BFG nForce 680i SLI test...

[Dumo]

BFG reference board made by Foxconn (lit looks like BadAxe non identical twins).....

Heres out of the box so far...With 6800 S1 - TT Big Thphoon with Delta 190CFM fan / Team Xtreem OPB ed. @ 4-4-4 / ATI Rage Pro PCI / Zippy 850W...

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7729/screenshot006ss4.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9535/screenshot004sr1.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8104/screenshot005hs2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2595/screenshot002lu1.jpg

[Ibinco]

Oww yeha keep em coming. Just to set the record straight. Is this a retail board or sample?

[Dumo]

No sample here:) Got to pay retail:(

[zemzelett]

Thank You for the post with a Core2 Duo and not a Quad.

Is 4ghz the limit for your cpu, or the board?

P.S. You might want to change the subject to read 680i not 580i :)

[berk]

Thats a brilliant result :)
I've been a bit tunnel visioned by the EVGA thread in the reviews section and not impressed,but what is the difference between this one and the EVGA apart from some stickers?

[Revv23]

that max FSB?

[lopri]

Can you try Dual 32M and see what kind of time you get? My times can only be described as total crap.

[zert]

most likely nothing, seeing both boards have the same nvidia made layout and are both build by foxconn.
the might have a different bios, seeing cpuz reads this boards bios as 6PG and retail eVGA boards come with P19 bios

[vanovich]

hows the voltages on the bfg? how high can vcore and vdimm go? nice results

[ryaan]

488 fsb, niice

[icon57]

looks like it could be a very nice mobo

[damnnit]

I guess everyone is waiting for new bios for eVGA board so it can perform as good as this.

[Slycer]

Whats a reference board? =)

[Grinch]

board should not matter...as far as I know they all share the same bios..:woot:

[Kunaak]

I guess everyone is waiting for new bios for eVGA board so it can perform as good as this.

whats weird is...

all these boards are identical.
perhaps one can force a bios flash from one company to these boards.

like if you have the EVGA board... but this BFG is better... maybe you can try the BFG bios...

of course, if you end up with a Brick... then too bad.
your risk to take, and no one made you do it.
but with how similar these boards are... I wouldnt be surprised at all if it worked just fine.

[SLi_dog]

Nice Dumo, that 488FSB was the max 1M stable result yeah?

What are the voltage options?

1.9vcore like the abit?
How about vdimm?

Support for X6800 multi above 11?


I'm interseted in buying this one but I'm not gunna withought 1.9vcore or higher than 11x multi.

[Dumo]

Nice Dumo, that 488FSB was the max 1M stable result yeah?

What are the voltage options?

1.9vcore like the abit?
How about vdimm?

I'm interseted in buying this one but I'm not gunna withought 1.9vcore.Same as Pedro's EVGA http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122339

[Vengure]

Very nice board I'll be keeping an eye on this for my next build :)

[SLi_dog]

Same as Pedro's EVGA http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122339
cool, does it under or over volt?

How about support above 11x multi?

Does it also have separate fsb and memory settings?

[Lu523]

Is it out yet? I have done some looking but can't find it.

[vapb400]

they had them F/S at my local compusa, but didn't have a price and I didn't have time to ask.

[Lu523]

Thanks. I found it on their web page.

[Lestat]

im rather shocked they arent using solid caps on everything. even my DS3 has solid caps on all of the board.

[Revv23]

im rather shocked they arent using solid caps on everything. even my DS3 has solid caps on all of the board.


why would they? so the cost goes up 20% for zero performance increase?

[MTP04]

whats weird is...

all these boards are identical.
perhaps one can force a bios flash from one company to these boards.

like if you have the EVGA board... but this BFG is better... maybe you can try the BFG bios...

of course, if you end up with a Brick... then too bad.
your risk to take, and no one made you do it.
but with how similar these boards are... I wouldnt be surprised at all if it worked just fine.


Sounds like its worth a shot.

Dumo could you save your bios?

[Grinch]

reminds me of the Asus A7V and A7V 133 days....you could flash either bios to either board...:woot:

[EnJoY]

Looks exactly the same as evga, I doubt it's any different in any way. Let me know if I'm wrong though Dumo.

I never liked any board maker who just chucked out reference designed stuff. EVGA, BFG, PNY, Sapphire...are all like this. I like a board maker who spends some time to make their product unique in a good way. Call me old fashioned. :rolleyes:

[Haltech]

Someone should flash their Evga with that BIOS and see what results they get.

