Motherboard Assistance

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

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?

.Froot. · May 30, 2008

You again

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.

.Froot. · May 30, 2008

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.

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

froot said:
You again
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.

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?

killadoob · May 30, 2008

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

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

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

If I get the 8500 now I'll need a board to run it on...

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

I have the XFX8500GT 256MB. It doesn't say SLI on the box anywere- How do I know that it can do SLI even?

Edit: It's this one here http://www.computersonly.co.za/productdetail.aspx?sku=PVT86JYAH7&categoryId=36093
but the 256MB version...

Thestealth · May 30, 2008

On the top of the board, there's 2 slots. That's where you'll fit the SLI bridge for both cards

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

Thestealth said:
On the top of the board, there's 2 slots. That's where you'll fit the SLI bridge for both cards

Say again....?

JohnnyQ · May 30, 2008

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.

medicnick83 · May 30, 2008

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.

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

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.

Yip, that is why I got it. Just haven't got round to installing the 64 bit OS yet

Re83L · May 30, 2008

HenryJ said:
Say again....?

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)

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

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)

Ah, thanks

I will check it out. I don't think it has any of those things

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

No, no SLI at all

Swak.

Now all my great plans are ruined.

I don't want to throw like more than 3 grand at a GX2 card, so what about 2 x HD3650?
http://www.landmarkpc.co.za/store/sapphire-111270020r-512mb-hd3650-chipset-p-1526.html

Re83L · May 30, 2008

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.

hj2k_x · May 30, 2008

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.

What makes you think that 3 screens won't work?

hj2k_x · May 31, 2008

Like to do something like this : http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/mtraub/Office/DeskSmall.jpg

and eventually: http://www.makezine.com/blog/quake-highres-plastknet.jpg

Tun@ · May 31, 2008

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.

hj2k_x · May 31, 2008

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.

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/

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