AMD vs Intel , SLi vs Crossfire

1dmf

1dmf

1dmf

Associate
Joined
30 Nov 2006
Posts
468
I have a dilema, I was about to build a new PC, but am stuck on which way to turn.

I have narrowed down my mainboard to the following two....

Asus M2N32 WS Professional MB

or

Asus P5WDG2 WS Professional MB

The reason for this is I MUST have a PCI-X slot for my SCSI......

the dilema however, M2N32 board is AM2 yet supports full 16x SLi the other will run Intel QX6700 quad core but runs ATI Crossfire @ 8x

We all know that Intel is whipping AMD's butt in the processor wars, but the only way I can get full 16x SLi is the AMD route, is SLi worth not getting an Intel Quad Core?

On toms hardware forums, people have said that ATI X1950XTX Crossfire with Intel would be the best route and would be blisteringly fast, however, is it really worth investing in a DX9 Dual GFX setup seings as the 8800GTX is now launched?

Also I have reservations using the Crossfire as it only is 8x yet the AMD board is full 16x , people have said this has no difference what so ever on the speed and it shouldn't be a concidering factor, what do you think.

So do I go AMD and just get the best processor I can when they are out 6000+ with 2 x 8800GTX SLi, or is it best to go Intel Quad Core or even the 6800 dual core, and wait for ATI to release a DX10 video card?

however to throw another spanner in the works, i'd like to put higher than DDR2-800 memory in, but I've heard AMD AM2 is very unstable when trying to use oveclocked memory, yet the Intel 975x chipset with its FSB1066 will easily accept higher than DDR2-800 memory even up to and past PC-8500.

Ive actually read that 1066FSB is not 1:1 with 1066mhz PC8500 DDR as memory is 128 bit dual chanel and FSB is 64bit.

So now i'm confused as to what the best memory would be if I go for the Intel 975x Asus Mobo, I could just get a E6600 chip and OC' it but that would alter the FSB wouldn't it, so what is the best combination to go for?

a straight QC6700 or C2X6800 1066fsb & 1066 PC8500 memory and leave at out of the box speed?

or even faster memory a lower spec chip and clock till I get a 1:1 ratio.


Any advice helping me decide is appreciated.

Regards,

1DMF.
 
Personally I'd go for the Intel chip and a single 8800.
The CPU will be faster than the AMD equivalent and the 8800 will be faster than the X1950s in crossfire.

Why do you want 8800 SLi anyway? Do you have one of those crazy 30" monitors :)
 
Can't find Mobo

Personally I'd go for the Intel chip and a single 8800.
Click to expand...
Do you know where I can get a Mobo that is Intel, SLi & PCI-X ? I can't find one!

I want to SLi because I can!
 
Waitfor ATI's RD600 and use them in xfire, also intel is the way to go...


Intels cpu's fsb is 1066mhz BUT, thats quadpumped, its actually 266 mhz real fsb
A pc 6400 ( ddr-800) RAM , is dual data rate so its actually 400 mhz real fsb.
If you dont overclock, go for ddr2-533 ( pc 4300), if you do want to overclock ( what most people want ), get faster ram to be able to put a lot higher front side bus options... ( like 800 mhz ram )

I'm afraid you cant ask where to get a mobo elswhere, I cant mention compedators, perhaps ask gibbo if he can stock one for you...


Personally i'd prefer one 8800gtx on a intel than 2 8800 on a amd, but if you want 2 gfx cards from start, wait for ati's rd600 ( new dx10 gfx card chip )

The pc8500 ram will only run at that speeds if you have your pc overclocked etc or on a very high divider ( ram running faster than cpu )

If you want quad core: go for it, however if you just need 2 cores on the cpu, get a 6600 not a 6800, 6600 clocks to 6800 speeds and way beyond...
 
Appreciate the reply.

How well with the QX6700 OC?

Should I buy the highest spec memory (1200mhz or 1333mhz at mo i think!) on the market to ensure what ever FSB i reach with the CPU the memory will handle it, is that how it works?

I wasn't asking for you to recommend a competitor, I was meaning Manufacturer. I've hunted high and low and AFAIK their isn't a workstation board on the market taking QX6700 , 1200mhz ram + , SLi in true x16 AND PCI-X for my SCSI U320 (640 dual channel) 15,000 rpm Hard drives!

Why did Intel have to release a chipset (975x) that only supports 20 PCI-e lanes, so Crossfire only runs in x8 mode!

Another forum said I was worrying about nothing and the performance will be amazing, but if i'm going to spend mega bucks (which I am) I want the best, and x8 vs x16 to me seems obvious, am I missing something?

Even if ATI release RD600 , the Asus Mobo will still only run it @ 8x , is that still better than the top-of-the-range AMD AM2 processor & 16x SLi ?

On a side note, does anyone know if the Thermal Take Kandalf LCS or Armor LCS are worth getting...

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/Kandalf_lcs/vd4000_index.asp

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/armor_lcs/ve2000_index.asp

thanks 1DMF
 
The difference between 8 and 16x is minimal, i'd get the asus, never had a mainboard not being able to handle faster ram than its made for, just has to have proper voltage options ( only issues are with ram not being volted enough to boot...) , however for you: proper 800 mhz ram like geil ultra low latency should be good enough, reports of this ram clokcing upto 1000+ mhz, ram is oc-able, just not as much as the cpu... ( so basicly im recommending you to just get a good brand of ddr-800, instead of spending $$$€€€£££ on expensive ram you dont really need)

The core 2 quattro will clock nicely, provided its cooled ok, its a very hot cpu, so needs good cooling like at least a ninja/tuniq/ thermalright ultra 120 or water and perhaps even phase change, if you want to overclock a lot...

