Need advice on building a SLI PC

Ledanek · Rated PG Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 3

Hello follks.
I would like to inquire if there is already a website dedicated to showing how to build a basic SLI PC. Basic most stable build.
No Overclocking
No increasing voltages and speeds

Just plain, install and use set up.

Main use. Games

Specs given to me so far:

Corsair TWINX1024-3200XLPT 1GB Kit DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Xtra-Low Latency Memory w/Platinum Heat Spreader
AMD Athlon 64 4000+ Processor (ClawHammer) Socket 939
MSI NX6600GT-TD128E GeForce 6600 GT PCI Express 128MB DDR3 Video Card w/HDTV-Out & DVI
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce 4 SLI Athlon
SilverStone Zeus ST65ZF 650W Power Supply nVIDIA SLI Certified
Still not sure what graphics card to get since, not every card is certified SLI...want to stick with 6600 GT for now to keep cost down.

Kinda over board on some parts due to possibility that it may be my first and last build...going to have a family soon, college fund diversion and all

Thank you all for your advice

Wave

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 19:46:46 Post Subject:

Hi Led... I don't know of any site dedicated to that, but I can make a few recommendations for you.

1) Ditch the ClawHammer, and get the Venice core. You can save yourself $100 and get the Venice 3800+ that will be as fast or a little faster than the ClawHammer 4000+, support SSE3 (which the Hammer's don't). Do some research on it.

2) Don't forget a hard drive... I would HIGHLY recommend a Seagate SATA drive. Fast, quiet and still has a 5 yr warranty.

3) Consider going to 2GB of RAM. And if your not going to be OCing... it's not necessary to get the supper low latency stuff. Save a little on that, get some good quality stuff.. For example you could pick up some CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Twinx2048-3200c2 for about $260ish so probably about $70 more than the 1GB of stuff your looking at now.

HackaX0rus · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 20:20:48 Post Subject:

yes i agree with Dr.EC...i have one question though what of the San diego cores...are they deicent?

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 20:34:18 Post Subject:

Yea, the San Deigo has the is built on the same 90-mn core as the Venice, and has SSE 3. But is also has 1MB Cache.

However, I belive the Deigo has a 1600Mhz HT Bus, while the Venice has a 2000Mhz HT Bus.

HackaX0rus · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 20:44:46 Post Subject:

ahh...thx i know evil spork and aaron m eshbach got their sd core 4000 to 3.2 and they are shooting tobeat the 3.4 record... Laughing

they might have a chance becuase they got their dual phas change workin again Grin

...i will be interested to see how the dual cores do

Spire · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 23:10:35 Post Subject:

Make sure you get a VERY nice Power Supply. SLI setups need good clean powerful supplies or you will face instabilities.

Some good choices are:

The top of the line OCZ or the SLI v2.0 Enermax supplies (reviewed here at BB)

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 23:34:50 Post Subject:

Or my fav's... PC Power & Cooling

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T51SLI

Spire · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 23:42:23 Post Subject:

Cheeze does point the the most incredible of all supplies.

Expect to pay a small fortune (the third most expensive part you will buy)

Asylum · Posted: Sun, 22 May 2005 23:42:56 Post Subject:

i am currently running 2 of the Rosewill 6600GT's they are flawless and are priced very well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814164036

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3473

For the cards I'd recommend BFG 6600GT OC.

I would recommend the Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI motherboard, a friend has that ASUS motherboard and has several issues with it, that is still not resolved in the current bios release.