To SLI or not to SLI *OMG not another one*

[raincityboy]

Hello,
I am looking at purchasing the final componets for my new build. So far I have in my hands;
AMD 3400+ 64 939 (newcastle)
Zalman CNPS7000A-ALCU
Evga 6600GT
WD 74GB Raptor
Seagate Barracuda 200GB
NEC DVD
Epower Jaguar 450W PSU
Beantech BT85 case

I am not a hardcore gamer. I am going to purchase a mobo this weekend, and I need help.
I can get the A8N-SLI for $186 shipped, or maybe the chaintech nf4 ultra for about $140. Does it make sense at such a little price diff to go with the A8N? Maybe someone has another mobo they would like to suggest.
The extra money wouldn't bother me for SLI if it's worth it.
I will also probably go with Corasir VS1GBKIT400 value RAM.
I am not a fan of headaches, so the fewest amount of them caused by the mobo would be a good thing.

Would it also be wise of me to purchase Arctic Silver Ceramique instead of using the Zalman brand thermal grease that came with my cooler.

Any suggestions are welcome, and thank you in advance


Edit; I got my proc from the tiger deal, and I know there was a problem with the A8V-3400 64 combo at first. Will I see this problem with the A8N or VNF4/Ultra?

*does anyone know anything about Asus A8V-E VIA K8T890 I heard the A8V Deluxe is a good board. I wonder how it would stack up against the Nforce4 ultra. I haven't found much in reviews

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Wait a bit, and buy SLI when all the bugs have been worked out.

Early adopters usually pay a premium to experience more headaches than necessary.

 

[MrCodeDude]

If you're not a gamer, why do you even think you need two graphics cards? I mean, unless you're a stock broker/trader/whatever and need 4 monitors of 6600 goodness, I'd save yourself some money and buy the Chaintech.

 

[raincityboy]

Would the Asus A8V-E Deluxe be a better buy than the Chaintech VNF4/Ultra?

 

[Idleuser]

I was thinkig going nforce 4 at one poit but the nforce 4 chip is simply to buggy right now if you have the A2 chip of the nforce chip it'll only allow you to go up to 800HTT or 900HTT max if you get lucky with the A3 chip (revision nforce 4 chip) you'll he able to hit 1000HTT. IMHO nforce 3 is still the best way to go 🙂 Also SLI isnt bad if you plan on getting 2 cheap 6600PCIe (can be had if lucky at 160~ each) so @ 320 dollars i'll get u slightly higher spec than a 6800GT or Ultra if you can wait, wait it out nforce 4 is by far still too buggy. (crosses finger and holds out for the msi neo 4 board)

 

[raincityboy]

Thanks for all the ideas so far

Idleuser
I was worried about the HTT issue with nforce4, but I thought(hoped) they used A1 and A2 on the non Ultra or SLI
Nforce 3 I don't think has PCI-express.
If I did get SLI I wouldn't buy another 6600GT. I would wait for either prices to go down on 6800🙂, or some new GPU that I just gotta have😉(and double it:thumbsup:.)

I was looking at the MSI SLI board as well maybe next week? ZZF

 

[bob661]

If you're not a hardcore gamer or you don't need multiple monitors why spend that much money on something you won't use? Sh!t if wasn't into games or video encoding. I'd have something A LOT cheaper than what I have now.

 

[raincityboy]

Originally posted by: bob661
If you're not a hardcore gamer or you don't need multiple monitors why spend that much money on something you won't use? Sh!t if wasn't into games or video encoding. I'd have something A LOT cheaper than what I have now.

I can appreciate good graphics , but I don't have alot of time to play them.
Yes I have thought about dual displays.

If a little more cash will buy a big enough bang it would be worth it to me.