Imho more trouble than it's worth, but that's because my energy-bill is high enough as it is. :lol:

Anyone else feel the same way? If so I'll just got with a single graphics card.

IMO with the cards out there today. When it comes to SLI or Crossfire.

Only the Video Card, Mobo, and Power Supply makers are the Winners. :haha:

Well, it's nice and all, but it has some things to consider:

Power consumption, obviously.

Not all games play nice with it, so you can use just 1 card. New games often take a while to get proper support.

2 cards are noisier than 1, and produce more heat, putting more stress on your cooling solution.

You don't get 200% performance, more like 150% in good case scenario, while price still doubles (need bigger PSU, can save some money by not getting 2 high-end cards but mainstream).

Performance scales with resolution; the higher the resolution, the higher the performance gain. You might need a more expensive monitor to really benefit from it.


(to recap, basically pro: high resolution gaming with high quality-settings. Con: high entry price and maintenance, bit more likely to stumble into issues with specific games)


I'd say if you want to game at very high resolutions with all the bells and whistles, it's worth it. If you're OK with lower resolution, than a single high-end card might be better. If graphics are not a major factor, get a decent mainstream one.

Imho the biggest benefit is not the performance in the short term, but in the long term: I have a 8800GTS 512, still going strong. Something like SH5 maxed out with 8x AA and 1280x960 resolution (considered low to medium these days), acceptable frame-rates (30-ish). It's 2 years old, and I feel like it's time for an upgrade.

With SLI, you can put off an upgrade longer, because you have more graphical horsepower to play with. As time goes by, the graphics card is always the part that starts coming up short (given that you picked a decent CPU and sufficient RAM from the start).

Another thing you can do is make sure your system is SLI ready, get 1 card, and drop in another later on if you feel you need it. Benefit there is you might get the 2nd card for a lower price, since new tech has come on the scene in the mean time. Just don't wait to long; when a card is no longer produced, prices tend to rise again as the stock dwindles.


Decide for yourself what you want, just be aware of what it is and what it brings with it. ;)

SLI/Crossfire is really alot like overclocking - its more a "bragging point" than anything else. If you want to spend that kind of money for performance, just get a dual chip card - both main providers make them I believe.

Agree that its too much trouble to be worth it.

Than I'll just get a single card.

My case has arrived. It's pretty neat, cant wait to get parts in it. :rock:

I have a question about modding, I want just standard red lights viewable from the window, anyone have any suggestions?


Edit: Also do USB2.0 wires work on a USB3.0 Mobo?


If so I'm thinking about going with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131614

Or Maybe this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188039

Anyone has any input?

All I know is USB 3 uses a different signal, so you'll probably need a special cable. :-?

All I could find on the matter was this:
And it doesn't really answer my question.

Why not just use one of the cool-master cases? The cases seem to be a 4 panel vent these days. :haha:

http://calgaryplastic.ca/milk%20crate.gif

Think it does: you can connect older devices no problem; backwards compatibility. But to get full speed from a USB3 device, you need USB3 slot to put it in, and if there's a cable needed, it needs to be USB3 compliant.

If only it was that simple. :haha:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-048-_-Product

I think I've made up my mind and decided to go with this MOBO.


It's just so hard to choose. :wah:

Okay, here's what I've decided to go with:

The Mobo from the previous post

Evga Nvidia GTX 470
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130550

Cooler Master 750W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171053

I7 930 Bloomfield 2.8ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115225

2x2GB Corsair 1600 Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145263

2X Western Digital 7200RPM 640 GB HDs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319

A DVD-RW Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

I'd bump the memory to a triple-channel kit. Otherwise it's pretty much perfect (means I'd happily buy it myself). :)

m8, if you havn't ordered yet, i would seriously consider getting one of the new amd am3 socket 6 cored cpu's

Here is the bigger brother version.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103849 6 cores each rated at 3.2 ghz... for $300 try getting a deal like that with intel. (intels response to this cost 1k)

Here is what appears to be a good mobo.. It has 4 pci e slots which means 3 gpu's for graphics and one for physics if you so choose.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130274

Here is 8 gigs of ram. (PS im not up to speed on the latest ram trends so their might be a better alternative out on the market now)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145284

As for GPU i would do whatever you believe is best. Both companies provide excellent products.

PSU make sure that it is powerful enough to power all of your toys and the such. Also just because it is rated at x wattage doesnt mean it will give out. Skimping on a PSU can bite you in the arse if you dont watch it.

Have fun and enjoy your new toy

I thought about going with AMD, but it seems that Intel always has the better performance once they do make the CHIP.
I don't think my computer is big enough, I believe you need 10 PCI slots on your case to fit that many. But That might have just been for the 4-way SLI board I was looking at.



My current build actually has a power requirement in the 600's, according to Newegg's Power Calculator, so I think I'm copacetic, I thought about getting a 1000W PSU, but my power company wouldn't like that very much. :haha:


EDIT: Also two deciding factors in terms of selecting Intel, the EVGA MOBO has a life warranty, and it matches with my case colors. :haha:

So you are telling me its worth spending an extra 600 dollars to match the performance of an amd core design to match colours and stuff? Also if you are into tweaking AMD's new AM3's are a breeze to overclock.

you wouldnt need 10 pci slots to have that. :yeah:

Once pci e slot fits one gpu, the slot underneath it may or may not get covered by the gpu but nowadays mobo manufactures are starting to make extra space in between pci e slots.

Actually the difference right now between the AMD x6 and the Intel I want is minimal according to this chart:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Plus with the I7 1366 mobo I'm getting, when and if I feel like I can get the I7 Extreme, which is at the top of that list. And I'm only paying 180 more for the mobo.


In terms of Ram I'll go with this Corsair Triple Channel DDR3 1600.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145224

Still going with Liquid Cooling ? This is what I use.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/cooler...iquid-cooling/

Don't go cheap if LCing.