• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.
  • The forums have been upgraded with support for dark mode. By default it will follow the setting on your system/browser. You may override it by scrolling to the end of the page and clicking the gears icon.

SLI...should I?

A

Azn Tr14dZ

New Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
5,288 (0.75/day)
System Specs
Processor AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Motherboard DFI LanParty nf4 Ultra-D
Cooling Thermaltake Big Typhoon
Memory 2x512MB GeIL
Video Card(s) ATI Radeon X800XL
Storage 2x80GB Western Digital
Display(s) HP vs17
Case SuperTalent
Audio Device(s) Soundblaster
Power Supply Ultra X-Finity 500 Watt
I was planning to get an SLI motherboard, Intel or AMD, don't matter, but I'm not really going to use the SLI feature, sooner or later. Should I get an SLI motherboard even though I know I'm never going to use SLI, or should I save myself $20 and get a motherboard with a single-card configuration, but still be a good motherboard with good overclocking?

Thanks,
Azn
 
it depends on the platform,amd or intel,if amd i suggest u bring A8N32-Sli its a good mobo,if u r goin intel i hear the nvidia chipset for intel rocks "asus p5nd2-sli".
my suggestion go for amd
 
Well if your for sure certain that your not going to be running SLI, then i would get a motherboard with a single PCI-E 16x slot.
 
Nvidia Nforce4 Ultra is really good...all the features of SLI without the second PCIe x16 slot. I think that if you surf around Nvidia's site you can find some product sheets that tell you all the performance benefits.
 
I was leaning more towards the AMD side too, but not AM2. The only difference is DDR2, and despite the high speeds, they have more latency.

Before, I was going to go Intel, with the 805, but there's been news that Intel's price cut is only going to be 15%, instead of $93 for the 805, so then I'm leaning towards AMD.
 
Here are the 2 setups, after like the 100th change in my decisions, here are the 2 close to the final decision.

AMD Setup
AMD Athlon 64 3200+: $105.99
ECS KN1 Lite 1.0A nForce 4 Ultra: $54.99 (new)
2x Gigaram 512MB DDR 400 PC 3200 : $38.99x2
Western Digital 160GB S-ATA 3GB/s: $64.99
Sony DVD-ROM: $19.99

Total: $323.94

Intel Setup
Intel Pentium D 805: $93-120.99 (depending on Intel's price cut)
ECS C19A-SLI: $79.99 OR ECS 945P-A: $68.99
PQI Turbo 1GB DDR2-667: $69.99
Western Digital 160GB S-ATA 3GB/s: $64.99
Sony DVD-ROM: $19.99

Total: $317-$355.95

Which one is better? Thanks! I know...I'm fickle...
 
Last edited:
LOL, ECS SUCKs (again)(it dosent really SUCK, its just there is lots better for the same money)

I like the SLI mobo cause IF you want to go SLI you can. Also It puts the video card (if ur using one) higher on the mobo so there is room below for other stuff.

AZN why arent you getting AM2? Its about the same price.

Why not let me custom something for you?

(forget the 805) AMD RULES!!!!!:rockout:
 
I don't have a fan for AM2, I'm using the Big Typhoon right now, and I know it won't work for AM2. Markkleb, if you can customize me an AM2, for under 340 or 330, I'll check it out.

I'm only using this for gaming, listening to music, copying CDs, and gaming. My current setup (except for graphics), is going to my dad, and I'll burn DVDs on there.
 
Hard drive......exactly!! Shhh...Shhh...it's ok. It's ok.

Plus the DVD-ROM...
 
Azn Tr14dZ said:
Hard drive......exactly!! Shhh...Shhh...it's ok. It's ok.

Plus the DVD-ROM...
Click to expand...
I know why dont we all get together and buy you a computer...:nutkick:
 
LOL...sorry If I don't have much right now...
 
Unless Intel lowers Pentium D 805 to $93 (and hopefully newegg lowers it more), then I'm going with the socket 939 setup on the previous page. If the Pentium D 805 does go for $93, then most probably Intel is the one to go with. Thanks eveyone, especially Markkleb, for your help.
 
Dont worry AZN ul probably change ur mine at least 12,345,123,764,345,654 more times before you deside. LOL

Both AMD and Intel are supposedly gonna lower their prices.
 
It's just that the 805 can overclock to 3.8GHz on air, and I really want that, and I'm lost again in what to choose...
 
Yes, go AM2, S939 has no real upgrade path and AM2 is new and cheaper than S939. Prices are dropping faster than Bill Clinton's pants. Anyhow, get an SLI board and get an AM2 board. Get some better ram and you'll not regret trying to save a few bucks 6 months from now.
 
b1lk1 said:
Yes, go AM2, S939 has no real upgrade path and AM2 is new and cheaper than S939. Prices are dropping faster than Bill Clinton's pants. Anyhow, get an SLI board and get an AM2 board. Get some better ram and you'll not regret trying to save a few bucks 6 months from now.
Click to expand...

I've already chosen on not getting an SLI board. I'm never ever going to use that feature. Either 939 or Intel for me. Depends now on how low Intel drops the 805's prices.
 
b1lk1 said:
Yes, go AM2, S939 has no real upgrade path and AM2 is new and cheaper than S939. Prices are dropping faster than Bill Clinton's pants. Anyhow, get an SLI board and get an AM2 board. Get some better ram and you'll not regret trying to save a few bucks 6 months from now.
Click to expand...
Sorry b1lk1 logic has no place here....:roll:
 
I can't afford AM2 (as of now) and I'll never use SLI. Never mind, sorry for even asking you guys here which is better. No point in asking at all. I should just leave this forum.
 
Azn Tr14dZ said:
I can't afford AM2 (as of now) and I'll never use SLI. Never mind, sorry for even asking you guys here which is better. No point in asking at all. I should just leave this forum.
Click to expand...
Dont get mad. Its nice you are here. There is nothing wrong with changing ur mind.

My comp is a 939 and its a waste for me to get AM2.
But if you have nothing than its better to buy a AM2.
If you have to wait till you get a little more money than wait.

I am not teasing you, its just my way of trying to be funny.
 
Let me just ask you, what's better, an Intel Pentium D 805 @ 3.8GHz or an Athlon 64 3200+ (939 or AM2) overclocked to 2.9GHz?
 
I would NOT get the 805 or the ECS mobo.
(the 805 may OC to 3.8 but its slower than the AMDs)
A friend of mine OCd and benchmarked his 805 and the scores were almost the same as my 3700+(single core)

939 is fine

AM2 is the future

as a matter of fact on Crystalmark my RedChrome (with AMD 3000+) beat the heck out of his 805.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I guess 939 then. Thanks...but I'll still check for lower prices and such, I'll tell you the final build when I'm ready. Thanks for the help markkleb.
 
it will be hard to get that 3200 to 2.9 on a cheap mobo... look at the dfi lp ultra-d more expensive but one of the best boards out there...
 
my evga is the limiting factor on getting my 3500 past 2.714 cuz the bios doesnt offer any in depth overclocking featues, all you can realy change is the voltage and fsb
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top