[lopri]

I guess everyone is waiting for new bios for eVGA board so it can perform as good as this.
1M calculation is OK, although I think it's still fall a bit short of 975X. Once you get to 8M, 32M and then finally dual 32M, things get ugly. :D It looks as if it has a problem with memory management. I am also getting abysmal scores in Sandra Unbuffered. Strangely Sandra Buffered scores are very good. Need a new BIOS ASAP.

P.S. Does anyone else feel like the board is consistently accessing hard disks while Super PI is running? Mine seems to be doing that but I can't verify for sure because none of the software readings seem to be working right.

[eva2000]

if the issue is hdd related, anyone try i-ram ramdisk for OS and bench super pi off that and see :)

[lopri]

1M:

680i DDR2-800/3-3-3-8-1T
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4989/680i1mbf3.png (http://imageshack.us)

975X DDR2-800/3-3-3-8-2T
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9523/975x1muy2.png (http://imageshack.us)

[lopri]

Dual 32M:

680i DDR2-800/3-3-3-8-2T
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4084/680idual32mmt5.png (http://imageshack.us)

975X DDR2-800/3-3-3-8-2T
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7682/975xdual32mfx7.png (http://imageshack.us)

[EnJoY]

That 32m is a HUGE difference, wow. Something is possibly wrong, or it's just that nvidia's memory controller isn't as good as Intel's, but I don't think it could be that much worse.

[lopri]

It's even more puzzling because every other test looks fine and games run fantastic. The only other test that showed this weird memory performance so far is Sandra bandwidth test Unbuffered. Also as you can tell from 1M result, the memory @1T possibly performs even better than 975X.

[charlie]

can't wait for DFI and ASUS 680i offerings

[sadcat1]

I also have the BFG board with 2 GTX and 6800 cpu. I love it . Easy to set up. Very stable with lots of oc potential. I cool it with a three year old Mach 1 and have modified MC60 waterblocks on the cards. I can bench 3DMark over 4.5G. I'm not sure how high it will go. http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=631399

[FEEXX]

same layout different decals same manufacturer.... different performance, huhg please someone come and explain how... perhaps BFG's mobo has been released with the new BIOS, the one that is about to be launched by evga shortly????

c'mon gyus guess

[xgman]

same layout different decals same manufacturer.... different performance, huhg please someone come and explain how... perhaps BFG's mobo has been released with the new BIOS, the one that is about to be launched by evga shortly????

c'mon gyus guess


no two boards or systems will have the same performance even if they both have the exact same parts and exact same timings.

[Baraka]

Let us know the full bios version(hit pause during post and scribble down the full string), I will compare it to my EVGA...

It looks identical to EVGA except stickers :D

[NapalmV5]

488 fsb?

low! :slash: 680

:)

[X.T.R.E.M.E_ICE]

so where are the SLI tests that the title draged me in here for. cheers.

[msgclb]

so where are the SLI tests that the title draged me in here for. cheers.
BFG "nForce 680i SLI" test...

[Blacklash]

Yeah the 32m times do seem off. I get 14m 25.063 here @ a flat 3.6 GHz. Wonder if 965 can beat that mobo @ 32m.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9280/36superpi32mij1.th.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=36superpi32mij1.jpg)

[EnJoY]

Wonder if 965 can beat that mobo @ 32m.

Without a doubt, witholding the use of 1T.

[jAkUp]

Actually, that BFG motherboard has an older BIOS. You can see by the date. October 20th, 2006. At that time the P19 BIOS was not even completed yet. The P19 BIOS was completed on October 31st, 2006. (Haloween :))

Also, new P20 BIOS for EVGA should be out within the next 2 days :)

[The Nemesis]

What has my interest the most is the BFG & EVGA both used Nvidia's reference design which is supposedly manufactured by Foxconn. Now keeping this in mind, ECS has a 680i board which should be available on shelve's late this week. My information tells me that Fry's will have a motherboard cpu combo on Black Friday based on the 680i & getting a Conroe cpu under cost. Now this will be something truly a steal if the ECS 680i can hit 450- 500FSB. Imagine, Intel E6600 w/ECS 680i $279. For those who disbelieve, last year Fry's one day only sale was an ECS 939 & AMD X2 3800+ for $279. I bought one myself, sold the motherboard, but that cpu was never $279 again until AMD slashed prices. I can't wait:) I'll post an ad when I get one.

[cleanerupper]

What has my interest the most is the BFG & EVGA both used Nvidia's reference design which is supposedly manufactured by Foxconn. Now keeping this in mind, ECS has a 680i board which should be available on shelve's late this week. My information tells me that Fry's will have a motherboard cpu combo on Black Friday based on the 680i & getting a Conroe cpu under cost. Now this will be something truly a steal if the ECS 680i can hit 450- 500FSB. Imagine, Intel E6600 w/ECS 680i $279. For those who disbelieve, last year Fry's one day only sale was an ECS 939 & AMD X2 3800+ for $279. I bought one myself, sold the motherboard, but that cpu was never $279 again until AMD slashed prices. I can't wait:) I'll post an ad when I get one.

