Finalizing hardware - sli bad????

[TeleFragger]

Ok so I asked a q in the ps section and vid secion... and got my answers there.. kinda...

guess lets start out with my current list of hardware

case - already have & forget model.. tigerdirect case with handle on top (mid tower I think)
P/S - Corsair HX620
Mobo - XFX MB-N780-ISH9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
CPU - Q6600
memory - Patriot Extreme 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
vid - 2 x XFX PVT94PYDF4 GeForce 9600GT 512MB
hd - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
burner - PHILIPS 2-Tone 2MB Cache SATA Burner - Retail


so this is what im looking at... however I am getting a not so fuzzy feeling...
im sensing people saying SLI sucks and doesnt work... is this true?

if so then I could just kick back with a
XFX PVT88GYDF4 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB
will run after rebate a bit cheaper than the 2 9600gt's

then that brings up another thing.. I dont need a $250 mobo..... can just go with say a $100 gigabite mobo.......

my head hurts..
what do you think?

I understand that only think SLI if you are going to do it NOW and not buy 1 card now and then do it later as by then there will be better video cards out...

I am trying to build a machine capable of video editing (Primary function) and playing COD4, Rainbow six vegas and graw 2 (all that my p4 3.0 plays now!!!!!!)

so should I go with the better mobo and 2x vid cards..
or cheaper mobo and cheaper 1 vid card?

or go better mobo 1 8800 vid card and go ta 2 later?

I just dont have that warm fuzzy feeling reading about sli on [H]!!!!

Thanks
~Jeff

 

[Dangman]

SLI doesn't suck and does work.

Here's a quote that best explains my position on SLI:

SLI is a terrible idea as an upgrade path, as a by the time you're ready to buy that second card, a newer, better card will be out that offers considerable more performance than two older cards in tandem for a similar (or sometimes cheaper) price. SLI is only needed if you want to game at 1920x1200 or above at max settings on most current games, and if your prepared to buy two cards today. Otherwise, a single card solution is better. Keep in mind that a single card solution runs cooler, is simpler to maintain, and gives you more motherboard choices.

Dunno how well two 9600GT in SLi perform in comparison with a 8800GTS 512MB.

If you don't need a $250 mobo and no SLI, then yes a $100 Gigabyte mobo is all that you need.

So the big question is, what size monitor do you have and do you want the highest playable settings possible at whatever cost?

Yes a single 8800GTS 512MB will do well at 1920x1200.

 

[TeleFragger]

well I have a compaq p1610 24" crt... yes crt..

however im looking at going to a 22" flat panel at some time.....

I game now... graw 2 @ 1920xsomething......

so I do want to run at 1920 res or up.....

also if I go 9600gt yes I will get 2

 

[tiraides]

As Danny (and Mark) mentioned, SLI is only beneficial if you have a monitor that can take advantage of it (you do) and you can afford to get everything -- SLI board, two video cards -- at once (do you?). It's not that SLI sucks, per se... it's very expensive and it's overkill for most users.

 

[TeleFragger]

As Danny (and Mark) mentioned, SLI is only beneficial if you have a monitor that can take advantage of it (you do) and you can afford to get everything -- SLI board, two video cards -- at once (do you?). It's not that SLI sucks, per se... it's very expensive and it's overkill for most users.

understood... so then it is good to go dual 9600gt which I will do...

so off tonight to battle the wife...

and tomorrow the finalized 100% ready to order list..... just to check new deals as i already see the 750gb drive from newegg went from $135 to $119!!!!!

 

[TeleFragger]

bump...

ok all ordered up...

antec 900 case
corsair 620 ps
xfx 780i mb
q6600
2x2gb ocz reaper ddr2 800
xfx geforce 9600gt xxx (700 mhz)
500gb sata hd
sata burner



so a big thanks to yall!!!!!
next month with OT will be
second 9600gt
4gb more
24" monitor (need to read on this now)





all this and without next month purchases... after rebates... $1075ish....

 

[Markyip1]

If you still can, consider swapping out the XFX board for the MSI P7N Diamond. It's a much better motherboard, as it employs more features and most importantly, better components (such as solid state capacitors) that should greatly enhance long term reliability. Reference nForce boards like the XFX are prone to suffer from severe reliability issues, especially when tasked with overclocking a quad core. The P7N has proven to avoid the myraid issues found with other 780i boards. It works well out of the box and unlike other non-reference boards, can match or exceed the OC potential of the evga and xfx models.

 

[TeleFragger]

If you still can, consider swapping out the XFX board for the MSI P7N Diamond. It's a much better motherboard, as it employs more features and most importantly, better components (such as solid state capacitors) that should greatly enhance long term reliability. Reference nForce boards like the XFX are prone to suffer from severe reliability issues, especially when tasked with overclocking a quad core. The P7N has proven to avoid the myraid issues found with other 780i boards. It works well out of the box and unlike other non-reference boards, can match or exceed the OC potential of the evga and xfx models.

well I am gonna gamble... im not planning on oc'ing.... I want to be able to upgrade to a faster cpu in the future..

I am currently running a p4 3.0ht so this alone will be a huge jump for me. We also play games but on the older genre... not the newest... will not be playing crisis.....

appreciate your response though.... I read about the capacitors and stuff.. my boss built a machine as I speced above and he loves it... fresh out of the box with 0 issues.....

~Jeff