PCI-e 3.0 cards are backward compatible with 2.0 so you shouldn't have a problem.

Cheers.

Ok, got the wife's permission, but after doing a final check on my MB spec (link posted above), the specs of it say that it is PCI Express 2.0 compliant, whereas all of the GPU's listed are the PCI Express 3.0 interface. Other than this little nugget, I'm ready to buy. Anyone have any guidance on this issue?

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...
If he put a pair of 12" fans over the Gpus
...

Just in case that confuses someone who uses double quotes to indicate inches, Juan is from Brazil and I assume he means centimeters...

                                                                   Joe

Thanks Joe, my mistake, we only use metrics units here. Yes i mean 12 cm (normaly i use spares units who comes from defective Midrange PSU´s), in the future i need to remember some places still use inches.

Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052 mounted right above the GPU´s at about 2-3 cm (1 inch) of distance to allow the air flow.

Smaller fans has few air flow capacity, so they cool less. Bigger fans could work but as the are so big few of the air is realy pass in the board itself, my tests show 12cm is the optimal one, uses less power and produce less noise.

Taking out the air in the case of the vertical mounted heatsink (EGVA ACX colling or the Gigabyte 3 fan model for example) or blowing air inside in the case of the horizontal heatsinks (like the 670/690).

My sugestion is, trying both directions and choose the one who make your GPU running cooler. Yes i´m an electronic engenhering and i know and we learn in the school take out the hot air is the best technic, but some hosts runs cooler exactly in the opositive direction, why? i have no ideia just guessings.

<edit> Some could ask why this all? You need that if you with to push your GPU´s to the limit and live in a hot place, uses no AC or could not use any other cooling (water, collants, etc) like me. Hot is the enemy of any electronic component, specialy CPUs & GPUs.

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...
If he put a pair of 12" fans over the Gpus
...

Just in case that confuses someone who uses double quotes to indicate inches, Juan is from Brazil and I assume he means centimeters...

                                                                   Joe

Again, you folks are awesome! Thank you so much for all of your advice and help in this matter. I appreciate all of you! :)

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I have been wanting dual GPU's, however, the point has been made that I may not be able to achieve this feat. Out of all of the suggestions, I am thus far (however, no final conclusion has been reached, mind you), leaning on this one, only x2. However, to the above point, is it the continued assessment that 2 GPU's will not work due to space limitations?

It's not that they won't work (as they will), but aware that if you use slots 1 and 3 that the lower card will block a lot of airflow from the top 1 and the lower 1 will also throw more heat at the top 1 as well (also if you can use the bottom slot the PSU could do the same to the card in that slot.

[edit] Yes that card would be a good choice.

Cheers.

There are two things to remember one is the GPUs will exhaust out the back of the case and the 230mm side fan will blow air directly onto the GPUs. With a slot open between the 2 GPUs there should be enough space for air to flow from the side fan to the GPUs. Actually my lower GPU (next to the PSU) usually carries the lower temp of the two that I run.

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I don't buy computers, I build them!!

His MB has plenity of space and is even capable to drive up to 3 GPU´s at the same time, with almost no problem with heat on his well ventilated case. <envy on> I wish i have something like that here. <envy off> :)

If he put a pair of 12" fans over the Gpus (taking out the hot air if he use the EVGA GPU with ACX cooling) he will be able to run even cooler the GPU´s at the range of 60-65C with no AC. They will fly at that temp, so he will have a large margin for OC.

He could build a serius crunching host with his hardware. That´s why i sugest him to buy one big GPU so in the future he could add some more one at a time. His PSU could easely hand 2 x 780FTW for example.

@Cliff Yes EVGA support and quality is something out of normal, that´s why i only use their GPU´s.

<edit> I just see his last MSG, With one of the Gigabyte 3 fan model you don´t need to worry about air flow, when you put 2 to work in the future since their hot air exaust is at the top, just put the fans i sugets over the GPU´s (i attach mine at the case itself), and happy crunching....

