I am trying to find a mobo that doesnt cost a million dollars, that will support sli. Does it have to say it suppoorts sli to do it, or does having 2 pcie slots automatically enable it? Also some have multiple pcie slots but some are not rated at 16x, what diffeeence if any does this make? I also want to be able to unlock cores and overclock on the mobo.here are 2 boards. One is cheaper and I would like to get it, other hsa dual 16x and says sli ready. let me know if either will do what I want, or if there is something better out there that I can get to save money. thanx steve

It wont let me do shortcuts so 1st is (Asus M4N98TD)

2nd one is (ASrock M3A770DE)

Obviously you know which is cheaper. I will get the more expensive one, or a diffeerent one based on recommendations.

Wrong board

Amith12

I figured as this is to do with video card support it would be this board. I can re-list this in a different section though.

I am trying to find a mobo that doesnt cost a million dollars, that will support sli. Does it have to say it suppoorts sli to do it, or does having 2 pcie slots automatically enable it? Also some have multiple pcie slots but some are not rated at 16x, what diffeeence if any does this make? I also want to be able to unlock cores and overclock on the mobo.here are 2 boards. One is cheaper and I would like to get it, other hsa dual 16x and says sli ready. let me know if either will do what I want, or if there is something better out there that I can get to save money. thanx steve

It wont let me do shortcuts so 1st is (Asus M4N98TD)

2nd one is (ASrock M3A770DE)

Obviously you know which is cheaper. I will get the more expensive one, or a diffeerent one based on recommendations.

I don't know much about the HAF 922. I can tell you that I did a test with my 5870 in both the PCI-E X16 and the X4 slot in the M3A770DE motherboard, and the results surprised me a little bit. Even with a card as powerful and bandwith-hungry as the 5870, I only lost 8% of the card's performance while running in the X4 slot. I would actually recommend this motherboard to somebody who wants to run say.. 2 4850's, or 2 5770's in Crossfire for cheap. If you have the money for 2 5850's or 2 5870's, you're probably not going to spend just $60 on a motherboard.

hartsickdiscipl

thanx for the reply. I am glad to hear that I wont lose much with a slower 2nd pci-e slot. I want a $300 mb sure, but th $$ just isnt there unfortunately. As I would liike the latset X6 cpu too lol. Maybe one day......:roll:

***UPDATE***

I bought a few pieces.

I bought a case...Cooler Master Storm Sniper Black Edition. I also bought a cpu...Amd Phenom II X2 %%% Black Edition.

I still need a mb and ram. I over spent on these parts, (I am poor). I am thinking bout the ASrock

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157176

seems like the cheapest board that can do all the things I need....2 pcie slots 1600 ram full atx acc overclocking etc...

I think I might just get 1 or 2 gb ram for now, as I am so broke now and want to get this rig running. If you have any advice, or just want to criticize my hardware choices let me know. Thanx

Anyone ever use a cooler master HAF 922? I like that case and found one used for a sorta decent price. I like the open-ness and the 4 fans that come with it and that it is big enough to grow with more parts in the future, and that it doesnt look like a Transformer face...lol

Didnt realize that most mobo's with multiple pcie 16x are not really 16x after the 1st one. Looks like $200 and up and then you can have that. Is there a noticeable diffeerence when using 2 or more cars, when some are 2nd card at 4 or 8x compared to true dual 16x?

Pros: New chip from Nvidia has a built in GPU that handles PhysX and DX10
2 true x16 PCIE slots in SLI
Friendly BIOS

Cons: Cramped Cramped Cramped
I have 2 GTS250's in SLI and can only access one PCI slot for my Xfi sound card, and it blocks the first cards fan!

Other Thoughts: The chipset does have a functional GPU in it but there is no video output plugs.
I realy like this board. It has hybrid-SLI so it can dedicate a GPU to PhysX and the other to graphics.
I run 2x GTS250's in SLI and use the onboard GPU for Physx, just like a 3-way SLI system!

Ok, here is the post I was talking about. I was confused. He has 2 cards and used one for phys-x. Looks like mb has no onboard vid at all actually.

[QUOTE="bassman_sound"]

well I missed the deal on the case and cpu combo at newegg, so I might just buy better syuff and go slower. I just cut a hole in my case I have now. I put loud 100 cfm fan in there to intake air, and made the 3" exhaust a constant 12v to increase airflow. This will lower temps till I acn get a new case. I saw a Haf 922 used I might pick up. I might get ths mb instead

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131636&Tpk=ASUS%20M4N98TD

If I understand right it can do the phys-x while my GTS 250 does the rest of the graphics. Like a cheap sli setup. I am looking at getting a better cpu now as well maybe. Idk time will tell as well as $$.

hartsickdiscipl

If I'm not mistaken, the GPU integrated into the Nforce 980a chipset in that board is a Geforce 8300.. which is not physx-capable.

Really? Aguy on new egg posted he used it in tri mode I think sayin it did the phys-x, and I thought it far fetched.

Ebay is good because there is accountability for both the buyer and the seller, especially when you use Paypal. It's pretty hard for someone to pull a fast one on you when there's tracking, delivery confimation, a record of the item description, etc.. Paypal has a practice now where they actually hold the money until the item has been delivered and/or the buyer has left positive feedback. As a seller, I don't like this because it puts me at the disadvantage of not having access to my money for 21 days if the buyer forgets to leave positive feedback.. but for the buyer it's very secure.

To the TC-- Good luck in your upgrade quest. I'm sure something good will come up. If it doesn't happen fast enough for you, you know I have a nice gaming rig for sale! :D

hartsickdiscipl

I have bought lots from ebay, thats actually where got my new gpu at a GREAT deal! Just tryin to look more places. A lot of ppl dont like ebay but I have great success there getting deals. I got my receiver there my projector Subs etc....