Alienware motherboard question

so i was configuring my AW desktop and i come up with the 2 desktops.

Area 51, and Area 51 7500. i realized that there isnt much differene i can get same processor and graphic processor, but then i saw that there is a bit difference in motherboard, here it is

Alienware® Approved NVIDIA® nForce 680i SLI Motherboard VS

Alienware® Approved NVIDIA® nForce® 790i Ultra SLI™ Motherboard
Includes PCI-Express 2.0, DDR3 Memory, and Support for Intel 1600 FSB

the desktop is maily for gamings, is that a huge difference between this 2 motherboards? i tried to do some research and look @ the difference but failed, so finally thought i'll take you guys help!

Also othe question i know something about mermory, but is this is a huge differnece?

3GB Patriot EP+ Low Latency Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB + 2 x 512MB

VS

4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 2 x 2048MB .

Thanks

 

Best idea to do research is go on Desktopreview.com To log on use your same Nick and password.

 

you wont even notice the speed difference of the ram. i would tell him to ask around desktopreviews.com but that site is really inactive. the last post in the AW forum was from 6/4. and thats the only thread there.

 

well to put it plainly the 680i was one of there best selling boards (Nvidias) really popular at the overclocking forums because it was soo easy with it. and the 790i is the latest and greatest board which is avoided usually because of the really high price of DDR3 ram. (oh and the biggest difference is 790i you can do TRIPLE SLI (three cards) and on the 680i you cannot do that)

you will see somewhat of a difference not that big but if you have the money and your willing to spend it you can go with the 790i but the DDR3 is what is going to kill you because its pretty expensive to buy even your self...

now about the ram its MUCH better to be in dual channel as in have 2 sticks of the same size from the same company as in 2 sticks of 2GB in dual channel for 4 will be much better and give much less problems than the 2 1GB sticks and 2 512MB chips i think thats an awful idea well my recommendation if your gonna go with alienware desktop (which i think as many have already said VERY overpriced) you should go with :

Power Supply: 1000W is MORE than enough for any system
GPU: single 9800GX2 is PRETTY strong
CPU: QX9650 (can always be overclocked)
MEmory: 2GB is fine and you can upgrade it later to 4 or more by yourself thats what i would do
and everything else can just stay the same

that comes out to be 4700 without tax (personally a HUGE rip off)

i would urge you to do some research online on how to build a desktop and build one for yourself (newegg.com has a financing department aswell where they can finance your whole purchase) will be MUCH cheaper than the Alienware desktop and you will just have to put it together and believe me once you get into it you will LOVE building computers its a great time but thats my opinion have fun with everything and hope you enjoy your new system

 

i would recommend the GTX 280 since alot of people claim the GTX 280 has better drivers than the GX2.

 

well i personally have a 9800 GX2 i love it and yes the GTX 280 is stornger but AW only gives you dual GTX 280 with is ridiculous because one GTX 280 can handle crysis on high settings so yea that is too much and TRIPLE GTX 280 is OVERKILL!!!

 

Man what computer parts don't you have?! Not to go off topic...but what's your system with your 9800 GX2? (sorry for going off topic).

 

Motherboard: EVGA 780i
CPU Q6600 @ 3.6
GPU 9800 GX2
RAM 2x 1GB Crucial Ballistix
HDD : WD Raptor X 150GB, WD 320GB, Samsung 500GB
PSU: PC Power and Cooling 750 Quad Silencer
CASE: Cosmos S RC1100

all of which is watercooled with 3 loops (one for the motherboard, one for the CPU and one for the 9800GX2)

but this systems is sitting in america makes me sad im half way across the world

sorry for going so far offtopic hope my setup can inspire you a little

ill attach some pics when i had my SLI 8800GT





its a bit cleaner now since i dont have 2 video cards so makes life a bit easier

 

you can get 1 GTX 280 on the Area 51 desktop.

 

oh oops sorry i was only looking at the Alienware area 51 ALX