Motherboard for SLI system?

[3dsm]

Hey,

I`m currently building my new system mostly for 3D professional work, so rendering is a very important factor for me. I`m going to use the Q6600 and 2x Gigabyte GeForce 9600GT SLI videocards with Corsair 4Gb DDR2, PC-6400, 800MHz, Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX, ( Kit 2 x 2Gb ) .
I "just" need a good motherboard which should cost maximum 180$! I can`t afford ahigh end one sadly.
Another thing: some friend of mine keeps telling me that you can put 2 GeForces in SLI mode in an Intel P35 chipset mobo, even though all of them ar Crossfire designs. I don`t quite believe him, although i don`t have the facts. I`d really appriciate some help.
Thank you!

 

[surfsatwerk]

I'm not an expert but I think while SLI will be disabled you could use both the cards to run a dual monitor setup in a non-SLI system.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813188012

With the rebate that'll fit into your price-range, and being older tech *fingers crossed* most of the driver bugs and hangups should be minimal compared to the 750i boards.

Otherwise there's this MSI 750i board that's cheaper still.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130159

 

[3dsm]

I`m gonna push the budget limit up a bit: ASUS P5N32 or MSI P7N SLI Platinum?

 

[surfsatwerk]

Personally I've heard some horror stories about the bios on the Asus board. I've heard much more positive talk on the MSI board, especially the cooling solution on it.

 

[3dsm]

Hmm..well the ASUS performs a bit better, but if these bios stories have some truth to them...hmm.
Oh, and this may be a stupid question, but I keep hearing that you can put 2 nVIDIA cards in Intel chipset mobos (P35 for ex) and run them in SLI..but, how could this be possible if all Intel chipset mobos are designed for Crossfire? Well, ok..technicly it could be done, I guess but i don`t know about the performance and stability.
Whats the truth here?

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: 3dsm
Hmm..well the ASUS performs a bit better, but if these bios stories have some truth to them...hmm.
Oh, and this may be a stupid question, but I keep hearing that you can put 2 nVIDIA cards in Intel chipset mobos (P35 for ex) and run them in SLI..but, how could this be possible if all Intel chipset mobos are designed for Crossfire? Well, ok..technicly it could be done, I guess but i don`t know about the performance and stability.
Whats the truth here?

You cannot do SLI on the Intel P35 or anything other than the Skulltrail platform (out of the range of mere mortals). I would give another vote to the MSI P7N read more here it got editors choice :thumbsup:

 

[lopri]

That MSI board is seems somewhat weird. Am I reading it correctly that the board support one PCIe x16 (2.0) slot? Why wouldn't they make two 2.0 slots and one 1.0 slot instead?

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: lopri
That MSI board is seems somewhat weird. Am I reading it correctly that the board support one PCIe x16 (2.0) slot? Why wouldn't they make two 2.0 slots and one 1.0 slot instead?

3 Slots:

Slots

? Three PCI Express x16 slots
- the mazarine slot PCI Express x 16 slot (PCI_E1) supports PCIE 2.0 x 16 mode.
- the two light-blue PCI Express x 16 slots (PCI_E2 & PCI_E3) support PCI Express x 8 mode only.
- supports SLI technology.

From Hardwarezone

Like its bigger brother, the nForce 750i SLI is really a refresh for the nForce 650i SLI chipset with PCI Express 2.0 compatibility. Like the nForce 780i SLI, the nForce 750i SLI also uses the same nForce 200 chip to provide PCI Express 2.0 features. However, NVIDIA has crippled the chip to only provide 24 PCIe 2.0 lanes in x16/x8 SLI configuration, instead of the full 32-lanes capable of the chip. All other features of the nForce 750i SLI remain similar as the nForce 650i SLI, including the use of the aging (legacy) nForce 430 MCP. NVIDIA's new ESA architecture is also not supported here.

So one 16x PCI-E 2.0 and two 8X PCI-E slots. EDIT: all from the Nforce200- 24 lanes so I assume they are in fact 8x PCI-E 1.0 slots (but then what happened to the other 8 2.0 lanes)? or is it one PCI-E 16x 2.0 one PCI-E 8x 2.0 and one 8x PCI-E 1.1 electrical from the SPP for 3 way SLI....yes that makes sense .

 

[lopri]

If I'm reading correctly it sounds like x16 (2.0) / x8 (1.0) / x8 (1.0).

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: lopri
If I'm reading correctly it sounds like x16 (2.0) / x8 (1.0) / x8 (1.0).

Sounds like the extra 8 2.0 lanes from the bridge chip got 'split' into two 8x8's 1.0's.

 

[lopri]

No that's not possible due to the way clock generator works. PCIe 2.0 and 1.0 both work off the same base clock, but different multipliers.

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: lopri
No that's not possible due to the way clock generator works. PCIe 2.0 and 1.0 both work off the same base clock, but different multipliers.

Well then I would assume it would be 16x8 2.0 (for the full 24 lanes from the Nforce 200) and then 8x 1.1 electrical? Either way- solid board .

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Either way- solid board .

Yeah I had some sleepless nights trying to decide between this board or an EVGA product. Damn EVGA and their dastardly stepup program, the foul temptress that it is.

 

[3dsm]

Thank you very much guys. So..because of these crazy PCI Express lanes on this board, I can put two 9600GTs and enjoy the performance without any problems?

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: 3dsm
Thank you very much guys. So..because of these crazy PCI Express lanes on this board, I can put two 9600GTs and enjoy the performance without any problems?

Yep definitely.

 

[3dsm]

Great, just found my new motherboard . Thanks very much for the help guys!

 

[UpstartXT]

Wait... so it isn't significant that one of this two card will be running at pcie x8? Why not go with a 750i that supports x16 on both slots?

 

[surfsatwerk]

Considering his price range it's his best bet unless he wants to pay more for the EVGA 750i FTW. Personally I'd accept the x8 lane rather than go with a board that I perceived as having stability issues like the Asus 750i offering.