Motherboard/Video Card

I'm leaning toward the ATI 4850 (dual) or 4870 (single). Ptosio recommended the Asus P5Q motherboard (here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299), but based on the reviews posted at Newegg and what I've been able to gather on the web, it'll hurt performance with DDR5 cards in crossfire. Anybody have recommendations from the X35 and X45 sets?

Also, with a 19" monitor, is it overkill to put the 4850 in crossfire? Would a 4870 now (crossfired in a year or two) make more sense? How about with a 22"?

Thanks.

It has nothing to do with the type of memory on the video card. It's just that with that mobo, you can only have x8 speed on the 2 pci-express lanes if you do crossfire. You need an X38 or X48 motherboard for full x16 speed on both lanes. And yes i think that crossfiring 2 4850's with a 19" monitor is overkill, but not so for a 22".

Aye. How big is that dropoff, performance-wise?HolisticGod

Read this article for more info on that subject.

I'm going with a single 4870, I think, but I do want the option of going to crossfire in six months or a year.

Which one of these looks best:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131317

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284

There's a sixty dollar price difference, but I can't figure out why.

Any cheaper solution out there? I'm leaning a bit toward the GT 8000 in SLI due to the much cheaper motherboards.

If you plan on gaming on a 22" monitor a single 4870 is more than enough. In that case, a cheaper P35/P43/P45 motherboard is what you need.

If you want Crossfire, the Asus P5E looks good to me.