An e6600 and a 680i motherboard for under $279? Let us know man, because I live right by a Fry's.

[Cranox]

What has my interest the most is the BFG & EVGA both used Nvidia's reference design which is supposedly manufactured by Foxconn. Now keeping this in mind, ECS has a 680i board which should be available on shelve's late this week. My information tells me that Fry's will have a motherboard cpu combo on Black Friday based on the 680i & getting a Conroe cpu under cost. Now this will be something truly a steal if the ECS 680i can hit 450- 500FSB. Imagine, Intel E6600 w/ECS 680i $279. For those who disbelieve, last year Fry's one day only sale was an ECS 939 & AMD X2 3800+ for $279. I bought one myself, sold the motherboard, but that cpu was never $279 again until AMD slashed prices. I can't wait:) I'll post an ad when I get one.

If u got a ECS , keep us updated how it works !

[situman]

Hows the vdroop on these reference boards? Asus' board seems to droop like a mofo.

[Bootsy]

picked one up at compusa at lunch will post back later with results. Coming from an ABIt Awd9 max I will be esatic with anything over 400fsb:)

[zert]

If u got a ECS , keep us updated how it works !
ECS has the same board as eVGA and BFG (and biostar :p: )

[Dumo]

Update...

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5482/screenshot031zh0.jpg

[Dumo]

Heres testing 8800GTX SLI....PCI-E @130

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1575/screenshot069ud1.jpg

Poor old Vapo barely keep up @-31C evap @load
All I have to do...wear BFG T shirt and use its 1000W psu, and I'm "brand coordinated":) ....B/way all run ok. with a single Zippy850W...

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2072/screenshot062py0.jpg

[Bootsy]

I just got up and running last night. I still have no idea what half the stettings in the bios do.:)

xp64 bit with 4gbs of ram running 1:1, sandra64 bandwith is only efficiency is only 40%.Any help on that?

[dinos22]

can't wait for DFI and ASUS 680i offerings
tweaking these chips (memory controllers) will be as big a deal as AMD in K8 for Oscar and other engineers..........it's also good to know Nvidia is working hard to develop/improve bios files. :).........i'll be getting my reference mobo soon and will get stuck into SuperPI benchmarking and report my observation to nvidia......i reckon i'll solely work on SPI performance as that will be key to get these boards past Intel chipset in all benchmarks i feel...... SPI's the way to go boys :D :fact:

[phelan1777]

no two boards or systems will have the same performance even if they both have the exact same parts and exact same timings.

YES! someone else that thinks this as well............:woot:

[fhpchris]

tweaking these chips (memory controllers) will be as big a deal as AMD in K8 for Oscar and other engineers..........it's also good to know Nvidia is working hard to develop/improve bios files. :).........i'll be getting my reference mobo soon and will get stuck into SuperPI benchmarking and report my observation to nvidia......i reckon i'll solely work on SPI performance as that will be key to get these boards past Intel chipset in all benchmarks i feel...... SPI's the way to go boys :D :fact:

They have a long way to go to beat 975.

[Dumo]

Conclusion......8800 in SLI -> Nforce 680i and for single 8800 -> 975X...

[dinos22]

Conclusion......8800 in SLI -> Nforce 680i and for single 8800 -> 975X...
until RAM performance is sorted out :cool:

[gr8golf]

CompUSA has this board for $249 after rebates. Not bad - they also have the e6400 for $209.

[Phil The Greek]

until RAM performance is sorted out :cool:
After folowing Kunaak's sugestion,I lowered TRC from 33(default) to 6 and I got pi32M scores very close to 975.Memory running at 1244Mhz @5-4-4-12(2T) :toast:

[Blacklash]

Question:

Will the Scythe Infinity and Mine secure properly on the Evga|BFG 680i motherboards or do the caps get in the way?

I am asking to help someone else.

[pentium777]

Question:

Will the Scythe Infinity and Mine secure properly on the Evga|BFG 680i motherboards or do the caps get in the way?

I am asking to help someone else.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=123329

Post #7 and #8 have pictures of my Scythe Infinity. I had to mod it slightly with dremel for 975 board to ensure it cleared caps, it does also brush up against the chipset HSF but still will mount without damaging or degrading the cooling quality.

Can't help on if the Mine will work though.

[Blacklash]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=123329

Post #7 and #8 have pictures of my Scythe Infinity. I had to mod it slightly with dremel for 975 board to ensure it cleared caps, it does also brush up against the chipset HSF but still will mount without damaging or degrading the cooling quality.

Can't help on if the Mine will work though.

Thank you. I will pass this information on.

[SLi_dog]

Hey Dumo,
Are you getting wierd FSB memory readouts when using lower than default CPU multipliers?

I've flashed to P20 and am still having the same issue.
The board is topping out at 413FSB which I think is memory related because though the memory is set to 815Mhz in BIOS, it is showing up as 1238Mhz on some readings.




Earlier example below with settings 1630FSB QDR "linked" & "sync" (RAM @815) with 6x CPU multiplier.


http://slidog.bigblog.com.au/data/2/11934/image/MaxbootFSB8411220061121230057.jpg

http://slidog.bigblog.com.au/data/2/11934/image/BGFmaxFSB8411320061121230057.png

[Dumo]

@SLI...I haven't test it with Crystal yet. So far it matched on CPUZ and Ntune/monitor.

[dinos22]

After folowing Kunaak's sugestion,I lowered TRC from 33(default) to 6 and I got pi32M scores very close to 975.Memory running at 1244Mhz @5-4-4-12(2T) :toast:
hey phil that's good to know

i'll be tweaking a 680i reference board for SuperPI performance next week with a full report/findings

you have some great RAM there wow :toast:
fingers crossed my B1 Step5 CPU works in the damn thing :(

[SLi_dog]

@SLI...I haven't test it with Crystal yet. So far it matched on CPUZ and Ntune/monitor.
Interesting, for me the FSB matches in nvtune/monitor but not the RAM. nvtune suggests 815Mhz but Nvidia monitor suggests 1238Mhz?

I can't make any changes to FSB in nvtune either, not up or down.

[X.T.R.E.M.E_ICE]

Interesting, for me the FSB matches in nvtune/monitor but not the RAM. nvtune suggests 815Mhz but Nvidia monitor suggests 1238Mhz?

I can't make any changes to FSB in ntune either, not up or down.
Ntune works fine for me most of the time. Ntune exe crashes sometimes when you click exit.

I think ntune is the better program to beleive. you could use the latest version of CPUz as it reports ram settings and speed now.

[Phil The Greek]

hey phil that's good to know

i'll be tweaking a 680i reference board for SuperPI performance next week with a full report/findings

you have some great RAM there wow :toast:
fingers crossed my B1 Step5 CPU works in the damn thing :(
Yes and I also hope that his theory on the fsb speed botlenecking the memory will proove right.Then higher fsb's might give us even better ram bandwith.The 6600 I had,was stoping at ~440fsb on both 975 and 680i chipsets.I hope that the new 6700 I am waiting will prove more fsb friendly.
I am also waiting a Striker Xtreme,so I will be able to compare with EVGA's board on same cpu.Thanks for your good words on my ram.Its Supertalent pc6400C5.I had heard they were good but nt this much.
Looking forward for your spi research on 680i.I also beleave that spi shows the way:up:

[Dumo]

Heres the 2nd. board with..
8800GTX / Team Xtreem 8000C5 OPB ed / Zippy P6850 / Win XP Sp2

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4679/1xsu2.jpg

Bios settings...

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2815/1x2se7.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4362/1x4pn2.jpg

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/760/1x3ro3.jpg

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/3959/1x5xp8.jpg

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4231/1x6kc1.jpg

[Dumo]

Results with memtest...

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/4046/1x7ef8.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7831/1x8mi7.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8181/1x9yc1.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8762/1x10vi0.jpg

[Dumo]

3Ds...Stock GTX..

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5894/1x11yi6.jpg

[bachus_anonym]

DDR2-1300 done, eh Dumo? :up:

But I have to ask, how much effort did you put into that DualSPi32M run? I hate to say it, but 17:50 is quite sad, even for 680i :( , unless you had a load of crap running in the background? You should do a lot better (http://www.clockmehigh.com/cooler/screens/EVGA680i/385x9_DDR2-1320_Unlinked_5445_2T-3-12-4-10-A_dual32M.png) than that, even with your current secondary memory timmings - probably a bit above 16:00. Can you do TRRD=3 and TWR=4?

[Dumo]

Yep, Bachus the 32m run just set and go, no tweaks.

[xgman]

I've discovered that I can run at 450 1800/900 with 3-3-3 completely stable in windows but when I try to set cas to 3 in bios, it long beeps and won't let me past. So the only thing I can figure is that it is catching the cas 3 before it is catching that I have 2.3v sent to the ram, so it's setting cas at the default ram voltage? What do you think. It will run 3-3-3 all day long in windows, but only will boot at 4-3-3.