Upgrading My System

[arrox]

Okay, so here is my current system:
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME3 ATX AM3/AM3+ DDR3 CrossFireX 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Blue CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX760 w/ EVGA ACX COOLER2GB GDDR5 980MHZ 6008MHZ DVI-D/I HDMI DP SLI Graphics Card
Case: Zalman Z11 ATX Mid Tower Case Black 4X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply

So I have just gotten $400 and I am looking to upgrade my PC. What I have chosen to do is get a new PSU (850W) and another GTX 760 to run in SLI. Basically I am wondering if two 760's will work in SLI with my Mobo, by the information I have, it will work, but the second GPU will take a slight performance hit, which I am fine with until I can get a new Mobo.

Basically, I am wondering that will the second 760 work and will the 850W PSU be good enough? (I am fine if it is a bit extra as I have all my fan slots filled which will consume a fair bit of power). Also if you could recommend a good 750-850W Modular PSU in my budget ($100-$150) that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tiny voices]

Make sure your motherboard can run 2 PCI lanes at 8x. If not, there will be no gain at all from SLI.

 

[RazerZ]

Okay, so here is my current system:
CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME3 ATX AM3/AM3+ DDR3 CrossFireX 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Blue CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX760 w/ EVGA ACX COOLER2GB GDDR5 980MHZ 6008MHZ DVI-D/I HDMI DP SLI Graphics Card
Case: Zalman Z11 ATX Mid Tower Case Black 4X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply

So I have just gotten $400 and I am looking to upgrade my PC. What I have chosen to do is get a new PSU (850W) and another GTX 760 to run in SLI. Basically I am wondering if two 760's will work in SLI with my Mobo, by the information I have, it will work, but the second GPU will take a slight performance hit, which I am fine with until I can get a new Mobo.

Basically, I am wondering that will the second 760 work and will the 850W PSU be good enough? (I am fine if it is a bit extra as I have all my fan slots filled which will consume a fair bit of power). Also if you could recommend a good 750-850W Modular PSU in my budget ($100-$150) that would be greatly appreciated.

I think your mobo cant run sli because it is missing a sli bridge... Anyone else can confirm this

 

[tiny voices]

the SLi bridge is an external components that you get with the GPU.

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/3/1/4/5/3/2/webimg/315843029_o.jpg

the motherboard will run SLI fine as long as it can use 2 PCI lanes at 8x each.

 

[rolli59]

That board has 1 PCIe X16 slot at X16 and 1 at X4 speed so it does not support SLI. http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme3/index.us.asp

 

[arrox]

That board has 1 PCIe X16 slot at X16 and 1 at X4 speed so it does not support SLI.

So what is my best course of action now?

 

[tiny voices]

Read the manual. I believe Rolli is correct, and you cannot run SLI with that motherboard.

 

[cjkupers]

http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=72135#Specifications

Supports AMD Quad and CrossfireX. No sign of SLI here, buddy. Tough luck. 🙁

 

[RazerZ]

That board has 1 PCIe X16 slot at X16 and 1 at X4 speed so it does not support SLI.

So what is my best course of action now?

You will need to buy a new motherboard, PSU, and GPU.

 

[cjkupers]

Best option from here is to either simply buy the next gen GPU, or buy the next best equivalent of an ATI GPU. Then plan on Crossfire later on.

 

[tiny voices]

http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=72135#Specifications

Supports AMD Quad and CrossfireX. No sign of SLI here, buddy. Tough luck. 🙁

It "supports" corssfire, but you will see little to no gain with crossfire because the second card will be running at 4x making it basically useless.

 

[arrox]

If I were to buy another 760, would it have no performance benefit? Because I could just do this and upgrade my Mobo at a later date.

 

[tiny voices]

Sink as much of the $400 you can into a GPU. Don't change anything else. Or if you wanted to, get a 4670k and a z87 motherboard.

 

[RazerZ]

If I were to buy another 760, would it have no performance benefit? Because I could just do this and upgrade my Mobo at a later date.

Thats the problem, adding it won't do anything...

 

[tiny voices]

If I were to buy another 760, would it have no performance benefit? Because I could just do this and upgrade my Mobo at a later date.

It would do nothing. Even if the system recognized it, it would provide no performance increase.

 

[arrox]

Damn, I suppose I'll just buy the PSU and Mobo now, and try and get the GPU at a later date. So which Mobo do you guys recommend I get? And what should I do with my old Mobo and PSU?

 

[rolli59]

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/ then sell your old stuff for the difference.

 

[RazerZ]

Damn, I suppose I'll just buy the PSU and Mobo now, and try and get the GPU at a later date. So which Mobo do you guys recommend I get? And what should I do with my old Mobo and PSU?

This one:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-970extreme4

 

[arrox]

Where do I sell my old stuff?

 

[RazerZ]

Where do I sell my old stuff?

Ebay, craigslist, friends lol

 

[rolli59]

ebay.

 

[arrox]

Okay thanks for the help everyone

 

[RazerZ]

Okay thanks for the help everyone

No problem

 

[RazerZ]

Okay thanks for the help everyone [/quotemsg

Whoops double post.... Also an i5 would be helpful and so would an 8350

 

[tiny voices]

I would get an i5 and a z87 motherboard.

Then a gtx760 later on. The fx6300 may bottleneck 2 760s in new games in the next year or two.