ok Tbqfh I’m well stressing over this so many areas of motherboards I just don’t have time to read, understand, and find out what’s good ext.

Chipsets
Can u have a single card in a SLI Board?
(As I might upgrade to this as soon as I get my money sorted)
what do I need on it to keep my 2 USB2 ports / headphones on the front
Just for starters.

I think I'm making this more complicated that it needs to be, so I’m looking for a little advice/help.

But I only have 7more days with my m8's PC.
So in short I need a new motherboard to replace -
ASUS - A8V Deluxe
With a Pci-E version....

All I can think to add is
AMD Athlon64 4000+
2GB of DDR400 (3200) (2x512mb)x2
XFX 7800gt 256mb (still in the box)
ATA-HDx2 (goto sort that out lol) (pata )

A8V-E Deluxe
is the best option if i cant use
A8N32-SLI Deluxe (maybe)
or could i go cheeper
A8V-E SE

These days (most) systemboards have the opportunity to hook up front USB, not sure about audio really. That A8N32-SLi Deluxe is a very tasty board, fanless north/southbridge cooling makes for a nice and quiet board. Get some Zalmann/Coolermaster coolers for both gfx and cpu and you'll never notice the pc is on.

The key to buying an Athlon 64 systemboard lies in the chipset really. the nVidia nForce 4 chipset is one of the bestest and fastest chipsets available atm.

Depends on what u wanna dish out really.

Thanks, ok now if I can just work out if I can use a single GFX card on that board i think I’ll get me it (if I can sort out that much extra cash atm).

If not the A8V-E SE for now (£36) and then upgrade in a couple of months when I finished getting back on top the funds

To my knowledge you can use single cards in SLi rigs. In fact I think it's what most people do as atm SLi still isn't really all it's cracked up to be as nothing requires that kind of gfx power. I could be wrong and out of date though as I have to steer clear of technology in case I buy it

Ah yea, u can use single cards in SLi boards. Theres a terminator card enclosed with the board which u have to use if you're not using 2 gfx cards.