a question on the MB though. it has 3 PCI-e slots, one is x16, one is x4 and one is x1. Can all 3 be used for video cards? will performance be affected? i'm not sure what the numbers mean.
what the numbers mean -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express. Basically this is is the length of the slot and and for video cards you need x16.
Can all 3 be used? - Possibly, but it really depends on the video card, AND you have to either use extender/adapter cables or cut the video card. And some cards are picky and work only in X16 and won't work on an X8 or X4 or X1 slot.
Bottom line - you can count on one card for sure, and the other two - in the x4 and x1 slots - probably not (or at least not easily).