Stable SLI board for the future

V

Vyel

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May 1, 2006
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Specs of the PC:

CPU: Not sure -- X2 3800+ or 165 Opteron, maybe a cheap single core to hold me over till this winter. Too bad I missed the $110 144's...
Board: __________
Cooling: I currently have a lapped, 4 heatpipe, HSF from an Opteron w/ a 45cfm Panaflo 80mm. Probably go with something better later.
RAM: 2x1GB G. Skill HZ; Samsung uccc
Video: 7900GT, second card later
HD: WD SE16 250GB SATA, 16MB
PSU: OCZ 520w Powerstream
Sound: Audigy 2 ZS
Monitor: VS VX2025 (20.1" WS)
Other: Antec P180, Logitec G15, etc.

All of these goodies are already on my s754 setup, but I'm donating the board/chip to Mom.

I'm building the computer for an mmorpg (Vanguard), also using it for school work (CS/Math major). I need something dead reliable, but I still want to get a mild OC on air. The PC needs to scale with me for the next few years to come.

My criteria:
-Quality components. I know reliability and lifespans of boards vary more within a company's model line than they do from company to company. I need a specific board with a proven record. No crappy capacitors, etc.
-Be able to run 250mhz fsb. More is better. Needs to stay alive for years while doing so.
-Stability. I don't want it crashing during 6+ hour gaming sessions when I get the free time.
-Upgradeability. Chances are I'll not need more than two 7900GTX's down the road to play the game, but if I have to go to the next generation of cards, will a pci-e 8x board bottleneck me? How close to saturation are the 8x lines? If the 8x will be a bottleneck for next-gen cards, then a board with true x16 lanes are in my future.
-PCI slots. I need to have room for my soundcard. Later on, I will likely be in the market for a PhysX card, so I'd need a board that has enough room for a SLI setup and two PCI cards.

I'm looking for suggestions to specific models. Overclockability isn't my #1 priority -- reliability is. What are the best reliable, good performing boards?
 
If you can afford the $ (newegg often has on offer for $150-160) the Abit AN8 32X is highly recommended.
 
MSI k8n Diamond Plus, hands down. I owned an a8n32 and also have a a8r32, and the MSI is my favorite board.

It is an excellent overclocker, has onboard audio, passive colling, and an excellent layout. You will be able to add two pci cards even with SLI.
 
mild overclocking and STABILITY i would go with Asus. Although they are not a DFI in the overclocking game, they are just rocks, and have a ton of cool features.

i have the SLI premium and i like it alot, you might consider the A8N32 also...either are great choices.
 
wait a week and see what am2 is like with pricing and performance.you can future proof yourself a bit more by going am2.not much performance difference rite off the bat but it will come in 6 months and youll be on the latest socket for the next few years.also if its not for you for whatever reason 939 parts will most likely become cheaper if you decide to go that route.ill go am2 later this year or first of next and ill grow with the socket as it matures and gets faster,
if all you need is the cpu and motherboard now,to go am2 you would need ram,ddr2 and your upgrade would be done for a long while.unless you just cannot afford ram at this point then 939 would be the way to go.if you could swing ram,mobo and cpu youll have the latest thing out.just my thoughts on possibilities.
 
come on get a DFI or else an ASUS

2 boards and only 2 fit your needs

DFI SLI-DR Expert Venus (has 16x 2)
Asus A8N32-SLI deluxe

end all be all
no MSI or ABIT they are not up to the same quality. look around these are the 2 most common boards for enthusiests for many reasons.
 
am2 stuff. not more expensive than s939, but you will have to spring for ddr2, which is cheaper than ddr right now. if not, and you want to stay with s939

dfi nf4 lanparty series
or
epox 9npa series
 
I'd definitely look at AM2 now. Even though there isn't necessarily anymore performance than s939, it might work with future CPU's and you can also take the RAM with you to another build.
 
kirbyrj said:
I'd definitely look at AM2 now. Even though there isn't necessarily anymore performance than s939, it might work with future CPU's and you can also take the RAM with you to another build.
Click to expand...
I have to agree here also.
 
kirbyrj said:
I'd definitely look at AM2 now. Even though there isn't necessarily anymore performance than s939, it might work with future CPU's and you can also take the RAM with you to another build.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. AM2 may not be a whole lot if any faster, but DDR 2 ram is getting cheaper and there is a lot of good overclocking DDR 2 ram out there. If you have the money, buy into the present, not the past.

Notice I didn't say buy into the future, because we never know how that will go.
 
Adidas4275 said:
come on get a DFI or else an ASUS

2 boards and only 2 fit your needs

DFI SLI-DR Expert Venus (has 16x 2)
Asus A8N32-SLI deluxe

end all be all
no MSI or ABIT they are not up to the same quality. look around these are the 2 most common boards for enthusiests for many reasons.
Click to expand...

Link to that DFI board?
 
Adidas4275 said:
no MSI or ABIT they are not up to the same quality.
Click to expand...
HardOCP's review of the AN8 32X today would appear to disagree with you.
 
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