise it's a good board.

ASUS it is.

Well then ignore that noise coming from the Asus chipset fan, it's just your imagination!

lol, I should have said the board lately has been making loud noises that aren't normal Like the bearings or whatever makes it spin are worn out or somethin.

 

[Waylay00]

The ASUS A8N-SLI Premium looks to be a very nice board. I will be receiving mine shortly. It's an updated version of the A8N-SLI Deluxe, and has better overclocking features, has a passive chipset cooling heatpipe, and allows you to switch between SLI and non-SLI modes without having to physically adjust the selector card.

 

[Promethply]

Originally posted by: BigfootKevin
Alright, thanks for the info guys.

So SLI means you HAVE to use 2 PCI-E cards, or just an option?

I'm not into the whole overclocking area and don't want to plan on getting into it. I spend enough money on comp parts and I don't want to have to worry about blowing my stuff up or buying extra gadgets to keep my system cool because of overclocking

I probably would have gone with ABIT like my previous board, but the fan makes a loud noise upon turning the computer on. I read that ABIT is pretty notorious for this, otherwise it's a good board.

ASUS it is.

On NF4 SLI boards, you have the option to use either a single, or dual PCI-E cards.

Regarding the chipset fan noise, AFAIK, so far only the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium and the newest ABIT SLI mobo use the heatpipe method of cooling the chipset, making the chipset noise a non issue on those boards.