SLI vs Crossfire question.

[Fleck]

It seems to me like Crossfire doesn't need to be supported on a board as long as it has two PCIE2.0/16 slots, and SLI is the only one that needs to have specific support in the chipset. Is this correct? Dual PCIE2.0/16 boards with ATI cards are so damn cheaper and more common, it's making me mad.

Anyway, I am sticking to nVidia no matter what the price/performance is on the ATI side, and I'm thinking of getting this board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157151

The idea is to have a Q9550 and two GTX260s in it by fall, all the while making my current hardware that much better to use (seeing as how I can't raise voltages on my board, yeah).

 

[erocker]

So what's the question? **I mean, yes you are correct.

 

[ShadowFold]

Spend some more money for a 750i chipset. I like these EVGA boards myself
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026

 

[Fleck]

Spend some more money for a 750i chipset. I like these EVGA boards myself
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026

Hey, I got a quick question for you, the only reason I'm considering what I am is the specific support for 1600 bus. Just wondering what you think, I know that boards rated to 1333 will clock too, just wanna make sure that there is no reason it wouldn't be able to clock as high. That board I linked got some pretty good reviews, it's a good performer, but I'll definitely spend a little more... the problem is I looked for a 1600/1333 rated board with SLI support and hit $220 before I quit looking.

 

[ShadowFold]

Yes it also supports Crossfire ontop of that incase you have a change of heart I say go for it! I've been wanting to try out Asrock myself, it looks decent enough. Also 1600FSB is 400mhz bus speed which is easy on P35/P45 but I don't know about Nforce boards. I would look up some Nforce 750i/740i overclocks and see what bus speeds they're getting!

I think since it's spec'd to do 1600FSB it will most likely do 400bus but look around to make sure!

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Wait, I thought you had to have either an Intel or AMD chipset to do X-Fire? Are you guys saying that you can do it on an NF board as well?

 

[ShadowFold]

Only Asrock's Nforce 740i and 780a boards do Crossfire.

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Only Asrock's Nforce 740i and 780a boards do Crossfire.

I see, what is different about them and any other NF based board?

 

[ShadowFold]

The bios
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g1GtsiZ4go

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

So is it possible to use the onboard video as a physx accelerator?

 

[newtekie1]

The reason you don't see official 1600FSB support is because only one socket 775 processor actually uses 1600FSB, and it is an Extreme Edition processor.

You are far better off going with a 750i, or even 780i board. They will handle 1600FSB just fine, and even though newegg doesn't list it, eVGA's site claims that their boards support 1600FSB processors just fine.

If I was you, I would jump on the Sticker II Formula for $139.