SLI/Crossfire Ready MoBos

[Sound Mind]

So, when searching for good motherboards, I'm seeing ones that specifically state that their SLI or Crossfire ready, but what exactly does that mean? Does that mean nothing more than the board just having two PCI-Ex16 slots, or is there more that goes into it than that?

[dirtyp]

Its so you can run two video cards, sli is for nvidia and crossfire is for ati.
I dont think theres any benefits besides that.

[Katreat]

Cards that say they are SLI or Crossfire ready theoretically they have a chip set that will allow the card to perform in the SLI or Crossfire mode. Many cards have two or more Ex16 slots to allow you to run multiple monitors, and do not have the chip sets required to perform in SLI or Crossfire mode.

As a warning, apparently many of the early chip sets for SLI are pretty buggy, so I would do a little research and not just buy a card because it says it “ready”.

[Sound Mind]

Yeah. I'm merely upgrading my Socket 478 system this summer and just want to go for some future proofing. In case some day I want to go in Crossfire/SLI mode (even though the perfomance doesn't come close to doubling like one would think), I'll have a mobo that can do it. I'm also going to have to grab some older dual-core processor until I can afford an E6600.

The problem I'm having is finding a good enough mobo with two PCI-Ex16 slots and three regular PCI slots. I have a TV tuner and an expensive sound card to put in there, too, and I hear that when you dump a second video card in most SLI/Crossfire mobos, you render one of your PCI slots useless due to space limitations.

[Sound Mind]

Since I'm upgrading my rig constantly, and now it's the mobo's turn, what kind of chipsets and North and South bridges should I be looking for? If I'm going to be OC'ing an E6600 and running two video cards in SLI or Crossfire mode eventually, what specs on a mobo would be the best to look for?

And I'll need to get good RAM to OC effectively, but I can handle that.

[flanzig1]

If not a hard core gamer, a single PCI-E 16 slotted motherboard used with a top end video card would cover most gamers and you would have the PCI slots for your cards. Does look your correct about Sli board and PCI slots at least with ASUS boards.

[Katreat]

Personally, this site talked me out of building SLI. But I have a friend doing it right now and he went with the Asus P5N32-E SLi which uses the 680i chipset. That is the one recommended for SLI although it is still very new.

You might check out this link. I asked the same questions you are asking a month or so ago and got a good education. Most importantly, you need to decide between SLI and Crossfire before you buy your board because each uses a different chipset.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=171332

[Sound Mind]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045

I think I'm gonna go with this board. The PCI slots are awkwardly arranged, but even so, if I have two massive video cards, I can spare the expense of the ones covered up. I'm not going to go SLI at first, but it's future-proofing in case I decide I want to. If not, oh well. It's still a good board.
[EDIT] - Ugh, nevermind. I just read that the second PCI-E slot drops to x4 when you plug something in. This board's more expensive than I want to go, anyway. Anyhow, the rest of my questions are still valid.

But a new question arose.

I forgot about the whole 137GB barrier deal. If I have an XP SP1 installation CD, am I going to be able to create a 320GB partition on a 320GB hard drive (SATA)? And also, considering my hard drive now is a PATA one, what's the most painless way to clone the data onto the new SATA drive so as to prevent registry errors and such?

I just saw an article on slipstreaming SP2 into an SP1 installation CD, so if that's necessary, I can reference that on how to do so. Assuming I need to.

My dinosaur has left me way behind on new computer technology. I'm trying to catch up in leaps and bounds. Leaps and bounds that are costing me about a grand. :-(

[flanzig1]

Do the slipstreaming with SP2, that will save a bunch of download time.

(edited to delete wrong info pointed out by GLC)

[glc]

SP1 supports over 137gb too. That was one of the things that SP1 fixed.

I think you are falling for all the marketing hype of SLI. I'd personally get a vanilla P5B and save the money. To get SLI support for an Intel processor you have to get a Nvidia chipset board - and I'm not pleased with them yet. The P5B Deluxe *does* support Crossfire, but it's one of only 5 certified 965 boards. The 975X supports Crossfire too, but those are quite expensive. ATI chipset boards are available for Crossfire, but I don't care for those at ALL.

