Daniel: I have built over 20 computers for my own and my family's use and I have used both MSI and ASUS boards in that process. Each have their strengths, but I believe that MSI is the best in ongoing support and stability. I have not used either of the models you mention, but I have some recommendations for research resources: I have found ExtremeTech and AnandTech (you can Google 'em) to be good resources for motherboard reviews. Also, NewEgg's website has an excellent tool to select motherboards and, unless the motherboard is too new to have a track record yet, they have user reviews that help you see which board should "make the cut". TO answer your question on the SLI: I have never owned an SLI-capable board, but have researched it and I understand that you DO NOT need to use dual graphics cards if you have one; just one PCI Express card will work fine and the SLI feature gives you the ability to go to a second card if you so desire. Good luck and enjoy your build. I always ask myself in the middle of a build: "why did I get myself into this?" and then when I finally get my new machine built and configured, it all turns out to be well worth it! Your own machine that YOU BUILT, YOU KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE IT, and you can talk computers with the best of them...hang in there: it YOU CAN DO IT and IT WILL WORK, Don Douglass, BIY Enthusiast. Do you want to signoff PCBUILD or just change to Digest mode - visit our web site: http://freepctech.com/pcbuild.shtml