Help buying a motherboard

[htid]

I want to buy the geforce 7900GTX card, but my current mobo doesnt have pci-e. So, if i want to get a new mobo for this card, is a pci-e x16 slot the ONLY requirement? Does the mobo need to be an nforce4 SLI to be compatible? Im only planning on using one card so i dont know if SLI on the mobo is necessary.

I seem to remember reading that the 7900GTX only works with a socket 775 mobo, but maybe im wrong and it was actually the fact that nforce 4's only support 775 cpu's.

Its all turning out incredibley expensive otherwise. If i want the 7900 and it needs socket 775 mobo im going to have to buy a new mobo, which in turn means i need a new cpu and new RAM, also need a new psu for the card, its stupid!

Thanks for help in advance
Chris.

[herulach]

Are you using an intel or amd chip? If youre on intel youre sol unless you have a lga775 processor.
But yes, you just need a 16x pci-e slot, sli is not required

[htid]

Im using an Pentium 4 mPGA-478 chip (hope that makes sense, just got it from cpu-z) so i take that to mean the current mobo is socket 478. I do accept i will have to buy a new mobo, its just whether i will be able to get a socket 478 one with pci-e slot. Unless you are saying that graphics card DOES indeed need socket 775mobo.

Thanks,
Chris.

[nichomach]

Ahem. No. There are quite a few S478 motherboards that have PCI-E x16 slots. Albatron make a few based on the 915, and Asus do one based on the ATi RS-480. Chris, it'd help to know what your current spec is.

edit: How about THIS?
THIS (OK, that's a Via chipset, but still...)?
Or THIS (MATX board, but useable)?

[htid]

Ok my current spec is: (ill just give all the cpu-z info and you can choose what you need to know + some other stuff that may be useful)

mobo:

Model: Intel D850MV
Chipset: Intel i850
Southbridge: Intel 82801BA (ICH2)
Sensor: 5B5B FFFFFFFF
Graphic Interface: AGP version 2.0

cpu:

Model: Intel P4
Code Name: Northwood
Brand ID: 9
Package: mPGA-478

ram:

512MB RDRAM PC800 (400mhz) (i think thats 2 256mb sticks)

sound:

Creative labs SB live 5.1 card

hdd:

2 IDE..1 x 40gb / 1 x 80gb.

I hope thats enough info for you! Ill let you read before i say anything about the mobo link you posted, as i have no idea if my current hardware would all work with the one you gave

[htid]

ignore this post, i double posted and didnt know how to delete so i had to at least type something here

[schmunk]

Bzzzzzt. Error.

I donk think there are any mobos that support PCIe and RDRAM. You'll need some new RAM, unfortunately...

Also, unless you're playing games at 1600x1200 or more, you'll find that your CPU will limit frame rates in games, such that you won't see any benefit from the 7900GTX over something like a 6800GT.

A full system upgrade is probably the best course of action, or just buy an AGP 6800GT for the moment and fully ugrade later (this may itself be limited by the AGP x2 slot)

[nichomach]

Your memory's toast, I'm afraid - RDRAM isn't supported on any boards currently, really, certainly none that take PCI-E graphics cards. TBH, if it were me, then I'd accept that the lot was a goner. The motherboard's toast, the memory's toast, given the prices of CPUs now, you would be better replacing that too.

Assuming that cost's a factor, something like an A64 3200 or better. If you can go the distance, a 3700 San Diego's a good option, or if you're planning on overclocking an Opteron 144 or 146. You could go dual core, but there is a price premium. Personally, I went for an Opteron 170.
Motherboards, any S939'd do; I use an Abit KN8-SLi, but that's not for the SLi bit, I just wanted the passive chipset cooler. They do a non-SLI HERE which is about a tenner cheaper, with a chipset fan, but Abit chipset fans aren't my favourite thing in the world - they have shown a tendency to fail and get very noisy. Easy to replace with a Zalman passive cooler, but annoying if you have to. If you're replacing the memory as well, I'd rather get 2GB with looser timings than 1GB of ultra-low latency stuff if cost's a consideration; recent games have begun to be much happier with more memory. PC3200 DDR or better - Corsair's Value Select line is pretty good.

edit: schmunk speaketh much truth; there's no point bunging a Ferrari engine in an ox cart. That said, AGP 2.0 isn't 2x AGP.