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I have been wanting dual GPU's, however, the point has been made that I may not be able to achieve this feat. Out of all of the suggestions, I am thus far (however, no final conclusion has been reached, mind you), leaning on this one, only x2. However, to the above point, is it the continued assessment that 2 GPU's will not work due to space limitations?

It's not that they won't work (as they will), but aware that if you use slots 1 and 3 that the lower card will block a lot of airflow from the top 1 and the lower 1 will also throw more heat at the top 1 as well (also if you can use the bottom slot the PSU could do the same to the card in that slot.

[edit] Yes that card would be a good choice.

Cheers.

I have been wanting dual GPU's, however, the point has been made that I may not be able to achieve this feat. Out of all of the suggestions, I am thus far (however, no final conclusion has been reached, mind you), leaning on this one, only x2. However, to the above point, is it the continued assessment that 2 GPU's will not work due to space limitations?

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That motherboard and case combo isn't really friendly for a dual GPU setup so how about a GTX 770 for $449.99.

Or a GTX 780 for $519.99 would give you a bit more muscle.

For the missus you could show her a GTX780TI for $719.99.

The reason I wouldn't go for a dual setup is because you'll have either both cards together with no space in between for airflow or if you use (or even can use) the last PCI-e slot that card would sit right on top of the PSU.

Cheers.

I may be a little late for this, but I must insert my 2 cents. I have a i7/950 sitting in same case (HAF32) with 2 x GTX660SC running. I find that the 230 mm side fan generates enough air flow to keep the GPUs relatively cool 60~70c for most of the year in a room on the 2nd floor with no a/c and the breeze blows mainly in the wrong direction. The fan blows directly on the GPUs. Next month I will be start a build for a i7/4770k & a AsRock Extreme4 mobo using the same exact case from my now dead i7/930 with those same GTX660s.

With your setup Cliff do you have a vacant slot space between those cards?

Cheers.

Yes, and the lower GPU has space between it and the PSU. Looking at his board layout, he should be able to use 2 GPUs.

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I don't buy computers, I build them!!

That motherboard and case combo isn't really friendly for a dual GPU setup so how about a GTX 770 for $449.99.

Or a GTX 780 for $519.99 would give you a bit more muscle.

For the missus you could show her a GTX780TI for $719.99.

The reason I wouldn't go for a dual setup is because you'll have either both cards together with no space in between for airflow or if you use (or even can use) the last PCI-e slot that card would sit right on top of the PSU.

Cheers.

I may be a little late for this, but I must insert my 2 cents. I have a i7/950 sitting in same case (HAF32) with 2 x GTX660SC running. I find that the 230 mm side fan generates enough air flow to keep the GPUs relatively cool 60~70c for most of the year in a room on the 2nd floor with no a/c and the breeze blows mainly in the wrong direction. The fan blows directly on the GPUs. Next month I will be start a build for a i7/4770k & a AsRock Extreme4 mobo using the same exact case from my now dead i7/930 with those same GTX660s.

With your setup Cliff do you have a vacant slot space between those cards?

Cheers.

That motherboard and case combo isn't really friendly for a dual GPU setup so how about a GTX 770 for $449.99.

Or a GTX 780 for $519.99 would give you a bit more muscle.

For the missus you could show her a GTX780TI for $719.99.

The reason I wouldn't go for a dual setup is because you'll have either both cards together with no space in between for airflow or if you use (or even can use) the last PCI-e slot that card would sit right on top of the PSU.

Cheers.

I may be a little late for this, but I must insert my 2 cents. I have a i7/950 sitting in same case (HAF32) with 2 x GTX660SC running. I find that the 230 mm side fan generates enough air flow to keep the GPUs relatively cool 60~70c for most of the year in a room on the 2nd floor with no a/c and the breeze blows mainly in the wrong direction. The fan blows directly on the GPUs. Next month I will be start a build for a i7/4770k & a AsRock Extreme4 mobo using the same exact case from my now dead i7/930 with those same GTX660s.

