Board for new videio card.

[Prometheus Xex]

I recently purchased an ATI X850XT AGP video card. My problem is that the
card is extra thick (large cooling fan...
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/Radeonx850xtpeagp/4) and takes
up the first available PCI slot under the AGP slot.

My question is, does a motherboard exist that has more gap between the AGP
and first PCI to accomodate these chubby video cards? It would be nice if
the motherboard had built-in network and sound (I need 2 sound cards) as to
leave more options for future card (already have a modem and soundblaster
5.1 card taking up 2 slots (no room left for anything else). My current
MOBO only has three PCI slots, and the video card covers one of them.

- Prometheu Xex

 

[Paul]

I recently purchased an ATI X850XT AGP video card. My problem is that the
card is extra thick (large cooling fan...
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/Radeonx850xtpeagp/4) and takes
up the first available PCI slot under the AGP slot.

My question is, does a motherboard exist that has more gap between the AGP
and first PCI to accomodate these chubby video cards? It would be nice if
the motherboard had built-in network and sound (I need 2 sound cards) as to
leave more options for future card (already have a modem and soundblaster
5.1 card taking up 2 slots (no room left for anything else). My current
MOBO only has three PCI slots, and the video card covers one of them.

- Prometheu Xex

Three PCI slots is a microATX board. Space on a microATX is pretty
limited, so I don't think you'll see the AGP slot moved away
from the PCI. A full sized ATX motherboard would make more room
available, if your computer case is big enough.

Telling us what the current motherboard happens to be, would allow
suggesting a motherboard that reuses your existing components.

Paul

 

[Rob Stow]

Three PCI slots is a microATX board.

Not necessarily.

The only two motherboards with both AGP and PCI-E that I have
seen were both ATX boards with only 3 PCI slots.

Other ATX and EATX boards sacrifice PCI slots for other things -
a second CPU socket, AMR or other proprietary slots, SCSI
controllers, PCI-X slots, etc.

And motherboards in business computers sometimes save a buck or
two by simply leaving blank spaces where you would find PCI slots
in the retail version of that motherboard.

As well, I would guess that the majority of ATX motherboards that
have PCI-E but not AGP have only 3 PCI slots. With the SLI
boards you can almost guarantee that there will not be more than
3 PCI slots.

Space on a microATX is pretty
limited, so I don't think you'll see the AGP slot moved away
from the PCI. A full sized ATX motherboard would make more room
available, if your computer case is big enough.

Even a full-sized ATX board very often has the first PCI slot too
frigging close to the AGP slot. If an AGP motherboard is
advertised as having "n" PCI slots, a potential buyer should be
thinking "n-1" until he verifies that the slot closest to the AGP
slot is indeed usable.

 

[dino]

ovbiously it sounds like an older board..due to the fact it has neither
onboard NIC or Sound...so maybe as was said...what do you have now?

 

[Rob Stow]

ovbiously it sounds like an older board..due to the fact it has neither
onboard NIC or Sound...so maybe as was said...what do you have now?

Read the original message again. The OP did *not* say that his
current motherboard does not have not have sound or an onboard
NIC. He said it would be nice if his future board did have
those. Not that he'll have much choice in the matter - pretty
much every mobo on the market has both. His only real choice
will be a limited choice as to what /kind/ of onboard ethernet
and sound his motherboard will have.

I can't recall any motherboards modern enough for the a Radeon
X850, yet not having an onboard NIC and sound. IIRC, that card
needs at least an AGP 4x slot and auxiliary power.

He almost undoubtedly has both sound and ethernet on his current
motherboard. He apparently chooses to use PCI sound cards for
quality, advanced features, or both - and if that is the case he
will probably still not be satisfied with the features and/or
quality of the on-board sound on any of the current motherboards.

He also says he has a modem, which implies he is still on dial-up
and not using the on-board NIC he probably already has.

 

[Promextheus Xex]

Sorry for not giving enough info. Here it goes...

I have a
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?DetailID=476&MenuID=0&LanID=9
motherboard. Not the best, but for what it cost, it actually was not too
bad. Lots of features as noted on their website. The onboard sound is
actually quite good as well as I have a PCI sound card for my gaming and
watching surround sound movies on my 50" Sony HDTV connected via a DVI from
video card (sweet as display is 50" widescreen at 1776x1000 resolution from
card.) SoundBlaster Audiology 5.1 connect to system in TV room, onboard
sound connect to another stereo with 1000 watt Polk Audio speaker towers

Modem is for incoming calls recorded with software answering machine
(retrievable via web interface from anywhere). Onboard LAN connected to
5Mbit cablemodem line (610 Kbytes/sec downloads... nice).

I can dump MOBO and/or case for new one to where I work to rebuild my
system. Perhaps get another 300GB SATA drive for system along with current
250GB drive. Current case is large enough to accommodate larger board if
needed. Running a P4 2.6GHz overclocked to 3.1 (for now). No problems as
of yet with this configuration. Have 1.5 GB of memory.

Need to set up another system at where I work, which lends me the
opportunity to do some changes on my home system. I have already had a
suggestion of using an Asus P5P800
(http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=26&model=166&modelmenu=1).

Hope this helps.

- Prometheus Xex

 

[Paul]

Sorry for not giving enough info. Here it goes...

I have a
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?DetailID=476&MenuID=0&LanID=9

motherboard. Not the best, but for what it cost, it actually was not too
bad. Lots of features as noted on their website. The onboard sound is
actually quite good as well as I have a PCI sound card for my gaming and
watching surround sound movies on my 50" Sony HDTV connected via a DVI from
video card (sweet as display is 50" widescreen at 1776x1000 resolution from
card.) SoundBlaster Audiology 5.1 connect to system in TV room, onboard
sound connect to another stereo with 1000 watt Polk Audio speaker towers

Modem is for incoming calls recorded with software answering machine
(retrievable via web interface from anywhere). Onboard LAN connected to
5Mbit cablemodem line (610 Kbytes/sec downloads... nice).

I can dump MOBO and/or case for new one to where I work to rebuild my
system. Perhaps get another 300GB SATA drive for system along with current
250GB drive. Current case is large enough to accommodate larger board if
needed. Running a P4 2.6GHz overclocked to 3.1 (for now). No problems as
of yet with this configuration. Have 1.5 GB of memory.

Need to set up another system at where I work, which lends me the
opportunity to do some changes on my home system. I have already had a
suggestion of using an Asus P5P800
(http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=26&model=166&modelmenu=1).

Hope this helps.

- Prometheus Xex

http://usa.asus.com/products2.aspx?l1=3&l2=-1

A P5P800 is an option. The P5VD1-X is an option (but a VIA chipset).

The really hilarious thing about the P5VD1-X, is it claims
to be able to do FSB1066.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813131566

A waterblock is another option (to allow you to keep your
current motherboard), as I don't think any of the
aftermarket heatpipe solutions is thin enough to give you
a one-slot solution. This waterblock only has 1/4" plumbing,
for whatever that is worth. A water cooling system would
probably cost more than a replacement motherboard

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/05/19/X850_waterblock
http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-blc-252.html?id=igInKMC6
http://www.cooling-station.net/index.php?page=tests&id=90&seite=3

Paul

 

[Prometheus Xex]

Your rigfht about the pricing, but this is an option for overclockers for
sure!

- P.Xex