Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
of PCI slots.

I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
(from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
for in a card?

Thanks!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

hard to say, i'd say keep 1 or 2 pci-e slots and have at least 3 normal
pci, get a bigger board if you're worried.. but if you don't plan on
upgrading then leave it as it is

pci-e and normal pci are not compatible

FBrann@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
> quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
> GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
> Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
> of PCI slots.
>
> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
> (from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
> 2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
> graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
> for in a card?
>
> Thanks!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

We use this board for our Bistro4-SLiT system
(http://tastycomputers.com/bistro_menu/systems/bistro4sli.htm), and it's a
great motherboard. There are 2 PCI-Express x16 slots for graphics cards (1
card or 2 identical cards for 2 x 8x SLi graphics configurations), 2
PCI-Express x1 slots for new PCI-Express cards (very few on the market yet,
but ready for them when more are released), and 2 PCI (PCI 2.3 compliant)
standard slots for the majority of other cards. Since this motherboard has
plenty of onboard USB, FireWire, LAN, sound and SATA/PATA base/raid ports,
really no need for any PCI cards at all, unless you want a legacy internal
modem for telephone line internet access/faxing, or a premium sound card
solution in lieu of the onboard 7.1 channel sound.

Good luck to you in your new build!
--
Russell Sullivan
http://tastycomputers.com

<FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125756738.117796.119350@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
> quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
> GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
> Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
> of PCI slots.
>
> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
> (from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
> 2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
> graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
> for in a card?
>
> Thanks!
>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Thanks for the advice guys! Unless anyone can come up with another use
for PCI ports with this card I guess I'll go ahead! Now if anyone has
advice about Ram, types of athlon processor, video card, sound
card......

Btw, I definately wouldn't need an agp port with pcie would I?

Thanks again!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

AGP and PCI-Express cards/slots are NOT compatible with one another. Newer
graphics cards are shifting to PCI-Express, and this motherboard doesn't
have an AGP slot. As far as a processor, you need a 939-pin Athlon CPU, and
you should either get an Athlon64 or an Athlon64 x2 dual core. Memory
amount is up to you; 1 GB or more will give you great
performance...definitely get at least 512 MB at a minimum from a tier one
manufacturer such as Mushkin or Corsair. Dual packs of low latency ram are
best for best performance. Video depends on your intended use and budget;
I'd go for an SLi-ready GeForce card if you plan on utilizing SLi now or in
the future with dual cards. If not, an ATI-based X300 or higher card, or
GeForce 6200 or higher card will be compatible. Sound is up to
you...there's already a good Realtek AC'97 codec 7.1 channel onboard sound
solution with this board, but if you're an audiophile and your budget allows
it, you could opt for a 3rd party PCI soundcard such as an Audigy 2/4 series
card for great sound with low CPU utilization.

At the end of the day, you should consider your intended present/future use
for the system, and set up a budget for it. You can always upgrade various
components down the road with this board if your needs change.
--
Russell Sullivan
http://tastycomputers.com

<FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125767794.581811.9210@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for the advice guys! Unless anyone can come up with another use
> for PCI ports with this card I guess I'll go ahead! Now if anyone has
> advice about Ram, types of athlon processor, video card, sound
> card......
>
> Btw, I definately wouldn't need an agp port with pcie would I?
>
> Thanks again!
>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

FBrann@gmail.com wrote:

....
> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible,

That is probably outdated advice.

> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card?

Why would you need PCI cards for USB?

Apparently the mainboard has built-in (software) sound, so you
might not need a sound card immediately.

http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoa [...] P-SLI.htm#

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Russell S" <rsullivan tastycomputersdotcom_replacedotwith".">
wrote:

> We use this board for our Bistro4-SLiT system...

I was wondering why you were recommending a different mainboard
when the question was about how many standard PCI slots should be
included, and your recommendation has no more than the mainboard
originally specified.

Then I realized that's not a "board", that's advertising for your
web site. If it were a mainboard, it would have a manufacturer
name and model/part number

I also just noticed that the original author's is apparently his
first post to usenet. But my guess is that's not related.

