Does my motherboard support SLI?

[Vrbas]

Just a question, i've googled around and can't find the information i need, maybe because it's pretty specific. I would assume my MB would simply by opening it up and checking to see if there are more than 1 PCI slots, but i just want to make sure.

My motherboard is an Asus P4C800/P4P900 Series for an Intel 875/865 Chipset, support CD Rev.52.14

Thanks.

[dicecca112]

Nope

[Vrbas]

well crap

[dicecca112]

you need PCI-E slots. 865 Chipset by asus never had them I believe.

[DMB2000uk]

I don't believe that that motherboard supports SLI.

Its an AGP board right? Well it only has one AGP port for graphics doesn't it.

PCI is different to PCIe, which i think you are getting confused by. The latter is the newer faster bus used by graphic cards etc.

See difference here.

Dan

[Vrbas]

well from the looks of it, i have about 5 of those slots (the PCI looking ones in the image link you showed me). Of course, i have a feeling that they aren't PCI because my sound card is plugged into one of them. But then again, when i pull out the manual to my motherboard, it indicates that i have PCI slots. As of now, i have an ATI Radeon X1600 Pro 512MB and it's plugged into the AGP slot. But again, the manual indicates i have both PCI and AGP slots... WTF?

[dicecca112]

nope those are PCI. Your sound card is PCI, I don't believe any are PCI-E yet.

[Vrbas]

So i'm guessing the GeForce 7900 GS 256MB PCI card i just ordered is gonna be "no go" for my computer?

[dicecca112]

PCI-E, yes it will not work. You need AGP

[DMB2000uk]

sorry to say but yeah, it wont work. The 7900GS is a PCIe card and not a PCI card. There's a difference.

You will need to rethink your video options along the lines of AGP cards. So return the 7900 for a refund and check out some other AGP cards.

Dan

[Vrbas]

Well shoot, looks like i need a new motherboard. This is gonna suck. Bought this computer like 3 years ago, PCIe can't be that new.

[Zertz]

Well shoot, looks like i need a new motherboard. This is gonna suck. Bought this computer like 3 years ago, PCIe can't be that new.

It is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

[Vrbas]

well since i'm here and pretty upset, any idea where i could find a quality motherboard (PCI Express) that won't burn a whole through my wallet?

[dicecca112]

budget?

[DMB2000uk]

The trouble is that all your other components are now old, so finding a board that does all those and PCIe would be magic.

Just so happens I have magic hands:

The AsRock P4Dual-915GL will allow you to use your current CPU, ram and new videocard.

Now finding somewhere that still sells it is a challenge. Try http://www.froogle.com (google for products!).

In an ideal situation it would be better to set you up with components like these:
mobo: 650i Ultra
CPU: intel core 2 duo E4300
RAM: generic ddr2 512MB~1GB

But that would cost around $300 and thats a hole in your pocket.

Dan

[Vrbas]

my budget is around $200. $250 max probably.

*EDIT*

Scratch that, i was talking about video card budget.

[Vrbas]

And if it comes to a new motherboard, i don't really feel like spending over $300 at all, if that's even possible. In fact, i was thinking along the lines of under $100, that'd be ideal.

I wouldn't know the first thing about upgrading, i just predict it's gonna be hell cause i have to worry about my Processor (big box w/ the heat sink and cooling fan) and Chip (the little Intel labeled piece), assuming a chip and a processor are different. I guess it would be too much to ask for an SLI compatible motherboard w/o having to upgrade my processor and crap?

PS, i won't be offended if you laugh at my miniscule knowledge about computers, i know i'm retarded.

*EDIT*

Checked out some of those motherboards you offered me and i found a few for under $100, kinda suprised.
http://www.bytewizecomputers.com/products/7/7/530/10388
http://www.etech4sale.com/ASRock_P4DUAL ... 42303.html
http://www.sizzlefactor.com/productdesc ... 2594831015

Anyways, i'll give you the specs on my PC off hand and i'd ask you if this new motherboard might support it:

Intel Pentium 4 Processor w/ HT Technology 3.0GHz, 1GB dual channel low-latency DDR PC-3200 at 400MHz - 2 x 512MB

Would all this still work on this board you suggested me?


I really do appreciate all the help, gone above and beyond pointing me in the right direction, thanks again.

[DMB2000uk]

I really don't think that there are going to be any boards out there that support your processors socket type, ddr1 and sli.

The motherboard I suggested looks to be your only option if you still want to go PCI-e graphics without upgrading your whole system.

Otherwise, you can just get a AGP card:

X1950Pro
7900GS

They are slightly more expensive than the PCIe versions of the same card, but worth it if you don't want to upgrade yet.

Dan

[Vrbas]

So would you recommend going ahead and switching over to PCI Express (single slot w/ all my other components), even though it won't have an SLI compatible motherboard for my current setup, or should i just stick w/ AGP and wait to upgrade my whole system later? Thanks for the opinions.

Also, does my processor not fit the socket type 775?

[bubba]

With the LGA775 set up the CPU pins are in the board not the chip. Your chip is the other way round.

I personally would not do SLI, to me its a massive waste of money. Put your money to be spent on the second vid card towards other components.