Questions about new SLI system build...

[Pohemi]

I'm thinking of building an Nforce 4 SLI system with an Asus A8N-SLI mobo and two 6800GT's; I haven't decided on the processor yet. What I need to know is:

1) What would be a good case to fit everything in? Would a Koolermaster PC3-720SL work? I'm probably going to be going with a water cooling setup, so I need a case that will fit ALL of this if it's not integrated.

2) What would be a good PSU? I'm guessing I'll need at least a good 600W unit if not higher, and what's the deal with PSU's being "PCI-E compatible"? Is this a new type of connection?

Anyone currently with an SLI system built, I'd appreciate any options, opinions, or info. Thanks!

 

[zakee00]

ok you want THE_BEST psu you can find. not necessarily 600w, you just want top of the line. antec TruePower, enermax are a few very good brands. i dont know about cases much, but i knwo my Antec1080 is about the biggest out there. really nice case.

 

[Pohemi]

Right now I have an Ultra X-Connect 500W running my OC'd AthlonXP mobile system with a BFG GeForce6800 Ultra OC graphics card. It has plenty of power and amperage (34 to the 12V rail) but I don't think it'd be enough for an AMD 64 SLI setup.

I'll look into the Antec 1080, thanks for the info.

 

[Gamerz 21st Century]

A pair of 6800GTs in SLi at load consume 244W, and an A64 is around 89W I think. Then there's RAM (20W), a pair of HDDs in Raid are about 50W, there's also a DVD-RW and DVD-ROM consuming 25W each, a Creative SB is 7W (All other PCI are 5), 5W for each USB slot (You probably use about 4 devices on at a time), 2W for each case fan (I'd guess you'll have about 3), and if I remember correctly, 36W for other devices, so you would need about 522W - So an Antec TruePower 550W, or my recommendation, an Enermax Noisetaker 600W to be sure to leave power for future U/Gs.

 

[Pohemi]

Is anyone going to produce PCIe GeForce6800 Ultra SLI capable cards?

 

[Gamerz 21st Century]

Yes, there should be PCI-E SLi capable 6800 Ultras soon (They have been benchmarked/tested and I think nVIDIA have confirmed 6800Us will be SLi compatible). I would expect them to become available in late January at the earliest. The problem is a pair of 6800Us will sound extremely noisy, where as 6800GTs are somewhat quieter, consume less power, are cheaper, take only 1 slot, and are almost as powerful.

 

[1336]

The OEM builders have had 6800 Ultras for a while.

 

[Pohemi]

Originally posted by: Gamerz 21st Century
Yes, there should be PCI-E SLi capable 6800 Ultras soon (They have been benchmarked/tested and I think nVIDIA have confirmed 6800Us will be SLi compatible). I would expect them to become available in late January at the earliest. The problem is a pair of 6800Us will sound extremely noisy, where as 6800GTs are somewhat quieter, consume less power, are cheaper, take only 1 slot, and are almost as powerful.

Not according to the reviews I've read...

Two 6600GT's in SLI score the same or just over what a single 6800 Ultra does. Two 6800GT's in SLI will score about %50 higher than a single 6800 Ultra. But the dual 6800 Ultras? They DOUBLE or more what a single 6800 Ultra card can do. If I'm going to bother buying two vid cards, I figure I might as well go for broke and wait for the Ultras. I've already got an AGP 6800 Ultra OC now, so I don't want a SMALL increase in performance if I'm bothering to upgrade already.

EDIT: As far as the noise, they'll probably be water cooled so it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Question: Why would you dump your perfectly good 6800Ultra AGP to upgrade to a 6800Ultra PCI-e? Your system is more than enough to satisfy you for a long time... and I personally think it'd be a very stupid move to upgrade now especially given that there's no performance boost between AGP and PCI-e (granted I know you want to upgrade for SLI and Athlon64, but do you really have the dough?)

 

[Pohemi]

I have two computers now...one's "my girlfriends" computer (it's mine but it's a reason for her not to have to use mine.
I want to upgrade "her" computer to be able to play the same games that I do on mine. Basically my system had started as a failed attempt to build and AMD64 system. I sold my 3500+ chip and GA K8NSNXP-939 and went back to a mobile XP. I want to build a new computer and give her mine to use because they'll both be set for a long while. But of course...if I build another new system for myself, I want the latest hardware available. Call it a fault. I can't build this system tomorrow, but I'm pretty good at saving money when I want something.