My GTX8800/"SLI" questions for NEW system

[Antx777]

Hello,

I would like to know "roughly" how SLI works. I have a GTX 8800 but in a "3-year-old" system (Socket 939, DDR 400 ram etc From a shop). I am going to buy a new PC with *ONE* GTX8800 in it (Budget £1200 Ish) I already have Samsung TFT 22 (226BW).

So if I get a PC base unit, with Two (or even three) "SLI", slots HOW do I configure this to my monitor? and what card is the MASTER? (My GFX card is this one): OcUK GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB. It is running at 575MHz
- Shader Clock Speed of 1350MHz
- 768MB GDDR3 Memory running at 1800MHz.

Will the other card have to be EXACTLY the same speed? (and with same Driver versions on them; 169.21 for example) Also, when I add the GTX8800 to my new system, Will I need to install Separate drivers for this card, as don't want to have a PC arrive and show only ONE card in the Control panel What PSU will be sufficient? (800W+?).

Also, what Motherboards take SLI, as I was looking at this from Overclockers Ultima OC 8800GTX" Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Price Sub £1200. BUT I don't think the - Abit IP35-Pro Intel P35 (Socket LGA775) is SLI compatible is It.??

I Can't seem to see overclockers selling one (already made) with ONE GTX8800 on a SLI (Nforce?) MOBO ...?

Ant

 

[Antx777]

Thanks Melbourne720, it does help. I've only just had this GTX 8800, so I need a new system to put it in, hopefully overclockers can help me out on this (may give them a call to see if they do Ultima's with Just one GTX 8800 on SLI, so i can add another one.

Thanks

EDIT: BTW. would you say a Duo core is prefered over Quad?, I do: Lots of Gaming, "some Video editing", Spreadsheet/Databases and the like. So it is a 50-50 sort of thing, rather than an all-out gaming/Video-encoding ststem etc.

Ant