SLI GTX 670 on Sabertooth Z77 with sound card?

[TheYellowEyedMan]

Just curious as to whether or not I could have two Galaxy GeForce GTX 670 video cards in SLI on a ASUS Sabertooth Z77 motherboard, and still have room for a sound card? Everything will be installed in a Define R3 case, if that helps at all.

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162108

Sound card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271007

Looking at the motherboard on NewEgg I'd like to think I won't have a probelm here, but this will be my first build so any help would be great. Also, the sound card I picked seems in my opinion to be the very best NewEgg has in stock, based both on the customer ratings and the general specifications of the card, but if there is something better out there that I'm not seeing due to my inexperience in these things then what am I missing?

 

[jaquith]

Expensive Sound Card! You have (3) choices of placement, but the ideal is the top PCIe x1 slot.

The HT | OMEGA is very good, but know the onboard sound doesn't 'suck' either, and SLI GTX 670 is overkill on an HD monitor (1920x1080) unless you have multiple monitors and then it's barely enough (3xHD 1920x1080). Games are best with vSync and that limits you to the refresh rate i.e. 60Hz = 60 FPS.

 

[rolli59]

Well if you have not noticed the Sabertooth does not have a PCI slot for the sound card! A PCIe X1 card would though work.

 

[jaquith]

Well if you have not noticed the Sabertooth does not have a PCI slot for the sound card! A PCIe X1 card would though work.

Crap you're right, I assumed a PCIe x1!!!

Get the HT | OMEGA eClaro - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271006 ; depends on your needs.

Or one of these - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008658%20600011982&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&PageSize=20

 

[monsta]

You sure will have room, use both first and second X16 slots for the 670's and use the 1st x pcie x 1 slot above the first video card. You may have to remove the centre fan on the mobo depending on how long the sound card you get....but its really no big deal not using it.

 

[TheYellowEyedMan]

Forgot to mention that I plan to have a NH-D14 on the CPU when I install everything. So, the general consensus is that even a very good sound card is unnecessary with the Sabertooth? I'd like the very best sound output possible, but then I have been able to survive on TV speakers with my 360 for the past couple years or so. How is the quality and clarity of the onboard audio of the Sabertooth?

 

[jaquith]

I can speak only for my Sabertooth X79 the onboard sound is fine -- crystal clear. There appears to be sufficient space for the Sound Card above the top GPU. I'd think long and hard over the NH-D14 vs H100.

If it were 'me' I would get everything set-up and running then see how the sound is to 'you' and make your decisions after your impression of the onboard sound.

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_gen&products_id=34&lng=en#LGA1155_Asus

NH-D14 + Sabertooth Z77:

Saberthooth Z77 Owner's Club - http://www.overclock.net/t/1246595/official-asus-sabertooth-z77-owners-thread-club
/above build - http://www.overclock.net/t/1246595/official-asus-sabertooth-z77-owners-thread-club/420

H100 + Sabertooth Z77:

 

[rolli59]

Agree on the onboard being good only a few people will hear the difference with top quality speakers. If the speakers are mediocre then the sound card is a waste of money.

 

[TheYellowEyedMan]

I can speak only for my Sabertooth X79 the onboard sound is fine -- crystal clear. There appears to be sufficient space for the Sound Card above the top GPU. I'd think long and hard over the NH-D14 vs H100.

If it were 'me' I would get everything set-up and running then see how the sound is to 'you' and make you decisions after your impression of the onboard sound.

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_gen&products_id=34&lng=en#LGA1155_Asus

NH-D14 + Sabertooth Z77:
http://cdn.overclock.net/1/15/1586c119_P1000613.jpeg
Saberthooth Z77 Owner's Club - http://www.overclock.net/t/1246595/official-asus-sabertooth-z77-owners-thread-club
/above build - http://www.overclock.net/t/1246595/official-asus-sabertooth-z77-owners-thread-club/420

H100 + Sabertooth Z77:
http://cdn.overclock.net/5/5d/600x338px-LL-5d7a4487_sw8fw9.jpeg

In regards to the sound card, yeah that sounds like a good idea. I think I might just end up waiting to see how I like the onboard audio. But what is so great about the H100, and for that matter liquid/water cooling in general? All the research I've done seems to suggest that when its all said and done there is not a huge amount of difference between an air cooled CPU and a liquid/water cooled CPU, so long as whichever one you choose is high quality and you install it correctly.

 

[jaquith]

In my media room the sound card costs as much as the PC, but it's running through Aragon 4004 Amp and B&W 801F speakers - old but good. Decent stuff is DAC.

If you're connecting to some Logitech speakers then forget it, normal ratio is to spend 5X-10X on the speakers to sound card.

NH-D14 vs H100 - to properly clean the NH-D14 requires you (time wise) to pull the NH-D14, vs a few sucks on the H100's radiator with a vacuum. IMO - The H100 is a very clean look whereas the NH-D14 isn't and looks like a lawnmower engine. The compatibility issues are far more with the NH-D14 than the H100 (2x120 roof ventilation).

 

[TheYellowEyedMan]

Best answer selected by TheYellowEyedMan.

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr