680i overclocking thread

[ShoNuff]

Thanks for your answer, but "Striker" have better board layout, no extra Molex power connector, clean CPU area with no capacitors ... but Striker is limited in Vcore only to 1.6V and it is big problem .... i will buy EVGA and i will see.

PS. - it is important to connect that Molex power connector on EVGA board?

The molex connector on the eVGA board is only to be used if you are running an SLI set up according to the manual.

edit: I would caution you against the EVGA board ATM. The more problems EVGA is having with this board the better the Striker looks.

[Khaotic]

So, will the Storm water block fit on the eVGA board? I take it there are NO issues of CPU socket clearance with the Striker board?

I want to build a PC that can SLI without hack drivers.
I'm looking to game with a 30" LCD and that means having the graphics horsepower to run 2500x1600 and not worrying about frame rates. EVER. SO a pair of 8800GTX in SLI with a 6600 running at say - 3300MHz on up should get me there. Right?

As long as any of these 680i boards can take a Storm water block. Because water cooled - it shall be.

[Razor_cut]

There you go STORM on eVGA LINK
The whole thredd LINK

[xgman]

i have mine plugged in even though i am not running sli.

same here. figured can't hurt.

[Celcius]

How hot is it safe for the mcp to get?
Here's my temps after a few hours of benching and gaming:

[Badge56]

Here are my latest results on using the EVGA N68..
My max stable overclock is so far is 3520. Boots into Windows just fine at 3600 but not stable. Crashes in Orthos and jumpy mouse running idle. Even at 1.60 Vcore.
1.52V is just fine at 3520.... Orthos stable. My RAM MUSHKIN 6400 is running in sync mode just under 800 5-5-5-18 (1T).
I tried unlinked at upto 820 for the RAM with little or no performance difference.
The last Intel I overclocked was a 300 Celeron so I am not very familiar with Intel ... Anyone know what else I should be doing to get it stable at 3600 +

[Badge56]

This board is the worst overclocker when it comes to memory OC.
How do you get your ram on this board to boot at 500mhz 4-4-4-8 2.5 VOLT, my ram is stable at 555mhz on P5B Dlx 2.40v, so if this problem isn't fixed i will just send it back to Evga for an RMA as it has the Sound issue when i try to use a X-Fi sound card.

My RAM wont overclock either. I have no idea what it can do or not do being my 1st Nvidea board... Even with high voltage and lower timings it just will not boot..

Bios P20

[sierra_bound]

Here are my latest results on using the EVGA N68..
My max stable overclock is so far is 3520. Boots into Windows just fine at 3600 but not stable. Crashes in Orthos and jumpy mouse running idle. Even at 1.60 Vcore.
1.52V is just fine at 3520.... Orthos stable. My RAM MUSHKIN 6400 is running in sync mode just under 800 5-5-5-18 (1T).
I tried unlinked at upto 820 for the RAM with little or no performance difference.
The last Intel I overclocked was a 300 Celeron so I am not very familiar with Intel ... Anyone know what else I should be doing to get it stable at 3600 +

If you are using a PS/2 mouse, switch to a USB one. Running DDR2-800 at 1T is not easy with some CPU's and this board. You may be better off running 2T with higher memory speed.

[lopri]

Measured VDIMM with a DMM. Overvolts 0.05~0.06V.

[qk4723Deluxe]

my asus 680i

fsb517

[dinos22]

[Grinch]

[Ibinco]

@qk4723Deluxe Is that a retail board? Looking good m8 Nice FSB!

[Grinch]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131074


is that for real $$$$?

[SLi_dog]

My BFG is doing some screwy stuff with memory and FSB readings when using lower than default CPU multipliers.

This was the maximum bootable FSB that I could get from early testing. You can see the differences between the different reporting programs. I think that only being able to boot at 400FSB is RAM related as I am nearly certain that the BIOS estimate of DDR800 is wrong and the true value is DDR1200.




Same boot up within windows. The CPU-Z values are what was set in BIOS though only nvtune reports ram values at this time.




BFG has a new BIOS available on their website which I'm going to try.

[Celcius]

How hot is it safe for the mcp to get?
Here's my temps after a few hours of benching and gaming:

Is this mcp temp safe as long as the system is stable?

[SLi_dog]

Is this mcp temp safe as long as the system is stable?

If the voltage is set to AUTO then I guess so.

[Celcius]

You know the 2-digit display on the side of the mobo that says "FF"?
Is it possible to change it to display the cpu temp?

