PCI Express Slots...

[pandora's box]

Besides the 2 16x slots for SLI should I really be concerned about other pci express slots on a motherboard? My main concern is that PPU technology thats supposed to be out soon in pci express form.

Can a PCI Express 4x slot run a 1x pci express card?

From what I can tell theres only one motherboard that has a 4x pci express slot. That being the DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR. Im just trying to avoid buying a motherboard without enough pci express slots so if in 4 months time when that PPU tech comes out and is bound to flood the pci slots bandwidth im not kicking myself in the ass for not getting a motherboard with more pci express slots.

Im also trying to take into consideration the fact that I have a Audigy 2 ZS which would take up a pci slot. I am willing to give up the Audigy 2ZS if onboard sound is ok. How does onboard sound perform compared to an audigy 2 zs on the nforce 4 sli platform?

One final question:

Whats the difference between these two motherboards:

DFI LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR

DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR

Any helpfull insight would be appreciated. Im planning on overclocking a Athlon 64 3200+ venice. I also have 1GB of PC3200 Gskil ram:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231012

 

[pandora's box]

Well turns out I wont be going with DFI. My memory is apparently not going to work with the DFI motherboards. Hmm...Any suggestions on a SLI motherboard besides DFI? I plan to do some overclocking. Hell should I even be bothered with SLI? I only have a display capable of 1280x1024...

 

[lcboyee1123]

then get the MSI...u probably dont need SLI, just get the ultra...but the MSI is a great overclocker...my mb's limit is 375mhz...also it has like the best onboard sound (Soundblaster Live! 24bit) but u shouldnt worry about takin up a PCI slot...there are no PCI-E add on cards that i know of yet...oh and yea 1x cards will work in a 4x slot

 

[pandora's box]

then get the MSI...u probably dont need SLI, just get the ultra...but the MSI is a great overclocker...my mb's limit is 375mhz...also it has like the best onboard sound (Soundblaster Live! 24bit) but u shouldnt worry about takin up a PCI slot...there are no PCI-E add on cards that i know of yet...oh and yea 1x cards will work in a 4x slot

well after doing a lot of digging it appears the asus a8n-e is the only nforce 4 non sli to feature a 4x pci express slot. im curious what exactly the other manufacturers were thinking when they decided to not put a 4x pci express slot on the board.

I cant seem to find a review on the ASUS A8N-E though. hmm damnit google cooperate lol.

Any opinions here on the asus a8n-e?

 

[hardwarephreak]

These mobos carry a 4x PCI-e and are also non-sli

MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo4_Platinum&class=mb

MSI K8N Neo4-F
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo4-F&class=mb

 

[pandora's box]

i think im going to go with the asus a8n-e. it has sata2 support plus ive been using this asus a7n8x deluxe for 2 years now and i havent had a single thing go wrong with it.

 

[synergyo1]

The A8N Premium comes with PCI Express 4x as well.

 

[pandora's box]

The A8N Premium comes with PCI Express 4x as well.

Its also 50 bux more than i really want to spend. The Asus A8N-E seems to fit perfectly with what i need to do.

 

[lcboyee1123]

i thought all nforce4 boards were SATA II compatible?

 

[pandora's box]

the nforce 4 non ultra non sli is not.

 

[Lazn_Work]

PCIe is downward compatable.

EG: a PCIe 4x slot will run a PCIe 1x card. For that matter, a PCIe 16x slot will run a PCIe 1x card.

==>Lazn

 

[pandora's box]

hmm well im settled on the a8n-e motherboard.

im really surprised at the lack of the pci-e 4x slot on allot of these 939 nforce 4 motherboards. i was only able to find 3 motherboards that have a 4x slot. (asus, msi, and dfi (dfi is no good since my ram is incompatible)). I wonder what all these people who bought motherboards without the 4x pci express slot are going to think when ageia releases their PPU card with a 4x pci express connection.

 

[Lazn_Work]

hmm well im settled on the a8n-e motherboard.

im really surprised at the lack of the pci-e 4x slot on allot of these 939 nforce 4 motherboards. i was only able to find 3 motherboards that have a 4x slot. (asus, msi, and dfi (dfi is no good since my ram is incompatible)). I wonder what all these people who bought motherboards without the 4x pci express slot are going to think when ageia releases their PPU card with a 4x pci express connection.

The first PPUs will be PCI (not PCIe) and they said it doesn't need high bandwidth.. Also: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/08/news_6119895.html
"Cards will be compatible with PCI Express x1/x4 and normal PCI."
So I don't really see a problem.

==>Lazn

 

[pandora's box]

The first PPUs will be PCI (not PCIe) and they said it doesn't need high bandwidth.. Also: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/08/news_6119895.html
"Cards will be compatible with PCI Express x1/x4 and normal PCI."
So I don't really see a problem.

==>Lazn

well if its not PPU then something else will require the bandwidth that a 4x pci express slot can provide. i just dont see the problem in providing a 4x pci express slot on these new motherboards. asus and dfi have managed to do it. instead of 3 pci-e 1x slots like some motherboard manufacturers have chosen to go with why not make 1 4x slot and 1 1x slot instead? i fail to see the logic.

 

[Lazn_Work]

i fail to see the logic.

Logic? From a MB MFG? I see that hope springs eternal.

==>Lazn

 

[pandora's box]

Logic? From a MB MFG? I see that hope springs eternal.

==>Lazn

we can dream cant we?

 

[carreragtr]

ASUS A8N-E has PCI-E 4X slots Link.

 

[pandora's box]

ASUS A8N-E has PCI-E 4X slots Link.

read the thread next time...