Running this potential SLI setup it by the experts first.

[Petty Blue]

Thanks to perusing this useful forum for the last few weeks, I?ve come up with the following for my first build. I?ll be ordering in a matter of a couple days...

Just waiting on you to okay everything. (And yeah, I like lights and knobs? flame at will)

Some prices are estimated so far. I?d prefer to run exact prices and dealers by you too, but I?m giving up for the night. It?s getting late and my eyes are starting to cross. If you know of cheaper prices, by all means enlighten.

So will this fly?
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Cooler Master Centurion 5 Blue/Black Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply = $86.00

ASUS "A8N-SLI Deluxe? = $191.00

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, Winchester Retail = $206.00

Fortron Blue Storm 500W = $89.00

XFX nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT, PCI-E, RETAIL = $474.00

Seagate 160GB Barracuda 7200.7 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive = $109.99

Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB (512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 ? Retail = $136.25

ViewSonic G90FB 19" PerfectFlat CRT Monitor = $209.00

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3520A BK, OEM = $62.99

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy ES PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0162" - OEM = $41.99

Cooler Master Musketeer2 Controller Panel (BLACK) = $29.49

VANTEC Nexus Fan Controller Panel (Black), Model "NXP-201" = $18.49

SIIG USB 2.0 9-in-1 R/W + Floppy Card Reader = $41.50

ZIPPY EL-715 (Black) Electron luminescent Keyboard USB = $38.49

Thermaltake Voice Controlled Cold Cathode Fluorescence Lamp (BLUE) = $9.95

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Thanks in advance

 

[Petty Blue]

Anyone?

I'm hoping to order tonight.

I guess I would have got a reply by now if the system specs were way out of line, but I would really like some feedback.

'preciate it.

 

[Petty Blue]

bump

 

[Patrick Wolf]

You plan on buying a 2nd 6800 GT later on? SLI is not the way to go, IMHO.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Everything looks good to me, and it should run great.

There was only one thing i noticed .... your graphics card. I have heard very things about xfx, they are suppossed to have terrible tech support. If this doesn't bug you, the i'd get it, the card should be the same as all the other ones.

 

[Petty Blue]

Originally posted by: wolfman579
You plan on buying a 2nd 6800 GT later on? SLI is not the way to go, IMHO.

Yeah, wolfman, I'm still on the fence with the SLI thing, but I'm leaning far towards that versus the single PCI-E. I like the upgrade ability outlook, and figure if I don't buy another 6800GT in the near future, I can eBay the original and get one or two of the newest generations when money burns another hole in my pocket. I can't afford two 6800GTs right now, but I can either do one of them, or go with the two 6600GTs. From what I've read, the consensus seems to be that one 6800 performs better than two 6600s, and still leaves me an open slot for a second 6800.

But then again, I could still be persuaded to go non-SLI. Just need more feedback to chew on.

 

[Petty Blue]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
Everything looks good to me, and it should run great.

There was only one thing i noticed .... your graphics card. I have heard very things about xfx, they are suppossed to have terrible tech support. If this doesn't bug you, the i'd get it, the card should be the same as all the other ones.

Really, I hadn't run across that info yet. Thanks for throwing it out there. What manufacturer do you suggest, then? eVGA?

 

[tfinch2]

I would wait until single PCI-E AMD boards come out (if they already haven't) and look into that. You will pay less for the board and SLI isn't really worth it.

 

[homercles337]

I agree with tfinch. Wait a few weeks for the non-SLI mobos. I have read so MANY bad things about the SLI boards. Also i have heard XFX is crap too.

1) Find a case w/o a PSU since you are buying one.
2) I would hold off on the sound card until you heard the onboard sound.

Too bad you werent around yesterday. Chumbo had a BFG 6800 GT OC/550W PSU bundle for $499. Mine shipped earlier today.

[edit]If you do wait for the non-SLI boards you really should read about the oddities of SLI in x16/x4 or whatever it is. nVidia is surely trying to put the kibosh on that! This could really make that "bonus" x4 worthless for quite some time.[/edit]

 

[Petty Blue]

Originally posted by: homercles337
(snip)...Also i have heard XFX is crap too.

Okay, leaning away from XFX now.

1) Find a case w/o a PSU since you are buying one.

I just like the Cooler Master Centurion so much that tossing the PSU is a sacrifice I'm willing to make. I've checked out what seems like gazillions of cases, and the CM is exactly what I'm looking for (minus the 350 W PSU, of course.)

2) I would hold off on the sound card until you heard the onboard sound.

I was under the impression that the onboard sound would decrease video performance, and that by adding a sound card, that would be less processor work, freeing it up some what. Hey, I'd really just as soon go with the onboard sound. I've read that it does sound good. Am I just ignorant on this point?

Too bad you werent around yesterday. Chumbo had a BFG 6800 GT OC/550W PSU bundle for $499. Mine shipped earlier today.

I know, damnit. I missed that by a few hours. But then again, I had no money anyway.


[edit]If you do wait for the non-SLI boards you really should read about the oddities of SLI in x16/x4 or whatever it is. nVidia is surely trying to put the kibosh on that! This could really make that "bonus" x4 worthless for quite some time.[/edit][/quote]

Okay, leaning away from SLI a little more now.


Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Petty Blue]

Okay, now I'm leaning even further away from SLI.

So which non-SLI boards do you suggest?

TIA

 

[LifeStealer]

Wait a few months to build. Then you'll be able to get the Nforce ultra and with a little modding you can make it into an SLI system from what it seems. Personally I can't suggest any of the current Nforce4 boards.