[newls1]

Can someone please answer this question: I'm getting an E6600 to OC to see if I can beat my E6300 (currently @ 3.23GHz) However, im currently using a DS3 motherboard, and this D9 issue is pissing me off. I have funds to buy the EVGA 680i motherboard, should I do it? I have 2x1GB sticks of g.skill DDR800 HZ ram, and with any hope, do you think this combo will be good for the 680i board? I know its not that great with the DS3.. Thank you

[Crankybugga]

Can someone please answer this question: I'm getting an E6600 to OC to see if I can beat my E6300 (currently @ 3.23GHz) However, im currently using a DS3 motherboard, and this D9 issue is pissing me off. I have funds to buy the EVGA 680i motherboard, should I do it? I have 2x1GB sticks of g.skill DDR800 HZ ram, and with any hope, do you think this combo will be good for the 680i board? I know its not that great with the DS3.. Thank you

Id stay with the DS3 for now. The replies in this thread have not impressed me in the least. Maybe the 680i will improve with future bios revisions, but the DS3/D9 issue has been improved greatly with the F8i revision.

[Ic3man]

Loving this board(EVGA680i). Sure it has its quirks as almost every single new motherboard has with early bios releases. You have to appreciate that this is a new platform and not a revised version of intels chipset. I can't understand people moaning about the 680i, expecting it to perform miracles and suddenly turn an average cpu into a WR beater. Its expensive sure (especially here in the UK) but compared to the price of a W64/WS2 from Asus it aint that bad. The bios is a little tricky to get to grips with but you don't need to be an overclocking guru to work things out and once you do its actually easier to get good clocks than its 975/965 counterparts due to the memory being able to run unlinked. Those who worried about the EVGA bios support need worry no more as it seems that EVGA actually listen to there customers and solve problems with bios releases quickly which is more than can be said with ASUS. The XFI issue has now been solved (beta bios update) and so has the ntune problem (software fault not hardware). I'm not trying to justify the ££'s spend on this board it just gets under my skin when it gets bashed in such at such an early stage. Take a look at the p5b/p5w problems and fixes thread yet those two boards have turned out to be great and havn't nearly recieved the amount of crap thrown at the 680i . /rant

Comparing it to my P5WDH, heres what I have found :

Boot time : 680i by a long way
Gaming : 680i
3dmark : 680i
FSB : 680i
Memory : 680i
Overall Overclock : 680i (by 100mhz so far 3.7vs3.8 orthos stable)
SuperPI : P5WDH (beats 680i in 1m by about 0.5 secs @3.7-possibly related the the tighter memory subtimings of the P5WDH which are not available).
CMOS reset : 680i - simply becuase its now available without having to remove the graphics card!
Looks : 680i (imo)

However there are a few problems I have encountered with the board :

CPU temp calibration seems a little low (show me a motherboard that is accurate!).
The chipset fan(optional) is very noisy on 100% setting (near silent on 50%).
Not all the onboard diagnostics are sufficiently explained in the manual.
Fitting of aftermarket coolers on the back of the board can be a pain due to the smd's/solder. I used some foam backing on a H-plate to counter this but those with solid plastic plates may find they need to modify them slightly to get them to fit without hitting the smd's.

So far I've managed to get 3.8 semi stable (4 hrs orthos) with this board with the same setup as I had with the P5WDH which despite having a mature bios wouldn't boot past 3.75 nevermind run orthos for any decent length of time. I put this down simply to the better memory overclocking abilities of the 680i which asus seemed reluctant or unable to incorporate. The abilities of this board/chipset have some great possibilities and with new bios releases can get even better (hopefully).

[MrDeeds]

But what are the benefits of better memory ocing if it doesn't translate to better performance.

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

But what are the benefits of better memory ocing if it doesn't translate to better performance.

the evga board sux at memory overclocking. P5B is better.

[Ic3man]

But what are the benefits of better memory ocing if it doesn't translate to better performance.

Because it allows a higher FSB to be attained = more cpu clocks. If you're comparing clock for clock performance via SuperPI then yeah it is slower in 1m but thats down to the differing chipsets imo, sure it would be nice to be hitting low 1m PI times to give an extra inch to the e-penis but as the tests get longer the scores get closer and the evga actually betters the P5WDH over 8m, see here : http://sg.vr-zone.com/?i=4215&s=11. SP has no 'real world' value anyway imo. With the P5WDH I couldn't get my cpu over 3.7 orthos stable in ANY of the tests. Now with the evga I can reach 3.8 (not tried higher yet). This was probably down to the tight memory subtimings mentioned in other threads that held back the P5WDH. I'm not bashing the P5WDH, far from it because it is a great board but it seems there are many who are bashing the 680i without actually having used it or have simply forgotten what problems the intel boards had when they were first released.

the evga board sux at memory overclocking. P5B is better.

see what I mean?

[icon57]

im with iceman....this evag board is way better than my asus ws pro.
...too bad i keep corrupting my os by pushing my mems too high...3rd install in 2 weeks...lol