Ive seen for example sli 8x and sli 16x comparison on 3dmark on some older cards, only difference on 05 or was it 06 was like 100 points ( out of 5500ish), so i wouldnt worry much about pci-e speed...
(Compared sli on a p5nd sli and a p5n32 sli deluxe...)


The asus workstation boards are very nice overclockers too, so i highly recommend you get that all in all, however maybe more people can tell more about this, exept for the asus boards, i've never really payed attention to workstation boards...
 
thanks, I only want a WS mobo cause of my SCSI PCI-X , so

you'd rather OC DDR2-800 memory than use PC8500+ memory?

I don't care if I have to pay exta bucks for the better spec memory I care more about performace and stability?

I guess the last piece of the puzzle is the case, I'm thinking of getting the thermaltake Kandalf LCS - any thoughts on this?

if I just go air cooled then I'll get a bespoke cooler and the Damier / Xaser range of case.

I've spent 4 years saving so I have a few quid to spend :D !!!! - and don't want to be dissapointed.

so I guess QX6700 and OC the sucker is the way to go and 2 x X1950XTX cards in crossfire even @ 8x won't be a bad thing, though I still feel a bit edgy buying into DX9 @ this current stage of developement, DX10 on the horizon, and the board I buy might not take a DX10 card.

and this rig will have to last another 4-5 years before the next upgrade.

no-one here seems to be saying AMD will OC very well even if I got 2 x 8800GTX and AMD AM2 6000+ of FX74 or what ever it is about to come out!

maybe if I do go ATI crossfire, i'll just get the E6600 and save a few quid as it seems to OC like a dream nearly double its stock rate!

still unsure on the best memory to use, all input apprecited.
 
Ask yewen (from this forum) about cases , his speciality :p ...

If you dont mind spending the money then go for the faster ram, as its always unsure how ram will overclock, luck of the pick...


Amd is good, however intel completly owns it at the moment...
 
So it is better to go for PC9000 memory!

as i understand it DDR2 is backward compatible, so I guess higher is better!

I have posted in the cases section, just waiting for some replies :D
 
however in the memory forum there are suggestions that the ASUS bios is a mess and doesn't run the PC8000-9000 memory correctly.

One said GEIL had acknowledged the problem but someone else is experiencing problems with Corsair, then another posted saying it was the ASUS bios.

hmmmm, i'm begining to think sod this for a game of soldeirs and just go on holiday to Mexico instead with the money!

My P4 isn't dead yet and seings as most box standard PC are still using celron or sempron, I can't complain really!!!!
 
Yellowbeard said:
How about the EVGA 680i MOBOs?

http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?pn=122-CK-NF68-AR

Seems like it has all the slots needed and both C2D and Quad support.
Click to expand...


No it doesnt, it hasnt got any pci-x slots, just pci-e



to the OP:

Well you could wait a bit more for the problems to fix (new bios etc..) and new stuff like rd600, or indeed, spend money on something else...
 
it always seems to be the way, none of the latest tech ever out at the same time or works properly.

which in many ways is very short sighted by the manufacturers, if all the latest stuff all worked and was available together , I'd already have my order in , now i'm having second thoughts altogether or concidering going for a far cheaper set up.

maybe an E6600 proc OC'd, PC6400 DDR2-800 , and 2 x X1950XTX Crossfire , won't be such a bad compromise.

would it even be worth going for a 750w PSU which is what I was going to get or even a Liquid cooled Kandalf case.

Maybe a 600w + aircooled will suffice.

Probably save £1,500.00 which will pay for the holiday anyway.

infact I might even get an AM2 5200+ and 2 x 7950GTX 1gb of DDR3 on each and save even more money!

it seems the more I investigate the more i loose intrest, damn PC! - lol
 
Am i bueing a dullard, or is there no such thing as a 7950GTX... i know there's the gt, but i assume u mean the gx2? 2 of them are pretty nice, but i would go crossfire (yes, even tho i am an nvidia fanboy) get one card now to tide you over then crossfire a couple of dx10 radeons when they arrive...
 
you are correct - my bad - when I said 7950GTX I meant 2 x EVGA GeForce 7950 GX2 SuperClocked 1024MB DDR3 SLI HDTV-Out/Dual DVI 16x.

The problem is even when radeon DX10 comes out it might need x16 for SLI and the 975x chipset only suports 20 pci-e lanes so only x8 in Crossfire mode!
 
You're talking about quad SLi which is known to have issues with DX9.
It's more expensive and less powerful/compatible than a single 8800GTX.

Quad SLi only works with Open GL at the moment, (DX 10 may show improvements but nobody can say for certain yet) so for most games, it's effectively pointless.

To the op - It seems as though you really want a PCI-X slot for your SCSI drives and awesome graphics performance (I assume) for games.
With that in mind the 8800GTX has to be on the menu, and CPU wise a Core 2 or core quad processor will get the best out of it.
You seem to have your heart set on SLi/Crossfire but a single 8800GTX will outperform a X1950 crossfire setup so graphics wise it's a no brainer, CPU wise it's a no brainer. Core 2 + 8800GTX = The win

2 x 8800 GTX would be faster than a single 8800GTX but save the money saved by not buying the second card, could buy the next best thing in 6 - 12 months and that should provide more than enough GFX performance to last for the foreseeable future. :)
 
appreciated , I've come to the same conclusion!

Intel E6600, 2gb DDR800 geil low latency, 1 x 8800GTX.

over 50% cheaper than my original spec so gotta be best bang for bucks!

finally i will unlock the potential of my SCSI for my Audio processing / music as well as have a decent gaming machine!

bring it on :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom