$1500 gaming rig, SLI question?

[Katreat]

First time poster, building my second computer, primarily will be used for gaming. Budget around $1500. Already have keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

I was thinking about something like this:

Case: COOLER MASTER Mystique 631 RC-631-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail 90

MB: ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 208

PSU: Thermaltake W0106RU Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version 700W Power Supply - Retail 156

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail 311

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400C4PT - Retail 239

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail 110

DVD: LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/5X DVD-RAM Write Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHM-165P6S - OEM 30

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM 90

Viedo: eVGA 512-P2-N635-AR Geforce 7950GT KO 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail 265

Total cost $1499 before shipping and taxes.

Origially I was going to put in a couple of 7600’s and run it in SLI mode, but from what I have read on this forum it appears to purposely buy two lower level cards to run SLI is a bad idea and it is better to spend the money up front to get a better card, so I have gone with one 7950GT.

Now my idea is that in a year or so, when the 7950 drops to half price I could pick up a second and get a 70-80% increase in video for under $200 compared to throwing away the old card and spending $400 or more for a new one.

This is where my confusion comes in, is this a good strategy?

Right now I could save $60 by switch to a P5B MB and another $50 or so by getting a smaller non-SLI PSU. From what I have read the P5B is a less buggy MB anyway so might have other advantages. Throw in a few more bucks and just start right out with a X1950XTX or one of the new GeForce 8800 GTs. Will the extra horsepower of these newer cards let me leave it in longer?

My non-SLI build looks something like this:

Case: COOLER MASTER Mystique 631 RC-631-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail 90

MB: ASUS P5B-E Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 151

PSU: Thermaltake W0101RU ATX 12V 2.0 Version 550W Power Supply - Retail 96

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail 311

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400C4PT - Retail 239

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail 110

DVD: LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/5X DVD-RAM Write Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHM-165P6S - OEM 30

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM 90

Viedo: SAPPHIRE 100177L Radeon X1950XTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 VIVO PCI Express x16 CrossFire Video Card - Retail 409

Or

MSI NX8800GTS-T2D640E GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail 450

Total cost $1526 (Radeon) or $1567 (GeForce)

Anyway, that’s my big question, is SLI worth it if you can not afford to buy two of the best cards available to start with? Also, please look at the builds and make any suggestions for changes that you thing would help.

Thank you :)

[Mr.Ferrari]

Hey, great start. But yes, your non sli build will definitely the more efficient way to go. Motherboard and powersupply cost issues aside, a single x1900xt will defeat a 7950gt. And will be much cheaper. Therefore it will definately be a better longterm choice to go with a powerful card now, rather then two cards that will cost not only more but will have less features, and just equal a card such as the X1950XTX.

Not to mention that the motherboard you have selected for SLi is not recommended and has major stability issues with intel. If I was going sli with intel this is the only motherboard I would select: ASUS P5N32-E SLI (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131073). Which is $100 more. So you can add that cost as well.

Going by the non sli build..I would exchange that powersupply for this one:
Silverstone ST50EF (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817256001) $87.50
Cheaper too.

And about the video card choices. Speaking in terms of pure power, the X1950XTX will beat the 8800GTS. BUT you do not have the capability of DX10.

So its a give or take situation here.

And fyi, buying a second card to do an sli seup after a year is still wasting money. Just my outlook, but by then I could sell my older card and use the money I would spend on a 2nd card to buy a new card that will beat both.

[flanzig1]

Sli provides the best result with the latest cards. A single new card will beat 2 cards of leaser power in Sli.

[jfk]

Also, you will not receive a 70-80% increase in video performance with two cards in SLI. More likely, you'll get 30-50%, and I'd bet closer to 30 than 50. I still see no reason for dual video cards, even with high resolution monitors. Get a top end current card and it will run any game out there, with settings maxed (or very close), at acceptable framerates.

[Katreat]

Thanks for the input, I will throw out my SLI dream tell I win the lottery and stick with a single card. I also took your suggestion and upgraded the PSU. My current build looks like this and comes in just $50 over budget. I think the rebates will make up the difference and pay a big chunk of the tax and shipping so am not too concerned.

