How many expansion slots will I need?

BurningSkyline

BurningSkyline

New Member
I'm trying to build a low cost, fairly upgradable system. Problem is, I keep getting hung up on the motherboard. I want all these extra PCI Express connectors, but to be honest, I probably won't need them.

Farther down the line I would like to upgrade to a GTX 460, or its newest equivalent. Since it will be an AMD system, SLI is out of the picture, but It doesn't matter because I can't see myself doing something like that. Although I can see myself adding a PhysX card, but I'm not sure.

I could probably get away with a x16 slot and a x1 slot, but a second x16 slot running at x4, or another x1 slot would be nice.

So could anybody tell me what I should look for, and any suggestions on Sub $100-$105 motherboards? I could deal with mATX, but I prefer ATX.
 
If you are not going to sli/xfire later on I wouldn't look into boards that have extra x16 slots at all.

Just to give you an idea of what else to do with them... I use 2 PCI slots for wireless card and extra Ethernet port and 1 PCIx1 for a TV tuner card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130275

This would be my recommendation. I didn't find any that I liked that only had one PCIx16.

What bandwidth can a Physx card run on? Would it be limited by an x4?
 
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AFAIK PhysX doesn't use that much bandwidth. A x4 should be fine. Have somebody else that knows a little more about it answer, though.

EDIT: It has to be a 880g or 890GX board.
or a $70-75 870 board and a cheap HD 4350 or 8400 GS.
 
You still want to try and unlock the 4th core on that AIIX3? You'll need something with either an sb710 southbridge or a core unlocker to do it...
 
I do want to attempt to unlock a Tri-core.

I might end up going with a dual-core, due to the price. But hell, I just want something that should be fairly upgradable. Even though AM3+ Is probably coming out sometime in the near future.
 
Well, if I remember correctly there's a fair chance that current AM3 CPU's may work in AM3+ motherboards, so there's still a fairly smooth upgrade path, even if it's a bit backwards from normal.

Nothing wrong with going with a dual...it'll still be plenty powerful for most games. :good:
 
Drenlin said:
Well, if I remember correctly there's a fair chance that current AM3 CPU's may work in AM3+ motherboards, so there's still a fairly smooth upgrade path, even if it's a bit backwards from normal.

Nothing wrong with going with a dual...it'll still be plenty powerful for most games. :good:
Click to expand...

I'm not a huge gamer either. Most of the games I play I buy for the Xbox 360 because most of my friends aren't PC gamers. I do my fair share though. I would really like to go for the x3 though.

And Drenlin- Go take a look at the newest post on my other thread. There is a deal on there that I just might be considering...
 
Well in that case, you might as well go for the dual, if you don't care about gaming too much. An AIIX2 is easily powerful enough for internet usage and whatnot. Even a Sempron 140 will handle that.

That combo is misleading. Usually they throw in a realyl low priced item to make it seem awesome(in this case the mobo), but the savings is offset by the cost of the 955. I wouldn't use a 125W TDP processor on that mobo anyway.
 
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Drenlin said:
Well in that case, you might as well go for the dual, if you don't care about gaming too much. An AIIX2 is easily powerful enough for internet usage and whatnot. Even a Sempron 140 will handle that.

That combo is misleading. Usually they throw in a realyl low priced item to make it seem awesome(in this case the mobo), but the savings is offset by the cost of the 955. I wouldn't use a 125W TDP processor on that mobo anyway.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about that, newegg's "SuperCombo" deals are pretty terrible. Look at the low end AMD ones.

Anyways, I'm pretty sure a Sempron couldn't do it for me. I'm pushing my E5200 as it is. I want a chip that is a definite step up from this one, without going much over $80 absolute max.

And I know I'm probably pushing it because of my 4350, but I would still like something as fast or faster.

EDIT:
Back to the original question though... how many expansion slots should I need, and what kind?

EDIT: Another thing I thought of was that I like to do a lot of video rendering, So I want a decent processor for that. I still think that a GTX 460 will be a little over kill for a Dual core. The reason I will be upgrading to a mid range graphics card is so I can take advantage of software like vReveal and P.P. CS5's Mercury engine.
 
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Looks like an Extreme3 without the ability to split the x16 slot. Only 4-phase power, but it's got a heat sink on that, and an 8-pin cpu connector. Just don't go shoving an OC'd Thuban in there and it should be fine. Don't expect any overclocking miracles though.

Be aware that it only has a 1-year warranty.
 
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Do You have any ASUS or Gigabyte Suggestions?

Oh, and Should I look for something with 7.1 Sound? I will probably only use a laptop sound bar, or a Decent 2.1 System. I've been noticing some ASUS boards with only 3 plugs for sound on the back.

Here is an ASUS board for $10 more. Although it is mATX. (I'm concerned about the lack of connectors for case fans.)
 
Except for the warranty, I'd say the ASRock board is a bit better than that one....

Unless you're using a 7.1 sound system (7 speakers and a sub), then the 2-channel onboard sound will be fine.
 
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Most of the ones in that price range either have no igp, or a crappy un-cooled 4-phase CPU power section. While that's fine for your X3, anything above a 95W chip (which the x4 likely will be if you unlock it and need more voltage) is likely going to be a problem at some point, and it will never overclock well no matte what chip you have. Same with the 8-pin cpu power connector...it handles more power than a 4-pin and makes everything a bit more stable.
 
The way It is looking, I'm going to have to spend $100-$110 on a motherboard.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...57191&RandomID=579329711612924320101119202950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131668
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128443
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131647

The last two are NB 870 and I know that. Maybe Pick up a Cheap GT 210/GT 220? (Preferably Nvidia, I use vReveal a bit.)

Although at a Budget Of $500-$550 I think a Graphics card will have to wait.
 
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Drenlin said:
Best out of those would be this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131668

And it has an IGP :)


edit: You should need to use the 200 series if all you want is CUDA...8xxx/9xxx would be fine.
Click to expand...

CUDA would just be for editing. And when I build something good enough for Just Cause 2. ( I wish I could convert my JC2 save from xbox 360 to PC... my 360 save has 75% done :\ )

I was looking at the 8400 GS, but I thought only the 8800GT Supported CUDA and PhysX from the 8xxx series? Plus I would like something that is a bit newer.

EDIT: What did you mean by "You should need to use the 200 series if all you want is CUDA... 8xxx/9xxx would be fine."

Was it a Grammar Error?
 
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