I'm looking for advice on whether I would be better off getting a socket 939 nforce 4 board or an nforce 3 board. The major sticking point is SLI. I'm not sure if SLI is really that necessary and important to have right now. I'm going to be building a computer and I prefer to get an AMD 64 with socket 939. I do like to use my computer for some gaming,but I'm not exactly a heavy gamer type. I like to play some of the newer games like Sims 2 and Rome:Total War for example. Other than that,I do more of my gaming on my Xbox anyway. Aside from the moderate gaming use,I primarily like to use my computer for Internet usage including multimedia applications such as streaming video and playing mp3 music. So with that in mind, having the latest and greatest for graphics technology for games isn't really that necessary for me though I still want some good quality graphics. I'm just debating right now whether to go with a nforce 3 board with AGP or a nforce 4 board with SLI and I'm just hoping for some ideas from anyone to help make up my mind. As the motherboard is the most crucial component and I want to build my computer around that, I'm looking for a good, solid, reliable motherboard that will provide some room for expansion and upgrading down the road plus I'd like some good onboard features for the motherboard. One onboard feature that isn't important to me is onboard audio. If I get a nforce 4 board I'm already thinking that I'll get the MSI K8N NEO4 Platinum/SLI. However,I'm not sure yet what board to get if I got the nforce3 route. What would be a good nforce3 board to get? So any ideas would be appreciated. Should I go with the nforce 4 or is SLI not worth it and should I go with nforce3 instead and if I go with nforce3 instead, what nforce3 board should I get?

It isn't necessary to use the SLI. If you need to buy a graphics card then definately go for the nForce4. You can install a PCIe graphics card by itself and it will work much as an AGP card with similar performance. The card simply installs into the first SLI slot and runs in single mode. The advantages are as follows: First of all, the two PCIe 16x slots are not the only PCIe slots on the MB. You really need to look at the specs. There are MBs with 2 PCIe 16x, 2 - PCIe 1x, and some standard PCI slots. Then there are boards with PCI 4x also. What this means is that you are futureproofing your computer somewhat. When and if there comes a need for SLI you can slap a pair of the SLI cards in and go. The PCIe 4x & 1x aren't much use right now, but as the industry switches over to PCIe there should be some powerful cards to run in those slots. Sound cards for instance. Basically the nForce3 & 4 chipsets are the same except for the PCIe. You don't need many PCI slots because everything is integrated. Whatever price point graphics card you want basically is avialable in both PCIe or AGP for about the same cash. IMO it is a no brainer if you need to buy a graphics card anyway.