Question about Intel and nVidia motherboards and video cards.?
March 10, 2010 by: nickadminHello, and thanks for checking out my question. I’m getting ready to build a new PC and I am confused about some of the choices. I’m debating whether to get an Intel P-35 based mobo or an nVidia 680i based board. My questions start with… If I want to eventually run two nVidia cards in SLI, is the nVidia based mobo the only option or does the Intel P-35 support two nVidia cards in SLI? Along the same thread, if I wanted to run two ATI cards in Crossfire, what chipset(s) support that?? At the moment I’m contemplating either an EVGA 680i board or a Gigabyte P-35 board for an Intel Quad-core cpu. Does Quad-core work on the 680i chipset even?
Any and all answers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again and good luck!!!
I might be a little bit behind, but from what I know Only nvida based Motherboards can handle SLI. I know Intel was going to start to include that into intel chip sets but I’m not sure if it is out yet.
Right now Intel does support Cross fire (on the intel chipset motherboards).
I would think newer Nvida motherboards do support Quad Core.
Only Nvidia boards support SLI right now, and yes the 680i does support Quad core. There is also the new 780 boards that just came out which support Tri-SLI if you want to go that route.
Unfortunately, this answer for your question deals with a lot of research. Lets begin with motherboards and chip sets. The P-35 Intel chip sets can support ATI crossfire on some mobos. Also the ATI crossfire chip sets (790XF is current) will support ATI crossfire. To run nVidia SLI, you will have to check the motherboard stats to see if it will run SLI. Most mobos that run SLI are nVidia chip sets.
As for the quad-core working on the 680i chip set, most new motherboards such as the EVGA 122-CK-NF68 680i mobo does recognize the quad-core.
Again, when selecting a motherboard, make a list on what you want to do, like what video card(s) are you going to use, what is the cost, what is the purpose of the computer (IE media, gaming), etc. Then look at many computer stores, web sites, and other information to find the fit for you. Good Luck.
it has to have an NFORCE chipset to run SLI. as far as i know, when you’re reasearching online on newegg.com or something, it usually lists if it is SLI or not. i would go with the nvidia 680i, its awesome, but if money is not an issue for you, go with an nvidia 780i ( 3 way SLI!!!!)- not that you’ll need it, just to brag =).
If you plan on running SLI go with an Nividia SLI board. If you want to run Crossfire use the X38 board as it runs both graphics slots at PCI-ExpressX16 2.0 which the P35 boards dont. If you ever plan on running one of the new 45nm Intel cpus coming out that have 1666FSB then wait for the X48 boards. Althou you can run 1666FSB on a lot of X38 boards you’re out of luck if you have probs because both the boards manufacturer and Intel will not give you any support with a 1666 cpu on an X38 board.