> ... Since this motherboard has plenty of onboard USB, FireWire,
> LAN, sound and SATA/PATA base/raid ports,

So does the mainboard originally specified.

http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoa [...] P-SLI.htm#



>
>
>
>
>
> Good luck to you in your new build!
> --
> Russell Sullivan
> http://tastycomputers.com
>
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> NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2005 10:58:45 -0500
> From: "Russell S" <rsullivan tastycomputersdotcom_replacedotwith".">
> Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
> References: <1125756738.117796.119350 g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Re: How many PCI slots?
> Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 09:58:38 -0600
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> <FBrann gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1125756738.117796.119350 g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
>> quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
>> GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
>> Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
>> of PCI slots.
>>
>> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
>> (from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
>> 2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
>> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
>> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
>> graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
>> for in a card?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Path: newssvr30.news.prodigy.com!newsdbm03.news.prodigy.com!newsdst01.news.prodigy.com!newsmst01b.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.com!newscon02.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.net!news.glorb.com!postnews.google.com!g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com!not-for-mail
>> From: FBrann@gmail.com
>> Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
>> Subject: How many PCI slots?
>> Date: 3 Sep 2005 07:12:18 -0700
>> Organization: http://groups.google.com
>> Lines: 16
>> Message-ID: <1125756738.117796.119350@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
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>> Xref: newsmst01b.news.prodigy.com alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt:444439
>>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Oh, I see, apparently the system advertised uses the same mainboard
is the original author's plan.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

<FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125756738.117796.119350@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
> quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
> GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
> Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
> of PCI slots.
>
> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
> (from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
> 2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
> graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
> for in a card?

Possible WiFi card comes to mind, as well as maybe a BlueTooth card, if you
needed such an item. Personally, most boards offer enough Firewire and USB
ports that I doubt you'd need more.

Most likely, you might use 1 or 2 PCI slots at a time. Motherboards are just
loaded with most features you'll ever need these days.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

I use two slots for network cards (the second one could be on-board , mine
is not), another for a dial up modem (personal insanity), one is rendered
useless by the gargantuan 9800 Pro video card. I might want to add more EIDE
devices with a card, but not likely. If I was intersted in WiFi that would
require another slot. I've got 4 USB ports ( I could have 8), can't see the
need for any more (yet).
The idea is, and always has been, to have more options open to you. You may
never need them, but they're there if you do. I don't understand why that is
obsolete thinking all of a sudden. It's like the rush to kill off the floppy
disk drive. "Who needs it?" (until you need to repair a bad BIOS flash).

<FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125756738.117796.119350@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
> quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
> GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
> Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
> of PCI slots.
>
> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
> (from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
> 2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
> graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
> for in a card?
>
> Thanks!
>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Oh, and I've got people snickering at me because I burn music with on-board
sound. They insist that only a "good" sound card is worthy of music
reproduction. I tell them to go pound sand, but you may submit to peer
pressure and need a slot for that too!

"BP" <replytoall@only.net> wrote in message
news:yJOdnfffYeYIuYfeRVn-qA@conversent.net...
>I use two slots for network cards (the second one could be on-board , mine
>is not), another for a dial up modem (personal insanity), one is rendered
>useless by the gargantuan 9800 Pro video card. I might want to add more
>EIDE devices with a card, but not likely. If I was intersted in WiFi that
>would require another slot. I've got 4 USB ports ( I could have 8), can't
>see the need for any more (yet).
> The idea is, and always has been, to have more options open to you. You
> may never need them, but they're there if you do. I don't understand why
> that is obsolete thinking all of a sudden. It's like the rush to kill off
> the floppy disk drive. "Who needs it?" (until you need to repair a bad
> BIOS flash).
>
> <FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1125756738.117796.119350@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> I'm planning on building a computer myself and have been looking at
>> quite a nice motherboard as far as I can see - the Gigabyte
>> GA-K8NXP-SLI. It seems like one of the better motherboards for an
>> Athlon 64 bit processor. The only problem I can see would be the lack
>> of PCI slots.
>>
>> I've been told by friends to get as many PCI slots as possible, but
>> (from what I can make out) the gigabyte only has 2 normal PCI slots and
>> 2 PCI Express which (correct me if I'm wrong) aren't compatable with a
>> normal PCI card. What would I be using PCI cards for other than
>> usb/firewire e.t.c. ports and a sound card? Apparently most modern
>> graphics cards use PCI express. How many PCI slots should I be looking
>> for in a card?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Hey, thanks again for all the advice! I think I'm gonna stick with the
onboard sound for the time being, and, as my budget is being busted
with all the core components, I'm not going to be worrying about WIFI
and BlueTooth right now (you can get those kind of componants
externally with usb attachments anyway right?).

While looking at RAM however, I have noticed that this motherboard only
seems compatable with 184 pin type. Does this mean that I wouldn't be
able to add DDR2 in the future? (I have only been able to find DDR2 in
240 pin) One of my main considerations with this computer is
future-proofing. Is this a valid concern or am I just being pedantic?

