SLI Motherboard for Multiple Monitors, 2 video cards

[KawLiga]

I'm building a multiple monitor/videocard system, but I'm having a hard time deciding on a motherboard. Some of the SLI motherboards with 2 x16 slots run at x8 with SLI enabled. What if I'm using both slots but not in SLI mode.

This is a computer for stock trading. Plan is to use a Core 2 Duo, pair of Nvidia Quadro NVS 440 PCIe x16 videocards, 2GB ram.

680i or 680i LT seem like good chipset choices. Would an Nvidia chipset be best or could I go with Intel? I want both cards to run at x16, but stability is also very important.

Also, if I'm not running in SLI mode, do I need a SLI certified power supply? Any particular memory needed?

Thanks

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: KawLiga
I'm building a multiple monitor/videocard system, but I'm having a hard time deciding on a motherboard. Some of the SLI motherboards with 2 x16 slots run at x8 with SLI enabled. What if I'm using both slots but not in SLI mode

.
If you're talking about 650i they'll still only do x8 per gfx card as it's alll to do with how many PCI-E lanes that they have available.
If the Quadros actually need x16 electrical then you'll have to go 680i/680i LT or Asus hybrid' P5N32E Plus.

For stock trading I would imagine that you would be running in 2D rather than 3D so power requirements shouldn't be that great if that's the case.

 

[KawLiga]

Does x8 electrical mean its a x16 slot with pins for x8? In effect cutting the available bandwidth of the x16 card in half? Meaning, the 650i has two x16 slots: x16 electrical and x8 electrical. When running with 2 cards they both run at x8, sharing the bandwidth? Have I got all of that rignt?

The trading charts are 2D and are updated in real time. I talked to a guy that runs a support site for the charting program I'll be using and he said to get full x16 graphics, no exceptions. His 8 monitor system uses a pair of Matrox QID x16 cards on an ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe. I was leaning towards Core 2 Duo, but I could go AMD.

SLI Power supply and memory?

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[ribbon13]

budget?

You are already familiar with the limitations of the NVS 440s and 1920x1200 displays? What displays are you planning on using?

My current standard high-end platform recommendation:

$170 - Thermaltake Armor VA8003BWS
$160 - Thermaltake Toughpower 750W PS-W0117RU

$310 - Intel BX80557E6600
$180 - Patriot PDC22G6400LLK
$210 - AsusTek P5N32-E SLI 680i

 

[KawLiga]

I know that the 440 will support 1920x1200 digital displays. One system will be using 1440x900 monitors.

The Thermaltake Armor case is very nice, but I dont want a full tower. What makes a case SLI certified? A black mid or mini tower will do. This is a business machine, not a gaming rig.
I was thinking 500w PSU. Is 750w necessary?

I dont have a defined budget, but $330 for a case/PSU is about twice what I was thinking of spending.

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: KawLiga
Does x8 electrical mean its a x16 slot with pins for x8? In effect cutting the available bandwidth of the x16 card in half? Meaning, the 650i has two x16 slots: x16 electrical and x8 electrical. When running with 2 cards they both run at x8, sharing the bandwidth? Have I got all of that rignt?

650i has 16 PCI-E lanes allocated for gfx.
The slots are physically X16 planform but you configure them to run either a single card at X16 or split that across 2 gfx cards so x8 to each.

The trading charts are 2D and are updated in real time. I talked to a guy that runs a support site for the charting program I'll be using and he said to get full x16 graphics, no exceptions. His 8 monitor system uses a pair of Matrox QID x16 cards on an ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe. I was leaning towards Core 2 Duo, but I could go AMD.

If you have to go dual x16 on Intel CPU then you have no choice but to go 680i/680i LT chipset or the aforementioned Asus hybrid


as for PSU how about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002 ?

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: KawLiga
I know that the 440 will support 1920x1200 digital displays. One system will be using 1440x900 monitors.

The Thermaltake Armor case is very nice, but I dont want a full tower. What makes a case SLI certified? A black mid or mini tower will do. This is a business machine, not a gaming rig.
I was thinking 500w PSU. Is 750w necessary?

I dont have a defined budget, but $330 for a case/PSU is about twice what I was thinking of spending.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Yeah, it's (the case and psu) way overkill for your needs. I just couldn't see myself surrounded with 8 displays without a fulltower Well, that and I demand quiet when I have that much data to collate. Anyways, that was just a cut and paste mainly for the motherboard cpu and RAM all of which are definitely suitable choices here.

For a PSU that's suitable for just a Conroe platform with no real graphic card stress 500W is probably fine. Since this is a business enviroment, I'd suggest one with a 140mm like the one I recommended before. Like this one. It pairs well with the Antec SLK-3000B case.

 

[zephyrprime]

Why are you bothering with quadros? They're useless for you since you are just using this for stock trading. Quadros are useless for everything except graphics work (and that even includes video games).

For a low intesity task like this, you don't need anything super fancy. You can use quad monitors in sli mode so don't let that keep you from getting sli video cards. http://www.hardwaregeeks.com/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=361

Just get some cheap video cards that support you needed resolution and a mother board that supports sli or crossfire or whatever.