[edit] I also agree with Juan about the EVGA GPUs, they are the only ones I use, plus they have an outstanding RMA system if something goes bad. Make sure that there is at least a -KR at the end of the part# - 3 year warranty. [/edit]

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I don't buy computers, I build them!!

FYI This ring http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/show_host_detail.php?hostid=6797473 is powered by a old slow Quad CPU, a 750W PSU and has a 780FTW, it´s crunch 3 GPU WU at a time (i don't do CPU work but it could do) and allow me to browse, look emails, word, excell, etc. with not even need to stop the Boinc. I could even see a DL Tv series for example while do that. For gamming you need to stop Boinc but that happening with almost any GPU.

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Thanks a ton, folks! You guys are awesome! A lot of ya have eluded to possible gaming - I'll clear up any future or current assumptions to help both y'all in your suggestions as well as myself for possible upgrade choices: This rig (Voyager) is only a crunching rig; the only other thing I do on *this* rig is monotonous e-mail checking, internet surfing and (ugh) Facebook checking. :) Thanks again for all of you guys' (and gals') input and assistance! :)

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Well your PSU is capable of 850 so that gives lots of options. Should be able to get 2 cards in there without any modifications. Or could just go for 1 really top of the line model with your budget. 2 GTX 660's would run around 430, if you want 2 gtx 760 then it will be slightly more than your $500 budget. If never of those sound appealing then you could go with less expensive model. The New GTX 750s Superclocked runs 169 apiece but aren't SLI capable (just incase you were planning on game playing on your machine). If you want to really high end then you could get 1 GTX 780. Those are all options. I didn't go into AMD cards since I'm not as familiar with them. Let see what Wiggo and Juan have to say about what they would recommend.

PSU you have enought for almost any GPU, I allways prefear the big one you could buy, some other prefear 2 smaller.

My experience is in NV only, and i use only EVGA, my sugestion is a 780, this is my favorite (i have 3 and work cool and with very few noise)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130951
but cost a little more than 500.
another good option is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130918
unless you go for heavy graphics game you don´t need more memory on the GPU´s.
as a cheaper option you could go for:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130946
who is a little slower but works perfect in SETI.
Any of this GPU´s will gve you the choice to workt with your 460 at the same time and in the future replace the 460 for a new one.

OBS: I only use EVGA but there are some equivalent from Gigabyte for example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125488 or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125463

My personal choice, go for the 780, and if possible the FTW model you will love it, the Gigabyte model could be the best choice instead of the FTW.

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That motherboard and case combo isn't really friendly for a dual GPU setup so how about a GTX 770 for $449.99.

Or a GTX 780 for $519.99 would give you a bit more muscle.

For the missus you could show her a GTX780TI for $719.99.

The reason I wouldn't go for a dual setup is because you'll have either both cards together with no space in between for airflow or if you use (or even can use) the last PCI-e slot that card would sit right on top of the PSU.

Cheers.

Now that's a very old video card and not all that power efficient.

Now to the big question, how much are you willing to spend?

Cheers.

$500 or less. However, my MB (see above) has it's GPU limitations.

[Edit:] $500 or less, but also include $1k or less options as well for hypothetical wife approval. (Not that THAT would happen, but...hypothetically...)

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You could easely update by buying another GPU but first you need to see what is your PSU capacity. I´m allmost sure this will be your first limitation.

PSU

Because of you're question, I'll list everything else running on my Voyager rig.

Cooler Running at max setting.

Case w/stock fans

HD #1

HD #2

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Juan is right, we need to know what your PSU is capable of putting out before recommending GPUs. After that, as Wiggo stated...are you looking for top of the line and willing to pay $$$ or are we looking at a budget of some type? Will help narrow the field.