So, I wanted to go SLI on my board.
 
I have a GA-M57SLI-S4 version 2.0
 
from what i understand.. even tho it has 2 x16 PCIe ports. when I am using both, they go down to x8. So, is it worth it to go to SLI? or do you think it will be a big difrence if i upgrade my board? BTW, I have an 8800 GT for video right now, and was thinkin bout picking up a second.
 
Please let me know your feedback..  
 
 
thanks

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nevermind, i found my own answer here..
 
http://forums.slizone.com/index.php?showtopic=509

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Sell 8800gt
 Buy 9800gx2
 Walla !!!

that is an option

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What chipset supports SLI in x16 x16 for AMD CPUs, nForce 590 I think, right? The only downside is that it's only an AM socket chipset, not AM+ so it would "dead-end upgrade" as you might not be able to take full benefits from newer CPUs on that board (would still work since AM+ CPU are backward compatible with AM sockets). Most of the newer chipsets seems to only support XFire (which doesn't come at a surprise since AMD/ATI are now together).
 
Given that, adding a second 8800GT could be a good idea if you can get them cheap, or, as Nayrb suggested, just wait a bit and change for something completely new. BTW, what PSU do you have, if you don't have a good 550-600W, SLI might be out of the question anyway.

you are right, the PSU is important, ive got a coolermaster 750 hanging out in my room waiting for a home.. im gonna throw that in, im currently running a coolermaster 500.

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What you could do, is get a second 8800GT card from EVGA and see how it goes. When the new cards come-out (9800x2 or else), see how they fare against you setup and, if you want to upgrade, just use EVGA's Step-Up program on your EVGA card and sell the other one. Note that the program is valid only within 90 days from the purchase.

thanks for the heads up dude. greatly appreciated, that sounds like a more logical solution

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Read all the details of the program on EVGA's website before you make your move, I don't want to be responsible for any "missteps". I personally never used the program or even ever used SLI/XFire; what I know is what I learned from others.
 
BTW, I forgot some obvious questions: what is your motivation for SLI? What resolution do you play at and what games do you play? (Sorry, my nature prompts me to always question the need(s) behind the need(s) )

ASUS 590SLi I've heard has bios updates giving them Phenom Support. All sockets are dead eventually. Do you really want to upgrade your cpu every 6 months?

Even if it does support Phenom, it will not magicaly support HyperTransport 3.0; does it make a difference, I have no idea  . But since Socket AM3 only adds DDR3 support, I guess it will take at least a year to become mainstream.

Primarily FPS. i want to be able to play games on my HDTV and i think that is at 1920x1080. Hence I was thinking dual GPU setup.  

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To play at that resolution, I think a 2nd GT will be more than enough for most games (ie: maybe not Crysis  ).