Motherboard components...need help plz

S

Soviet999

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2007
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
My brain is frazzled!

I'm new to the whole 'building you own computer,' so I've done a weeks worth of research on it, and everything seemed to be okay, except for the Motherboard with the CPU, which I'm finding to be extremely difficult to work around. My friend (kortel) already put the computer up (I was looking at info at the time). So here are some of the specs (the ones I am happy with)

-2 x XfX Geforce Alpha Dog Edition 8800GT - Extreme Edition (512)(SLI)
-Seagate Barracuda HDD - SATA-300 - 32MB Cache - 500GB
-4gig ram OCZ PC2-6400 DDR2-800 2Gb Kit (4 X 1Gb) SLI-Ready Edition
XTC
-Antec Nine Hundred Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
-OCZ GameXStream Power Supply - 700w



Now it gets really complicated (I will also paste the web address)

I now decided the motherboard to be a...
-ASUS Intel P5N32-E SLI Nvidia 680i SLI
http://www.ngrcomputers.co.za/asus-intel-p5n32e-nvidia-680i-p-4352.html

The Heatsink to be
-Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme - Heat sink
http://www.wantitall.co.za/Thermalr...nk-Socket-775-Socket-AM2-aluminum__B000PHEV6C


And the fan (to cool the heatsink)
-Antec TriCool Chassis Fan - 120mm
http://www.take2.co.za/product.php?id=3059550

One of my concerns is that my motherboard might be damaged by the MASSIVE heatsink (790g, excluding the fan!)

...but worse off is the information that I was told in a post (see post by kortel) that this motherboard is incompatible with the Processor!
http://www.cpu3d.com/content/view/2719/67/

Other mini dilemmas
-No idea what the relationship is in the over clocking between the motherboard and the CPU.

-Because I've got two of those graphics cards, I am required to have an SLI ready Motherboard and Case. I understand that... however I don't understand why their is SLI everything! My friend (Kortel) keeps on nagging me to choose every component that says those 3 bloody letters, 'SLI.' He doesn't even know why they all say SLI, except for the Motherboard, Graphics card and the Case. That has led me to chose component that only say 'SLI,' which drastically limits my choice...
My Memory sticks, my Power supply...
...even another Heatsink which is SLI ready!
Here is the website: http://www.take2.co.za/product.php?id=2702944
I'm Really starting to hate those letters!

I repeat; my brain is frazzled, my nerves have burst and I am chewing on a shoe:(
Plz help...anyone, a Saviour is needed!
 
I'm sure that heatsink won't break the mobo - it WAS designed to be put there!

That mobo will work with the Q6600 - I assume that's uh CPU you're getting. That mobo won't, however, support the new/still being released 45nm Intel CPUs.

Most of that SLI stuff is just marketing crap. The only thing that REALLY needs to be SLI is the mobo. If the PSU is "SLI" it means that it has enough Watts and Amps for two graphics cards, and two PCI-E power connectors, which most do anyway. I don't know why RAM would want to be SLI...
 
I don't see anything about the chipset being incompatible with 45nm. Indeed on the contrary it states it is compatible but requires a motherboard circuit change. ASUS, being the mb manufacturer, has most likely implemented the circuit change or they can't claim compatibility. Some of the boards not previously compatible with it is now listed as compatible. Will probably be able to use the 45nm with a BIOS update after they are released.

Watch out for ASUS and large/heavy heatsinks though. There have been numerous cpu problems reported (mostly on mbs with the speech reporter). One is the backing frame fitting too tightly causing solder to run and short. Hopefully ASUS has rectified all these problems.
 
The p5n32 e sli will support the 45nm cpu's from intel but only the dual cores, the new quad cores won't be supported.

Search around the forum. I posted the article that stated this a week or so ago.
 
2 in 1

stefan9 said:
The p5n32 e sli will support the 45nm cpu's from intel but only the dual cores, the new quad cores won't be supported.

Search around the forum. I posted the article that stated this a week or so ago.
Click to expand...

Bugger I've been looking all over the internet and I can't find a single Motherboard that is SLI ready and will support the 45nm Quad cores at a later stage... Does this mean that I am alright for now, with the Motherboard and CPU compatibility, but will not be in the future?
 
Soviet999 said:
Bugger I've been looking all over the internet and I can't find a single Motherboard that is SLI ready and will support the 45nm Quad cores at a later stage... Does this mean that I am alright for now, with the Motherboard and CPU compatibility, but will not be in the future?
Click to expand...

