Motherboard Questions.

T

Triggerhand

New Member
I wanted to get this mobo: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX35971%28ME%29.aspx
After reading around I saw "CrossFireX" then "2-Way CrossFireX / SLI".
What does that mean and should I be looking for a "2-Way?"
example of the "2-Way CrossFireX / SLI:" http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX35966%28ME%29.aspx

Secondly, while searching for a mobo. You can filter your search by brand and "CHIPSET."
Should I be looking for a mobo based on "Chipset?" Does chipset depend on what type of cpu and gtx?

psu: 600w corsair
cpu: AMD Phenom II X4 970 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX30508%28ME%29.aspx
GTX: GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
 
Whats the difference between 960 Chipset and a 990 chip set? Or do 900 series mean the same?
What about 880? or 880 compared to a 990?

Edit:
If my Ram is 970 and my mobo is 990 will it still work/ be compatible.
 
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Triggerhand said:
I wanted to get this mobo: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX35971%28ME%29.aspx
After reading around I saw "CrossFireX" then "2-Way CrossFireX / SLI".
What does that mean and should I be looking for a "2-Way?"
example of the "2-Way CrossFireX / SLI:" http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX35966(ME).aspx

Secondly, while searching for a mobo. You can filter your search by brand and "CHIPSET."
Should I be looking for a mobo based on "Chipset?" Does chipset depend on what type of cpu and gtx?

psu: 600w corsair
cpu: AMD Phenom II X4 970 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX30508(ME).aspx
GTX: GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
Click to expand...

Mainly, the 960 mb has 2 PCI Express slots and when each is populated with a video card, the second slot will run at x4 speed. The 990 mb has more PCI Express slots and will run 2 of them at x16 speed each.
This makes the 990 mb better for running 2 video cards.

If the mb is oem, there's probably a list of compatable cpu's for it, along with maybe a needed bios revision. Otherwise the cpu just needs to be compatable with the socket on the mb.

Triggerhand said:
Whats the difference between 960 Chipset and a 990 chip set? Or do 900 series mean the same?
What about 880? or 880 compared to a 990?

If my Ram is 970 and my mobo is 990 will it still work/ be compatible.
Click to expand...

You mean the 970 is the cpu - . And yes, the 970 is an AM3 socketed cpu and it works with the 960 or 990 chipset mb's even tho they are both AM3+ sockets.
 
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I'd get the 990FX board - the lower end chipsets cut some features, for example on 870 and I believe 970 boards as well you don't get SMART capability for the HDD's.
 
There is such thing as a 960.

The 970 has a single X16 PCIe slot, that runs full 16 lanes. If it has a Second X16 slot, it runs off the southbridge and only has 4 lanes. With the exception of a Asrock model that they split up to 8X/8X. Which is against the rules and I have no idea how they get by with it.

The 990X is a true crossfire board and will run one cad at X16 lanes or run two card at 8X/8X lanes. With the exceptions of a few 970 boards, the 990X has a better power phase and better cooling setup

The 990FX is a true crossfire board and will run a single card at X16 lanes or run two cards at a full X16 lanes in both slots. And like above with a few exceptions, has a better power setup and better cooling then a 970 or 990X.

All three chipsets support SMART.

The 870/890X/GX and 890FX are the same as above but older chipsets , just like the 770/790X/GX and 790FX before them.
 
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