Motherboard Suggestions for SLI?

[Ryushikaze]

So, I wish to eventually (as in within the next couple of months) take my computer the SLI route. I already have a sufficiently large case and sturdy enough power supply with more than enough leads (It's specifically built to support SLI systems, and was an amazing deal for what it is), but I do not have a particular motherboard I've decided on yet.

My friend has been suggesting the Intel Extreme Motherboards, but I figure extra opinions and information and opinions can't hurt. In addition to being SLI capable, and have an Intel 775 processor slot, the only other real requirements I have for the case are that it have at least six SATA headers, 6 rear USB ports, and at least three USB headers. I'd prefer it be around or under $250 bucks.

I've been looking at Boards on my own, but with the number of them out there, any additional information, such as boards you'd suggest or which are definite avoids would be appreciated.

[erik_t]

I've not seen any evidence that SLI is worthwhile unless you want two of the absolute top-end cards, in which case I have to ask: why is this money burning such a very large hole in your pocket?

SLI is worthwhile as poseur-LAN-party-cred, but little more.

[Seggybop]

My friend has been suggesting the Intel Extreme Motherboards, but I figure extra opinions and information and opinions can't hurt. In addition to being SLI capable, and have an Intel 775 processor slot, the only other real requirements I have for the case are that it have at least six SATA headers, 6 rear USB ports, and at least three USB headers. I'd prefer it be around or under $250 bucks.

By "Intel Extreme" I can only assume you mean a motherboard with an Intel X-series chipset, but those don't support SLI except X58 motherboards for Nehalem CPUs (that aren't available yet) with SLI support specially added. If you wanted Crossfire with multiple ATI cards, X48 would be the best chipset. Currently SLI is only supported on motherboards with nvidia chipsets (650/680/750/780i) which are generally regarded as being inferior to Intel's.

I've been looking at Boards on my own, but with the number of them out there, any additional information, such as boards you'd suggest or which are definite avoids would be appreciated.

My suggestion is that you not waste your money on SLI or anything else currently made by nvidia.
Get a motherboard with an Intel chipset, an ATI video card. If you actually need the power of multiple video cards, ATI Crossfire should scale better anyway.

[JointStrikeFighter]

Don't.

[Baka^Ni]

You haven't told us your systems specs, games you play or screen resolution you run.

Regardless, I'd say it's quite pointless going sli, especially as you have to buy a brand new motherboard in addition to an identical nvidia card.

If you're unhappy with your system performance and you're gpu limited, go and buy an amd 4850.

Multi-GPU setups are for those who already have the best single card but need more speed to play with their huge monitors, those already running an sli board and can find a cheap second card and those with e-penis issues.

[Ryushikaze]

Well, I have a 2.4 Ghz Dual Core, and a BFG GEForce 8800GT overclock. 4 gigs of Ram, but that may change with the new MB. I currently run at 1280 by 1024.

To be frank, I was looking at upgrading my MB in the first place, and owned a GPU that is supposed to be SLI capable, so I figured I should get myself a Motherboard with the option to go SLI in the near future. The SLI route might not even materialize, and I might completely decide against it later, but I'd like to have the option.

From what you've all been saying, I'll probably not go that route, but I'd still like the OPTION to do it, if that makes sense. That's why I was asking for advice on SLI capable motherboards, and not the GPUs themselves.

[phongn]

Asus, DFI and Gigabyte all make solid P45-based motherboards.

[Baka^Ni]

Well, I have a 2.4 Ghz Dual Core, and a BFG GEForce 8800GT overclock. 4 gigs of Ram, but that may change with the new MB. I currently run at 1280 by 1024.

Running sli at that resolution is madness, you'll bump straight into a cpu bottleneck and your graphics cards will sit around twiddling their thumbs. SLi is a great idea in theory but it's let down by the rapid advancement of the graphics industry, by the time you might need the second card, it would be cheaper and faster to just buy the latest mid-range offering.

As for motherboard recommendations, I'm afraid you're probably screwed. Intel offers one chipset with sli support and that's the brand new x58, which requires a new i7 processor, ddr3 ram and your first born child.

So you'll have to buy nvidia, unlucky. The 790i stands at the top of the heap but is expensive and requires brand new pricey ddr3 ram, so that's out of the question. The next option is the 680i or it's twin brother the 780i, both of these will support your current hardware and will allow sli with another 8800 GT, however they are also the most unreliable and outright dangerous pieces of shit I have ever had the displeasure to use. Expect either one of them to either crash, burn out all your ram within weeks, overheat so badly that it leaves scorch marks beneath it's heatsinks or otherwise be flaky and unreliable.

I DO NOT recommend, however you might be luckly and be a happy 780i user, if you do choose to buy one, find one with the longest warrenty and whose manufacturer has an rma department close to your post office.

[Stark]

[quote="Baka^NiSLi is a great idea in theory but it's let down by the rapid advancement of the graphics industry, by the time you might need the second card, it would be cheaper and faster to just buy the latest mid-range offering.[/quote]

Exactly. SLI is dumb for the same reasons RAID is dumb in 90% of cases; it was supposed to be a way of getting performance from many old parts, but shit gets cheap so fast it's just not relevant.

Remember, SLI-capable boards are often the higher-end ones packed with useless features which (in Australia) can easily be $100 more than a comparable card minus SLI and the other 'performance' (read 'for stupid people') stuff. $100 is like, double the RAM, 600GB of HDD, or a jump to the next tier of 3D card (ie, just buy a 4850 or 260). Sometimes it's worth it; it generally isn't.

[Braedley]

I'm only going SLI if I can get really good deals on a pair of cards. I'm talking 2 9800s for less than the price of an 8800 (which I've actually seen not too long ago). And that's only because I already have an SLI board. If I didn't, I'd probably be using an ATI card right now. Unless you already have the GPUs (or can get them at the right price right now), don't go SLI. If you find 2 mobos, 1 with, the other without, and that's the only difference, then of course go with the SLI board, but otherwise it's a money sink.