Q6600 motherboard and I may use SLI

[tomcatelec]

My last 4 computer builds have all been AMD so I'm not too familiar with the Intel boards.

My AMD 4000+ system just took a dive and it's time to switch to Intel. I plan on buying a Q6600 and have an XFX 9600GT XXX and will probably buy another later and install it in an SLI configuration. I'd prefer to spend less than $150.

I'll also have 4GB RAM, 650W PS and Vista 64 bit. I'll get a new HD too and want to use the SATA interface.

Any suggestions?

 

[Blazer7]

If the rumours are true then nVidia may be quitting the chipset market and that's not good news for SLI. Even if they license the tech to Intel the addition of that crappy chip of theirs on Intel mobos doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

The INQ : Nvidia chipsets are history, Nvidia 790i board pulled by makers

Since the INQ's articles are often inaccurate (like the 2nd one here - Gigabyte had their GA-790SLI-DQ6 mobo on display in Computex but they've never included it in their product page and AFAIK this project is not dead yet) nobody can swear that this is indeed the case but right now it seems that this is a possibility.

I suggest that you go for an X48 or P45 mobo and when the time comes sell your VGA and go for a GTX280 or newer or even crossfire. If I was putting a new rig together that's what I would do. Take it from someone that runs SLI.

 

[JPB]

Originally posted by: tomcatelec
My last 4 computer builds have all been AMD so I'm not too familiar with the Intel boards.

My AMD 4000+ system just took a dive and it's time to switch to Intel. I plan on buying a Q6600 and have an XFX 9600GT XXX and will probably buy another later and install it in an SLI configuration. I'd prefer to spend less than $150.

I'll also have 4GB RAM, 650W PS and Vista 64 bit. I'll get a new HD too and want to use the SATA interface.

Any suggestions?

ASUS P5Q P45 $129.99

With SLI, your going to have a difficult time finding a motherboard from Intel that supports it. They all mostly support Crossfire.

So I suggest the board above.

:thumbsup:

 

[Scotteq]

Originally posted by: JPB

ASUS P5Q P45 $129.99

With SLI, your going to have a difficult time finding a motherboard from Intel that supports it. They all mostly support Crossfire.

So I suggest the board above.

:thumbsup:

Good suggestion


By way of info:

The reason you dont' see SLI on Intel chipsets is because nVidia refuse to licence SLI on anyone's chipsets but their own. As pointed out, Crossfire does the same thing and on Intel chipsets - You just have to use ATI cards to do it.


Going forward, this seems about to change, though: In the latest war between the two, Intel threatened to withold licence for the upcoming 'Nehalem' based chips(ets), and as a result nVidia have agreed to sell nVidia bridge chips to any mobo makers to use on Intel chipsets. This would enable SLI, but at an additional cost, since the mobo makers would have to pay nVidia for the chips and potentially do some redesign to incorporate them. There is also some (theretical) potential consumers would be able to buy a single motherboard which could handle both SLI and Crossfire. Just (obviously!) not both at once.

 

[Blazer7]

Originally posted by: Scotteq

nVidia have agreed to sell nVidia bridge chips to any mobo makers to use on Intel chipsets. This would enable SLI, but at an additional cost, since the mobo makers would have to pay nVidia for the chips and potentially do some redesign to incorporate them. There is also some (theretical) potential consumers would be able to buy a single motherboard which could handle both SLI and Crossfire. Just (obviously!) not both at once.

AFAIK nV wants to sell the old nV200 bridge chip. The problems with the nV200 don't stop at cost and board redesign. The darn thing runs way too hot. This is the exact same part that Intel used on Skulltrail and nV used with their 680 chipset (a.k.a. 780i). Needless to say that both products are not considered successful, not by a long shot.

Selling an old and problematic chip is not a very attractive way to persuade mobo makers to implement SLI. The way things are SLI doesn't seem to be the intelligent choice right now.

 

[chizow]

I don't see any requirement for an Intel chipset in the OP's post, so there's a wide range that support SLI with an Intel CPU: 650i, 680i, 750i, 780i and 790i.

That being said, if you plan to overclock that Q6600, you may get better results with an Intel chipset. Supposedly the 7-series NV chipsets are a lot better than the 6-series, but I wasn't happy with the overclockability and FSB speeds I got with 2 different 650i boards. Unless you're dead set on SLI, I'd say go for an Intel chipset board.

 

[DSF]

Forgetting chipsets for a second, I think you're going to be underwhelmed by whatever performance boost you get by adding a second 9600GT in SLi. Also, you're not likely to find a board that's capable of SLi and overclocks a quad core reasonably well for under $150.