Lots of mobo's support the new 45nm Intels.

See: http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3138

The 680i should be fine with a BIOD update afaik.

The SLI thing is mostly marketing as someone said. You don't need SLI RAM, and if you have a powerful enough PSU to run SLI, then you don't need to worry about any SLI sticker it might or might not have.
 
Soviet999 said:
Bugger I've been looking all over the internet and I can't find a single Motherboard that is SLI ready and will support the 45nm Quad cores at a later stage... Does this mean that I am alright for now, with the Motherboard and CPU compatibility, but will not be in the future?
Click to expand...
Who knows. It's 45nm multi-core ready and quad-core ready. Ready meaning it will probably require a BIOS update like I said. I prefer to trust the manufacturer rather than the internet rumour mill.
 
Nice!

Ekhaatvensters said:
Lots of mobo's support the new 45nm Intels.

See: http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3138

The 680i should be fine with a BIOD update afaik.

The SLI thing is mostly marketing as someone said. You don't need SLI RAM, and if you have a powerful enough PSU to run SLI, then you don't need to worry about any SLI sticker it might or might not have.
Click to expand...

God I hope it will okay with only a BIOD update:/

However the Motherboard certainly must be SLI ready, I know that, though not so sure about the RAM, Power Supply or even that Heatsink that I mentioned.<- Will I aso have to get that Heatsink (its an add on heatsink I think...I posted the web address in the description already.)

Plus plz tell me if the 700W SLI power supply will run the Comp with all its features (especially the Dual 8800GT xfx Extremes) at max performance?
 
Soviet999 said:
Plus plz tell me if the 700W SLI power supply will run the Comp with all its features (especially the Dual 8800GT xfx Extremes) at max performance?
Click to expand...

700Watts SLI certified should be fine.

SLI is simply having 2 graphics cards, it shouldn't mean anything for your CPU cooler or RAM. The mobo supports SLI by having 2 PIC-E slots, many do.
 
It has been said many times that 680 will not supprt 45nm quads but will support 45nm duals. There is an issue between Intel and Nvidia at the heart of this and neither seems to want to back down.
 
QX6700RULZ said:
It has been said many times that 680 will not supprt 45nm quads but will support 45nm duals. There is an issue between Intel and Nvidia at the heart of this and neither seems to want to back down.
Click to expand...

It all has to do with sli. Intel want sli on their intel chipsets. They want to able to offer sli as well as crossfire boards. Nvidia wants to keep sli an nvidia chipset only feature so Intel decided to not give them support for 45nm quad on their 6 series mobo's.
 
Is it only me that thinks running 2 DX10 cards in SLI is a waste considering Vista does not support SLI. You would have to run XP and then loose out on DX10 :confused:
 
Soviet999 said:
motherboard might be damaged by the MASSIVE heatsink (790g, excluding the fan!)
Click to expand...
When transporting the PC, make sure the mobo side of the case is at the bottom, i.e. the heatsink+fan should not be hanging down from the mobo.
 
James said:
Is it only me that thinks running 2 DX10 cards in SLI is a waste considering Vista does not support SLI. You would have to run XP and then loose out on DX10 :confused:
Click to expand...

What have you been smoking?? Vista does support sli. The very very early nvidia drivers for Vista, talking February didn't support sli on vista. But sli has been available on vista for months now.
 
stefan9 said:
What have you been smoking?? Vista does support sli. The very very early nvidia drivers for Vista, talking February didn't support sli on vista. But sli has been available on vista for months now.
Click to expand...

my bad
 
Soviet999 said:
God I hope it will okay with only a BIOD update:/

However the Motherboard certainly must be SLI ready, I know that, though not so sure about the RAM, Power Supply or even that Heatsink that I mentioned.<- Will I aso have to get that Heatsink (its an add on heatsink I think...I posted the web address in the description already.)

Plus plz tell me if the 700W SLI power supply will run the Comp with all its features (especially the Dual 8800GT xfx Extremes) at max performance?
Click to expand...
The motherboard and ram is fine. You could run the comp on a 500W PSU so the 700W is more than OK as well. For the price of that heatsink though I would rather have gone for water cooling and an external radiator. Will probably be a bit more but then you don't really need the fan as well which is actually a chassis fan and not a heatsink fan. The heatsink works without a fan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X