should i get an sli motherboard for my new build?

[sanity8me]

i'm in the process of ordering an e6600, xfx 8800 gts, corsair 2gb xms, lite-on 18x dual dvdrw, lite-on 16x dvd and 52x32x52x cdrw combo, and WD (or seagate?) 320gb w/16mb buffer, with an enermax liberty 500w psu and a centurion 5 w/ window case for ~$1330 from zipzoomfly.com

i don't know what mobo to get for this build.. should i get an sli nforce since i'm getting the 8800 gts or should i save money and get something great but not sli compatible since i'm not exactly planning on buying an additional 8800 gts in next 4-5 years? i'm hoping one 8800 gts will be more than suffient for that amount of that time...

something like this:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=247111

or:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=246707



also, what do you guys think of my build? should i go with seagate or WD, is my psu and case good? this is my first attempt at building a system so any advice would be appreciatted.

[darkop16]

4-5 years

The 8800gts is a beast but in 4-5 years its not even going to be comparble to how a 6200le is now (and im basing that on a linear graph of technology and not exponentially like moore's law states).

Both your links are for the same mobo, but i wouldn't get that chipset for the conroes. The only chipset i trust for the C2D's and sli are the 680i. You can get the evga 680i for $250. If you know you won't sli then a gigabyte ds3 or asus p5b deluxe are great.

edit: WD and seagate both make good hard drives (except for that time when seagate used maxtor parts when they bought them out ). I use 2 WD 250's and one seagate 400gb.

[fade2black2004]

both those links are the same mobo

[b1gapl]

If you're not looking into SLIing for another 4-5 years, then I suggest you go with the ones darktop16 said. The gigabyte ds3 or asus p5b deluxe. By the end of that 4-5 years there would already be newer and better graphic cards.

[sanity8me]

Originally posted by darkop16
4-5 years

The 8800gts is a beast but in 4-5 years its not even going to be comparble to how a 6200le is now (and im basing that on a linear graph of technology and not exponentially like moore's law states).

Both your links are for the same mobo, but i wouldn't get that chipset for the conroes. The only chipset i trust for the C2D's and sli are the 680i. You can get the evga 680i for $250. If you know you won't sli then a gigabyte ds3 or asus p5b deluxe are great.

edit: WD and seagate both make good hard drives (except for that time when seagate used maxtor parts when they bought them out ). I use 2 WD 250's and one seagate 400gb.

sorry guys i meant to put the evga 680i in my second link (fixed).

so then maybe, for future sake, spending ~$50 more on an evga 680i would be a better chioce than a asus p5b deluxe or gigabyte ds3?

also, what do you guys think of the enermax liberty 500w psu for my build?

[darkop16]

enermax are good psu's and 500w should enough to power two 8800gts's in sli.

[sanity8me]

Originally posted by b1gapl
If you're not looking into SLIing for another 4-5 years, then I suggest you go with the ones darktop16 said. The gigabyte ds3 or asus p5b deluxe. By the end of that 4-5 years there would already be newer and better graphic cards.

hmmm maybe you're right... and i'm not even that much of a hardcore gamer... prob gona use is it mostly for f.e.a.r., dawn of war, and cs: source... just lately thought i'd be ready for the future of dx10 games like crysis which looks r i d i c u l o u s

[Graham]

It may just be me, but it seems regardless of the fact if you want to use SLI or not, the mobos with two PCIE-16X slots are the top performing. I personally would go with a performer cause the ones with only one 16X slot are not as good.

[sanity8me]

Originally posted by Graham
It may just be me, but it seems regardless of the fact if you want to use SLI or not, the mobos with two PCIE-16X slots are the top performing. I personally would go with a performer cause the ones with only one 16X slot are not as good.

how are they better performers?

[darkop16]

I think he is just making an observation but the gigabyte ds3 only has one pci-e slot and its a great motherboard. The asus p5b-deluxe only has one pci-e slot that runs at x16 and im sure the majority of ppl will agree its a sweet mobo for overclocking.