Xfx Nforce 680i Sli Intel Socket 775 Ddr2

[nes]

I never really considered XFX for motherboards but I was on the XFX.com webpage and I happened to notice the link to view the mobos on the scroll menu. So, I started to take a look at what XFX had to offer and wow. The NFORCE 680i SLI Intel Socket 775 is really nice. The name is long but the mobo is really cool:-D.

I'm not a bigger, badder, faster type of guy but I do like to know where the edge is and I couldn't help but feel really dumb for not considering or even wondering if XFX made mobos; duh, right?

It boasts 3 PCI-e slots (2x16; 1x8.... of course there are the usual PCI-e x1's on there too but, you know.....), and six rear usb ports, yea! The board itself is very basic in design but it's still really cool looking for some reason; you'll have to see for yourself.

Anyways, I'm always thinking of upgrades to my exsisting system (check my stats) and I'm thinking about actually going somewhere else than Asus for my next mobo; and that alternative will, if I do stray, be XFX NFORCE 680I SLI INTEL SOCKET 775 DDR2. It's pricey but it's so nice.

PS: look at those Core 2 Quad prices just plummet, and look at all of these intelligently crafted mobos being developed, and last but not least check out some of the companies making low latency ram modules at rock bottom prices (i.e.: g skill, patriot, and munshkin). It's looking like a buyers market out there for the PC.

[AJ.]

Yeah it's definitely buyers market now. I too like the motherboard your looking at. It has some really nice features while yielding an ok price tag. Seriously nes, the price aint half bad. I mean for something intel based. The Asus crosshair for AMD's is $250 alone. Your getting some decent technology in that board. Think about it ;-)

[Bio-Hazard]

I'd just keep the board you have right now if it isn't broke and you really don't want to go high-end SLI. If you need one of the features included on the 680i boards, then that's a different story all together. The 650i chipsets clock just about as well as their big brothers, sometimes better.

I'm also extremely cheap and always look for the best bang for my buck, and that's what the 650i chipset offers.

[timberwolf120]

Don't feel dumb for not considering XFX for their mobos. I never did either. According to their product list, their "oldest" mobo uses the Nvidia 590 chipset. Also, I am pretty sure they don't even make their own motherboards (like Asus), they just rebrand them. By the way, the XFX 680i SLI motherboard is just the reference design. It should be exactly the same as the BFG or EVGA 680i SLI motherboards.

[nes]

Didn't know that. So, XFX isn't putting their magical overclocking hands into the actual designs?

[Bio-Hazard]

All the Nvidia reff boards are designed by Nvidia and built by Foxconn last I checked. At one poit there was take thae companies like ECS would shars in the manufactoring of the boards at on time, but I'm not sure if this ever happened.

[Schwarz]

Don't feel dumb for not considering XFX for their mobos. I never did either. According to their product list, their "oldest" mobo uses the Nvidia 590 chipset. Also, I am pretty sure they don't even make their own motherboards (like Asus), they just rebrand them. By the way, the XFX 680i SLI motherboard is just the reference design. It should be exactly the same as the BFG or EVGA 680i SLI motherboards.

Asus don't just rebrand motherboards.
I mean look at the Striker Extreme its a 680i with more.

[Bio-Hazard]

More of stuff that cost a ton extra that really doesn't bring any extra performance to the table and most users will never use. Granted there are some that might need the extra features, but most don't even use all that comes on the ref 680i boards........;)

[Scott]

Yeah but with XFX if you have a problem Shannon will kick some butt and help you get it taken care of.

[Schwarz]

XFX also have the cheapest 680i ref boards.
Even though they are the same as all the other ref boards the manage to get the a little cheaper.
Maybe not as cheap as ECS...but then again...

[Bio-Hazard]

You never know if ECS made the boards or not, at one time they were talking about contracting both Foxconn and ECS to make the reff boards. Haven't heard if that ever happened or not, but ECS is one huge OEM board maker...............;)

[sushrukh]

ECS's PN2-SLI2+ is the least expensive 680i SLI board which offers a decent performance at a very low price.

[Bio-Hazard]

It's already been mentioned that all the reff boards are the same with the same bios so it would be fullly understandable the the performance would be the same, at least to those of a sound mind..........;)

That goes for the EVGA, XFX ECS, Biostar and BFG boards, all the exact same board.

[sushrukh]

It's already been mentioned that all the reff boards are the same with the same bios so it would be fullly understandable the the performance would be the same, at least to those of a sound mind..........;)

That goes for the EVGA, XFX ECS, Biostar and BFG boards, all the exact same board.

Yep.Agreed but there atleast should be some performance diff as the board makers are different :icon_tiphat:

[Schwarz]

ECS's PN2-SLI2+ is the least expensive 680i SLI board which offers a decent performance at a very low price.

Actually it offers the exact same performance as all the other ref boards.
ITS a ref board its the same but with a ECS sticker on it.

[timberwolf120]

Asus don't just rebrand motherboards.
I mean look at the Striker Extreme its a 680i with more.

Sorry, that was a mistake. I was supposed to use the word "unlike". I do know that Asus doesn't use the reference design.

After knowing that they are all reference boards that perform the same, you should pick one that has the best bundle, if any, and a company that offers great customer support. And if comes down to it, pick the one with the better sticker. ;-)

[sushrukh]

and a company that offers great customer support. ;-)

Then you can always count Asus out of the scenario.They make awesome quality boards but just don't care about their customers. :frown:

[Bio-Hazard]

If you're looking for the best warranty, EVGA's top A1 serise boards carry a full lifetime warranty, they are the cheapest, but they aren't the most expensive either and they do have a great bundle on the A1...........;) I haven't looked into the BFG boards mainly because they are norrmally some of the most expensive of the reff boards.

BFG Tech 3 Year Motherboard Warranty

http://www2.bfgtech.com/warranty.aspx

Limited Lifetime Warranty is for all retail Graphics Card and Mainboard products ending in the part numbers A1, AR, AX, BR*, BX*, DR, DX, FR, FX, SG, SL, or S2.

http://www.evga.com/support/lifetime/

[timberwolf120]

And EVGA has some great tech support too. E-mailed them a question Sunday afternoon and got an answer the same day. Amazed me because it said that their normal operating hours are mon-fri and I should wait around 2 days or so for a reply.

[Bio-Hazard]

But they say on their customer support page that their support is 24/7, all other ops are normal business hours.........;)

[timberwolf120]

That is even better! Though I'm having some issues with how they are doing their follow up question. Haven't heard a reply for almost a week... Though I may be the one doing something wrong, which is highly probable.

[Bio-Hazard]

EVGA does normally have really good support, but I've never had to use them except for a odd question every now and then, and that was taken care of by phone. I've heard that BFG's support is about the same, never had to deal with them before though, I don't own anything from them, they are pretty high priced overall.

XFX also has good customer support, I've delt with them first had a couple of times over the past year with good results. The guy here on the forums offers outstanding help when he can (US customers mainly) but also forwards overseas problems to the that need to take care of the issue. My only complaint it lack of phone support, but that costs a ton of money and would have to be passed on to the customer. IMHO you really can't go wrong with any of the bif 3, it's pretty much personal choice I guess.