New Build:

Case: COOLER MASTER Mystique 631 RC-631-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail 90

MB: ASUS P5B-E Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 151

PSU: SILVERSTONE SST-ST50EF ATX12V 500W Power Supply 90 - 264 V - Retail 88

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail 311

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail 271

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail 110

DVD: LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/5X DVD-RAM Write Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHM-165P6S - OEM 30

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM 90

Viedo: SAPPHIRE 100177L Radeon X1950XTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 VIVO PCI Express x16 CrossFire Video Card - Retail 409

Total cost $1550 (Radeon)

Now, a few direct questions:

1. Is a 500W PSU large enough? Can it handle expected upgrades (new vid card, processor, etc.) over the life of the machine? Or do you recommend throwing a bit more at it now?

2. I put down the P5B-E MB because I saw it recommended in another thread, other than the extra connectors they list, is the board built any better then the standard P5B because I don’t think I need the extra connectors.

3. Are the new GeForce 8800 cards better than the Radeon X1950XTX? I know even the lowest 8800 is $40 more, but looking at the specs alone it doubles the memory for that 40 bucks. Any recommendations regarding these two competitors? I am a little biased towards Radeon because I had driver problems with my last GeForce, but I admit that was only a minor problem and once resolved it has ran great. I also have heard that the Radeon is something of a power hog?

4. RAM – after looking at the P5B MB I see it only accepts DDR 800 memory, is that correct? Could someone tell me the difference between the 5-6 different Corsair memory packs listed on newegg, did I chose the correct one?

5. In this day and age, is there any reason I should put a floppy in this machine? Do you recommend a second DVD or CD for any reason?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to help.

[flanzig1]

1: The x1950 requires between 400 to 450w PSU/ the 500 will be fine
2: mostly has extra options
3: They are close with the 8800 having the edge
4: The board tends to be more stable with DDR2-800
5: Salavage the floppy/ about the only time I need one is to run boot utilities

[Mr.Ferrari]

First off I would change that hard drive for this one:
Seagate 7200.10 320gb (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140) $94.99
Cheaper, and much faster then the WD.

1. Yes, thats a high quality psu and should accept everything except any dual card configuration. If your going to be doing some heavy overclocking, then yes I would opt for something beefier. Or if you plan on a 8800GTX.

2. Actually I would go as far to say that the Normal P5B would be a better choice over the p5b-e. This due to a new revision of the chipset that isnt acting as disciplined as it should.

3. Like I said, the x1950xtx will beat the 8800GTS in pure raw power. But the 8800GTS has the capability of DirectX10. So its your choice here. Either will play games happily. The GTX version is king but it is much costier.

4. With #2 in mind. I would just save some cash and go for some PC5300. Such as this:
2gb XMS2 DDR2 675 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145015) $199 after MIB.

5. I'd recommend having a floppy just in case. You can quickly attach and deattach as you need. In case if something goes wrong, floppy might just become a lifesaver. Their 10 bucks anyway...

[Katreat]

4. With #2 in mind. I would just save some cash and go for some PC5300. Such as this:
2gb XMS2 DDR2 675 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145015) $199 after MIB.

OK, I think you are saying that it does not matter but since my PC education is really out of date I will ask for a little more clarification. When viewing the P5B MB on the egghead weapsite it makes the followiing statement:

Notice: Only DDR2-800 memory supporting JEDEC approved 1.8V operation with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 is supported on Intel Desktop Boards based on Intel 965 Express Chipsets.

Now, the Northbridge uses the Intel 965 Express Chipset, so does that mean that if you use PC5300 memory that something might not work correctly?

Thanks for any reply in advance.

[Mr.Ferrari]

It should be fine. That statement is not true.

This is assuming your going with the Asus P5B. Not the E.
But memory timings arent really an issue. What can be an issue is the voltage. Memory with 2.2v will not work on this board due to it not being able to provide said voltage.

Otherwise ive seen people running anything from pc4200 to pc8500 on this board. That corsair pc5400 is a fine choice.

That is, as long as you dont plan on any major overclocking?

Also just thought of something, on the powersupply. It will handle your setup fine. But you mentioned upgrades, if you plan on upgrading to a more powerful card in the future, I would suggest this powersupply instead..
Silverstone ST60F (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163109)