Thanks again for all the advice!!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

I have found another motherboard - the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce 4
SLI) - that has an extra PCI slot, resolving the issue. Is this a
superior board to the Gigabyte?

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

<FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125862398.041140.274470@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>I have found another motherboard - the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce 4
> SLI) - that has an extra PCI slot, resolving the issue. Is this a
> superior board to the Gigabyte?
>
ASUS is considered by many as the industry leader. They make products on the
bleeding edge of technology and pack them full of features for a reasonable
price. Gigabyte is arguably #2 in the wow-factor market. I think they are
about equals. I bought an ASUS mainboard and an ASUS video card for my
newest build based upon all the good buzz about the company. They both
failed. ASUS replaced them with no questions. But those parts are sitting on
a shelf and I have a Intel mainboard and an ATI video card in the box now.
Would this have happened with Gigabyte? I can't tell you. Just my
experience. Purchase by features, price, and reliability ratings. Forget
brand names.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

BP wrote:
> <FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1125862398.041140.274470@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
>>I have found another motherboard - the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce 4
>>SLI) - that has an extra PCI slot, resolving the issue. Is this a
>>superior board to the Gigabyte?
>>
>
> ASUS is considered by many as the industry leader. They make products on the
> bleeding edge of technology and pack them full of features for a reasonable
> price. Gigabyte is arguably #2 in the wow-factor market. I think they are
> about equals. I bought an ASUS mainboard and an ASUS video card for my
> newest build based upon all the good buzz about the company. They both
> failed. ASUS replaced them with no questions. But those parts are sitting on
> a shelf and I have a Intel mainboard and an ATI video card in the box now.
> Would this have happened with Gigabyte? I can't tell you. Just my
> experience. Purchase by features, price, and reliability ratings. Forget
> brand names.
>
>
I kind of agree forget brandnames like INTEL for mother boards. The only
motherboard I have Hade fail on me was a INTEL socket 370, since then I
have bought and used ASUS, and GIGABYTE.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Justice wrote:
> BP wrote:
>
>> <FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1125862398.041140.274470@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>> I have found another motherboard - the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce 4
>>> SLI) - that has an extra PCI slot, resolving the issue. Is this a
>>> superior board to the Gigabyte?
>>>
>>
>> ASUS is considered by many as the industry leader. They make products
>> on the bleeding edge of technology and pack them full of features for
>> a reasonable price. Gigabyte is arguably #2 in the wow-factor market.
>> I think they are about equals. I bought an ASUS mainboard and an ASUS
>> video card for my newest build based upon all the good buzz about the
>> company. They both failed. ASUS replaced them with no questions. But
>> those parts are sitting on a shelf and I have a Intel mainboard and an
>> ATI video card in the box now. Would this have happened with Gigabyte?
>> I can't tell you. Just my experience. Purchase by features, price, and
>> reliability ratings. Forget brand names.
>>
> I kind of agree forget brandnames like INTEL for mother boards. The only
> motherboard I have Hade fail on me was a INTEL socket 370, since then I
> have bought and used ASUS, and GIGABYTE.
Also I forgot to mention you can forget abut using Intel or Amd 'cuse
they are brand names better get a ppc or sparc procesor becouse there
are not brand names

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

i've had a gigabyte board, hasn't failed on me, runs like a
motherboard.. can't really tell the difference from others, i now have
an asus board that's been running constantly for over a year and i only
turn my computer off completely about once every 2 months for upgrades
or troubleshooting.

just go with the board that has more features you want.

ddr and ddr2 are not the same
can't give any advice on it though
BP wrote:
> <FBrann@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1125862398.041140.274470@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> >I have found another motherboard - the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce 4
> > SLI) - that has an extra PCI slot, resolving the issue. Is this a
> > superior board to the Gigabyte?
> >
> ASUS is considered by many as the industry leader. They make products on the
> bleeding edge of technology and pack them full of features for a reasonable
> price. Gigabyte is arguably #2 in the wow-factor market. I think they are
> about equals. I bought an ASUS mainboard and an ASUS video card for my
> newest build based upon all the good buzz about the company. They both
> failed. ASUS replaced them with no questions. But those parts are sitting on
> a shelf and I have a Intel mainboard and an ATI video card in the box now.
> Would this have happened with Gigabyte? I can't tell you. Just my
> experience. Purchase by features, price, and reliability ratings. Forget
> brand names.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

On Sun, 4 Sep 2005 19:44:29 -0400, "BP" <replytoall@onl