Motherboard Assistance

hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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Hello.

So bear with me here. This is what I am currently running:


AMD 5200+ CPU
Gigabyte GA M55plus-S3G mobo
6GB DDR 2 800 RAM
1 x 8500GT 256MB
2 x 160GB SATA
1 x 250GB SATA
600W iSonic PSU
XP SP2 32-bit
1 x Samsung 226BW
1 x Samsung 2232GW
(dual view)

So, come the end of the year I will be upgrading as I will have had the machine for two years...Now, at some stage I want to get another 8500GT and attempt to run a third monitor in SLI. I will not be doing much gaming, if any, and if I do decide to game I would purchase a better card at a later stage...

So, when i do the upgrade, I was going to go with an Intel Quadcore of some kind and an SLI mobo of some kind, but this is going to be quite pricey, so I was thinking...

Is there an AMD mobo that I can get in the meantime that supports both AM2 and AM2+ CPU's that is SLI-compatible? Cos then I could get that board now so long, still run the 5200+, get another 8500GT, and then at the end of the year I'd just need the CPU...

BUT, I hear that the AMD CPUs suck a lot compared to the Intel equivalents, so it might be better for me to save up and just buy a whole new quad-core Intel system at the end of the year...It's just that it would be easier to do it in bits...

And you might ask why bother upgrading to quad anyway? Well, I would at least like the ability to play the latest games, should the mood strike me :)


So yes, there is my story. Does anyone have any advice?

:)
 
You again :D
You might struggle to play the latest games with an 8500GT....
Have a look on the motherboard page at www.sybaritic.co.za and see what you like. It will say in the description whether it supports SLI.
I would rather just buy the whole thing together than buy an AMD board now and then buy a QuadCore processor later. Will cost you money that is better spent on buying better components.
 
Oh and you might have to check up on that PSU of yours. Not sure about the power consumption of the 8500GT but SLI is rather wattage happy.
 
froot said:
You again :D
You might struggle to play the latest games with an 8500GT....
Have a look on the motherboard page at www.sybaritic.co.za and see what you like. It will say in the description whether it supports SLI.
I would rather just buy the whole thing together than buy an AMD board now and then buy a QuadCore processor later. Will cost you money that is better spent on buying better components.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Well if I wanted to game I would buy one decent card at a later stage...

How do you mean that the money will be better spent on better components?
 
henry i suggest u buy your 8500 now man, they will soon only be around second hand

also dont worry about new stuff until the end of the year when there will be tons of new stuff
 
killadoob said:
henry i suggest u buy your 8500 now man, they will soon only be around second hand

also dont worry about new stuff until the end of the year when there will be tons of new stuff
Click to expand...

If I get the 8500 now I'll need a board to run it on...
 
On the top of the board, there's 2 slots. That's where you'll fit the SLI bridge for both cards
 
The 6Gb of ram you have installed on WinXP 32 bit is a big waste, the XP 32bit version can only utilize between 3 to 3.5G of memory. You will have to plan for a 64bit OS.
 
Yeah, agreed! Go 64bit... cause, if you play games, you might run into problems as NOT ALL games (PC) support 64bit CPU's or should I say, utilize it.
 
JohnnyQ said:
The 6Gb of ram you have installed on WinXP 32 bit is a big waste, the XP 32bit version can only utilize between 3 to 3.5G of memory. You will have to plan for a 64bit OS.
Click to expand...

Yip, that is why I got it. Just haven't got round to installing the 64 bit OS yet :)
 
HenryJ said:
Say again....?
Click to expand...

He meant on top of the card (the end that doesn't slide into the PCI-X slot on your motherboard), there'll be a little 1.5cm copper connector where you connect the SLi-bridge.

PS - If you bought a SLi capable card, it SHOULD have come with a little SLi-bridge connector too (looks like a TINY IDE-ish cable)
 
Frag said:
He meant on top of the card (the end that doesn't slide into the PCI-X slot on your motherboard), there'll be a little 1.5cm copper connector where you connect the SLi-bridge.

PS - If you bought a SLi capable card, it SHOULD have come with a little SLi-bridge connector too (looks like a TINY IDE-ish cable)
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks :o

I will check it out. I don't think it has any of those things :(
 
1 x 8800GT will be a better buy.
You should find them for R2200 odd at landmarkpc, pcint and prophecy.

Unless you're REALLY keen on working with 3x screens? (Which I'm not sure is possible in any case)

If you really don't want to spend R2200, try buying the 9600GT at landmarkpc for R1600.
It'll outperform the 2x3650's. :)

I don't think there's any nVidia chipset AM2+ motherboards for under R1000 ATM (nVidia nForce chipsets are the only ones that support SLi, Intel- etc chipsets only support crossfire), so if you REALLY want to use two cards, you'll have to buy a crossfire motherboard and 2xATi graphics cards.
 
Last edited:
Frag said:
1 x 8800GT will be a better buy.
You should find them for R2200 odd at landmarkpc, pcint and prophecy.

Unless you're REALLY keen on working with 3x screens? (Which I'm not sure is possible in any case)

If you really don't want to spend R2200, try buying the 9600GT at landmarkpc for R1600.
It'll outperform the 2x3650's. :)
Click to expand...

What makes you think that 3 screens won't work?
 
Tun@ said:
Hi Henry
If its monitors your trying to run rather than gaming Matrox has options.
eg....http://matrox.com/graphics/en/finent/products/epica/tc4.php

I haven't been in this area for a long time so dunno about pricing.
Their dual cards used to be fine.
Click to expand...

Nice :)

Thanks for the link. That is basically what I am looking for. Then I wouldn't even need to go SLI, cos I won't be gaming anyway...Something tells me that these babies are gonna be pricey though...

*googles furiously....

Edit: Like this one here for R7000 http://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/...DR+PCI-Express+:+QID-E128LPAF+:+Quad+Monitor/ :eek:
 
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