Most painless way to clone drives is with Acronis True Image, but most hard drive manufacturers' free setup software has a clone function - which sometimes works well but sometimes doesn't.

Why not save a PCI slot and get an All-in-Wonder video card? That's an option.

[Sound Mind]

Yeah, I thought about those All-in-Wonders before. But my TV tuner was a gift back when I was shopping for one. So now that I have one, I don't really see any need to replace it or get rid of it.

And yeah, SLI and Crossfire always did just seem like a way for NVidia and ATI to sell more cards. I guess spending $xxx on one 8800 would be better than $xxxx for two cards to get, at best, equal performance. Even though the 8800 is the only DX10 card out right now, yadda yadda, you get the point. I never thought SLI or Crossfire was worth it. I just like the concept. Maybe once the performance gain is actually significant, then I'll consider it enough to not bail on the idea next time I shop for motherboards.

Also, I'll be going from a WD 120GB IDE to a Seagate 320GB SATA. Are there any problems there?
I can temporarily not use my slave CD burner while I clone the hard drive and such, so connections aren't a problem. Then I'll get a cheap enclosure and turn it into a 120GB external for ****s and giggles. It works. Why throw it away?

How does TrueImage work? Do I need to format the SATA drive and install XP and such on it first, and then make the clone, or do I run TrueImage off the IDE drive and it makes a copy of the drive it's on to the SATA or something, or... how would that work?

[glc]

Read the thread in Tips and Tricks about XP repair reinstall. You should prep the IDE drive before upgrading - note the section on the IDE controllers carefully. Then you do the upgrade and boot with the Acronis CD (or if you use the downloaded version, install it on your computer first and build the rescue media - boot with that) and clone the drive. Then remove the IDE drive and you should be all set.

[Sound Mind]

I never thought about ECS as a mobo option. ASUS, definitely. Intel, sure. Biostar, NEVER AGAIN.

ASUS, I have nothing but great experiences with.
Intel, I figure if they can build a good everything-else, they've got the mobo thing down if you buy the right one.

But I haven't heard anything about ECS. Are they a dependable brand of mobo?

I'm looking at this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135038

I don't want to go SLI, it just happens to have a second PCI-Ex16 slot. But as far as dependability, overclocking, and performance goes, does this seem like a really decent motherboard?

I'm also looking at this ASUS board (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131070) for $20 more. Seems like the same stats. Is the $20 extra worth ASUS dependability, if it's there? Or is there such a thing as ECS dependability?

[Alaron]

The Asus P5B is worth much more then an extra $20 compared to ECS. We never recommend ECS, they have a terrible reputation for poor quality boards.

The P5B-E is a solid choice.

[Sound Mind]

Good thing I asked then.

What would you say the top 3 mobo brands are? And... is it wrong to assume Intel makes high-qual boards?

[glc]

Most Intel boards are very high quality, most are made by Foxconn. With few exceptions, they cannot be overclocked.

[daboggeyman]

I have been running a DFI Lanparty Ultra 2B mobo for almost three years now with out a hitch, when I built this rig it was built to the hilt. The biggest reason for buying it at the time was the numger of expantion slots. It is use for much more than a gaming rig. Will now it,s getting time to think about a new PC but I,m on a wait and see base,s. Every thing still look,s as far as hardware and software to me still hasnt shown no real path to follow. Or maybe it,s me. This is my old rig Mobo DFI Lanparty Ultra 2B
3200 XP+ AMD
1 gig Corsair XMS 400 DDR
500 Watt PS
ATI 9800 XT Pro
2 WD 120 gig SATA HD
2 WD 80 gig ATA 100 HD
I want to build along the same lines as before but when I do I would like to build for a long run. What do you think about the newer DFI mobo,s?

[Sound Mind]

I haven't seen any with an Intel socket, so I've never looked at them.

The whole thing that's spurring my upgrade is the fact that I want to get an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600. Even though I'm not getting it at first. I'm getting an 820, but that's because with all the parts I have to replace already, I'm looking at $800. I can't afford $1,100 as of yet. I don't even know if I can afford $800, really. I'm hoping my tax refund is friendly. Otherwise, I'm just upgrading my socket 478 CPU from 2.4 to 3.0. 'Cuz that's the last thing I can do.

I just have no idea how to shop for AMD processors, so I've never tried.