Need to buy an X58 MB.. Should I worry about 3x16 pcie (NF200)?

[bud951]

I need to build a PC which will eventually be my second rig that will handle downloads and storage via my Areca controller card. I plan on building a serious gamer rig later this year and I have decided to wait for X68/ICH11R later this year. I was going to build an AMD rig out of love for the underdog but decided not to. So, what X58 board to chose? I need the PC to be a gamer for most of the year and I have been planning on using a nice SLI or CF setup with one 8800GT (which I own) as Physx. Do I need a board with true 3-pcie@16x to do this? Wouldn't a nice 2x SLI @16x setup with Physx @ 8x enabled minus the NF200 chip work almost as well with less heat? I am bit confused at which board to buy. Any suggestions? Thank you.

 

[Wile E]

16+16+8 is more than sufficient for SLI+Physx. Now, space may be a concern if you need to get that Arreca card in there as well. Carefully consider the board layouts. The first runs of Gigabyte boards have a PCIex4 slot above the gfx card slots. Might be just the ticket to getting that controller card in there.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128362

 

[majestic12]

Wile E is right on the money with that. Physx isn't too demanding and a 16+16+8 should be more than adequate. Are you still waiting on Nvidia's next generation (Fermi) to come out before making your choice of cards?

 

[bud951]

Wile E is right on the money with that. Physx isn't too demanding and a 16+16+8 should be more than adequate. Are you still waiting on Nvidia's next generation (Fermi) to come out before making your choice of cards?

Yes, I was thinking of using my 2 8800GT's in SLI until the new cards come to market and then using just one of them for Physx. They are single slot cards that work ok as long as they get enough air. I have not ruled out the existing Nvidia cards or ATI cards for that matter. If I can get them (ATI/Nvidia) to work together that is. Thanks for input!

I forgot to mention, I would love to use my Azuen X-FI Prelude PCI card if possible.

 

[Error 404]

From what I've heard, using the nForce chip actually harms performance by a small margin. This was tested on a P55 motherboard which usually had 16/8, with nForce giving it 16/16 at the cost of slightly lower FPS.

 

[Fourstaff]

I dont think there is a need to have a PhysX card anymore, there is not enough games out there to support it. If both of your 8800GT are single slot, I think there is not too much problems, just put one in the first and the other in the third slot or fourth, with your controller card in the middle.

 

[bud951]

I dont think there is a need to have a PhysX card anymore, there is not enough games out there to support it. If both of your 8800GT are single slot, I think there is not too much problems, just put one in the first and the other in the third slot or fourth, with your controller card in the middle.

No, sorry that's not what I meant. The 8800gt IS the Physx card. I am wanting to run two new Nvidia cards in SLI, which I am sure are dual slot, with one 8800gt as my Physx card. I am just running the two 8800gt's until the new Nvidia 4xx cards come to market. Thanks.