I would like to build a gaming/hobbyist machine and use a quad CPU motherboard. I'd like to find a motherboard that has four proc slots, but still has a fast PCI card, current chipset, etc. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd like to start with just one CPU and then once the CPUs get cheaper start adding more.

Most of the motherboards I found at Tyan's website are clearly for servers, and lack things like fast PCI slots (one only had one PCI slot), firewire, and the usual bells and whistles you find on a more gaming oriented motherboard.

I understand that I'm not going to be able to find a fully loaded motherboard that can also take four CPUs, but is there some kind of happy medium? I may also go dual but I'd really like to get a quad.

Is there a dual or quad based P35 motherboard scheduled anything soon? Or x38?

I'd also like to express my frustration with Intel for coming out with "core duo" and "quad core" terminology, as it has made hunting for multi-CPU motherboards a real pain!

Any help would be appreciated. I've built many PCs but never put together a dual/quad MB based system from scratch before.

 

Well I'll call you crazy but here is an affordable idea. First of all, not many programs use multiple cores right now. I've been rocking a couple dual core laptops and i rarely ever see them get bogged down even during gaming and burning a cd at the same time. So really, you do not need multiple processors. You don't even need a quad core proc but if your going for enthusiast that would work.

It is going to be so much cheaper to get a single processor mobo and throw in a dual or quad core processor than buy a server board and have to buy 4 processors. Also, this way you can buy a board designed for gaming or whatever else you are looking for.

Hope this helps.

 

Sounds pretty confusing lol, but anythings possible!