Build advice

sivier · 10-29-2009, 05:32 PM

Hi i'd just like a little advice on compatibility. Is it possible to run dual nvidia 8800gt 's on a GA-K8N-SLI motherboard. If so what power psu should i use because at the moment i only have a spare Akasa 460w or a Corsair 400w. Any help with this would be appreciated or if theres anything else i should take into consideration, thanks.

Phædrus2401 · 10-29-2009, 06:04 PM

Two 8800GTs require at least a quality 750W PSU like the Corsair TX750W, and we strongly recommend an 850W. A Corsair CX400W probably won't power on with both cards (does it even have enough connectors?) and the Akasa PSU (garbage) would probably either shut down or die instantly.

sivier · 10-29-2009, 06:28 PM

Ok thanks for your advice, i didn't think either of the psu's would be suitable. Is the motherboard ok for those cards?, also i may run dual 7900gt's instead if i cannot find a decent quality psu for under £100. Any suggestions of good psu's would be appreciated and any other information i need to take into consideration, thanks again.

Phædrus2401 · 10-29-2009, 07:08 PM

The motherboard should be fine.

Is this affordable for you?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/850W-...-Year-Warranty

One thing to consider is that SLI doesn't really have a huge performance benefit at small resolutions. At 1440x900 or less adding a second card will only boost your performance by ~10-20% at most. It's only when you get to ~1920x1200 that a second card starts to have a worthwhile effect, around 25-40%, and at really large resolutions (2560x1680) you can see a 30-50% improvement. We generally don't recommend SLI unless you have a 24" monitor or greater. Instead of two 8800GTs you could use a single GTX260 or GTX275. These single cards can get by on a Corsair TX650W. There's also the GT300 series coming out in December. Normally I'd recommend ATI cards, but nVidia motherboards don't always get along with GPUs from another brand.

sivier · 10-29-2009, 07:44 PM

Yea i would be able to afford that psu possibly even get the TX950w and i own a 22" Benq monitor. I dont really have a choice in cards as i am owed two 7900gt's which i will be getting shortly or i might be getting given two 8800gt's instead. I prefer ATI cards myself on my other system i have a single 4850 with a TX650w. I will just give you an overview of what this system im trying to set up has as you seem to know a lot about the information i require and would like to get as much help with this while the thread is up if thats ok....

GA-K8N-SLI motherboard

Amd athlon 64x2 dual core processor 4200+

3gb of DDR400 RAM (3 1gb sticks, two with heatspreaders)

Asus Dvdrw drive

Asus Dvdrom drive

Samsung 250gb HDD

Another 120gb HDD - which i am going to install

Coolmaster cooldrive 6 HDD cooler and fan controller

Raidmax Katana Case with 2 jeantech 12cm led fans and 1 jeantech 8cm led fan

Vista Ultimate.

So if i was to get that psu and either pair of the two graphics cards would you say that this system will be ok or is there more i should think about?

sivier · 10-30-2009, 11:09 AM

Just to add i should be getting two XFX 8800GT's 512MB DDR3 (PCI-E), so that is what i hope to be able to run with that system and a Corsair TX950w or Corsair HX850w. Your opinion on which of those PSU's i should go with with be good to.

**Tyree** · 10-30-2009, 12:13 PM

You would need the 950 for a pair of 8800GT's.
As mentioned earlier, the slight performance gain vs. the cost of two GPU's + the PSU required is not a good investment.

10-29-2009, 05:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
sivier Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Build advice Hi i'd just like a little advice on compatibility. Is it possible to run dual nvidia 8800gt 's on a GA-K8N-SLI motherboard. If so what power psu should i use because at the moment i only have a spare Akasa 460w or a Corsair 400w. Any help with this would be appreciated or if theres anything else i should take into consideration, thanks.

10-29-2009, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,724 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Build advice Two 8800GTs require at least a quality 750W PSU like the Corsair TX750W, and we strongly recommend an 850W. A Corsair CX400W probably won't power on with both cards (does it even have enough connectors?) and the Akasa PSU (garbage) would probably either shut down or die instantly. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-29-2009, 06:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
sivier Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Build advice Ok thanks for your advice, i didn't think either of the psu's would be suitable. Is the motherboard ok for those cards?, also i may run dual 7900gt's instead if i cannot find a decent quality psu for under £100. Any suggestions of good psu's would be appreciated and any other information i need to take into consideration, thanks again.

10-29-2009, 07:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,724 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Build advice The motherboard should be fine. Is this affordable for you? http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/850W-...-Year-Warranty One thing to consider is that SLI doesn't really have a huge performance benefit at small resolutions. At 1440x900 or less adding a second card will only boost your performance by ~10-20% at most. It's only when you get to ~1920x1200 that a second card starts to have a worthwhile effect, around 25-40%, and at really large resolutions (2560x1680) you can see a 30-50% improvement. We generally don't recommend SLI unless you have a 24" monitor or greater. Instead of two 8800GTs you could use a single GTX260 or GTX275. These single cards can get by on a Corsair TX650W. There's also the GT300 series coming out in December. Normally I'd recommend ATI cards, but nVidia motherboards don't always get along with GPUs from another brand. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-29-2009, 07:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
sivier Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Build advice Yea i would be able to afford that psu possibly even get the TX950w and i own a 22" Benq monitor. I dont really have a choice in cards as i am owed two 7900gt's which i will be getting shortly or i might be getting given two 8800gt's instead. I prefer ATI cards myself on my other system i have a single 4850 with a TX650w. I will just give you an overview of what this system im trying to set up has as you seem to know a lot about the information i require and would like to get as much help with this while the thread is up if thats ok.... GA-K8N-SLI motherboard Amd athlon 64x2 dual core processor 4200+ 3gb of DDR400 RAM (3 1gb sticks, two with heatspreaders) Asus Dvdrw drive Asus Dvdrom drive Samsung 250gb HDD Another 120gb HDD - which i am going to install Coolmaster cooldrive 6 HDD cooler and fan controller Raidmax Katana Case with 2 jeantech 12cm led fans and 1 jeantech 8cm led fan Vista Ultimate. So if i was to get that psu and either pair of the two graphics cards would you say that this system will be ok or is there more i should think about?

10-30-2009, 11:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
sivier Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: Build advice Just to add i should be getting two XFX 8800GT's 512MB DDR3 (PCI-E), so that is what i hope to be able to run with that system and a Corsair TX950w or Corsair HX850w. Your opinion on which of those PSU's i should go with with be good to.

10-30-2009, 12:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,404 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Build advice You would need the 950 for a pair of 8800GT's. As mentioned earlier, the slight performance gain vs. the cost of two GPU's + the PSU required is not a good investment. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.