[htid]

Hmmm...my main concern is that the 7900 will benefit my 3d (ill be predominately using it for 3d animation rather than games, but since they pretty much work in the same way i guess the point still stands). I want the 7900GTX because its (one of) the most cutting edge cards around, therefore it will mean it will still be good for a long time rather than buying an average one now then having to upgrade again soon. Plus soon i can probably buy a new cpu anyway, but for now i dont have the cash, unless i live on bread all year at uni

So, assuming ram is no longer an issue because i wont find any mobos with pci-e AND rdram support, do you still recommend that same mobo? Or do you think i should look at DDR2 ram and a different mobo that supports DDR 2 (and also my current CPU)

Plus, you mentioned about the cpu limiting frame rate, so what speed cpu (when i eventually get one) do you recommend i get? Or does buying a socket 478 mobo mean whatever cpu i get it will still limit the graphics card performance because its not socket 775?

Thanks for all your help,
Chris.

[nichomach]

I definitely doubt you'll find a board that supports both DDR2 and your current CPU. From my perspective, I don't think it's worth trying to hang on to the CPU. It limits your choices way too much with regard to your other components. It may be better for you to wait, save a bit more and then readdress your upgrades after that. Plus we know that AMD are releasing socket AM2 with support for DDR2, and Intel are releasing a new line of processors in a few months.

As for the framerate thing; you've got it backwards; what'd limit your performance wouldn't be the socket on the board, it'd be the CPU in it. If you're replacing your CPU, you wouldn't be buying S478 anyway. If you went Intel, you'd be buying a 775 CPU and board. 3.2GHz or better would be good. As I said, I went for AMD, but you pays your money, you takes your choice.

If you went AMD, personally, I like my KN8-SLi, but haven't tried the non-SLi version.

[htid]

Well ok tehn! I do have the money now, its just im planning to get a job...if i buy all this stuff then dont get a job ill be a bit low on cash - but ill live.

I have no preference as to AMD or intel, so do u suggest i wait for socket AM2 to come out, get a AM2 mobo, new cpu, new ram and buy the card then? (plus maybe the card will have come down in price by then...altho i dont know about nvidias future plans, and if they bring a new card out by then, no doubt ill want that one!)

Cheers!
Chris.

[schmunk]

That said, AGP 2.0 isn't 2x AGP.

Aha - I misread the specs list - yes, this in itself shouldn't cause a bottleneck as AGP v2.0 supports up to 4x and AFAIK no card yet produced can saturate this bandwidth...

[nichomach]

AM2 is arriving soon; it'll support DDR2, and there should be a slight performance boost from that, but ONLY in conjunction w/DDR2-800 memory. There will probably be a price premium at introduction, however. Intel's next generation of processors will be along in the next few months, and preliminary reports suggest significant performance advantages...but then we don't (yet) know what the AMD response'll be. If it were me, I'd be looking toward AM2 in the near future (scheduled for launch June 6, I believe), but if I could wait a few months, I'd be looking toward seeing the hard numbers on Intel's Conroe-based processors. Another factor to consider is that upon launch of AM2, existing S939 solutions may well come down in price, and you won't initially be giving away much if anything in terms of performance. Bottom line; if you have to buy now, then I'd say S939 Athlon 64. If you can afford to wait until June, AM2 with DDR2-800 may well be a better and more future proof bet. If you can wait longer, then it's anyone's guess...

[htid]

Ok thanks! thats given me something to think about at least...ill check into it all and see about prices etc then make a decision...i can probably wait until June as i want the 7900 for when i do my final animation project at uni starting in october - its just i cant play COD2 with everything turned on until June now! oh well thanks again for all your help!

Chris.