[First Look] DFI 680i LT NF-680i LT SLI (56K Warning~~~)

[NinjaZX6R]

I agree for many.. But for me, my 3rd PCI-E video card is blockin the air intake on my upper 8800GTX and it now runs 12-15c hotter than the lower 8800. The DFI has a little different PCI/PCI-E configuration which would put the 3rd video card at the very bottom leaving plenty of breathing room for the 88's. also the 2 extra SATA ports are BIG for me. I really do not expect the DFI to perform "better" than the EVGA, I just hope its as good. In my opinion, the EVGA pwns every other 680i out right now. I haven't owned all the other 680i's while they had their most mature bios, but i have owned them all. I went back to the EVGA every time. SOoo, If you do not need the extra 2 SATA ports, and the PCI/PCI-E layout is ok for you, then i would also recommend the EVGA. A1 or T1 of course.

I may catch hell fo this, but can you either tell me or point me in the direction of finding what the difference is between the A1 and T1 models?

-Collin-

[nugzo]

Warranty and accesories. A1 has better of both.

[NinjaZX6R]

Thanks nugzo.

This really is a tough decision on the DFI board with P35 being so close. I really don't know much about that new chipset, but I know enough to wonder if a 680i LT chipset board is worth $320.

-Collin-

[OldGuy]

Thanks nugzo.

This really is a tough decision on the DFI board with P35 being so close. I really don't know much about that new chipset, but I know enough to wonder if a 680i LT chipset board is worth $320.

-Collin-

None of the $300+ boards have been worth the 300+...

[dogchainx]

In an interesting turn of events, www.motherboardpro.com is now listed as one of DFI's "Resale Partners".

Isn't this just some little mom and pop etailer?

[virtualrain]

Not bad advice actually....

Bingo, why do you say that?

[lionel57000]

some news from France :

it seems mobo will be released 15 may here ...

[nugzo]

Bingo, why do you say that?

I'm not bingo but i think he meant that the EVGA is a good board. Or it could have been sarcasm.

[virtualrain]

I'm not bingo but i think he meant that the EVGA is a good board. Or it could have been sarcasm.

AFAIK, Bingo13 is a reviewer at AnandTech... I would like to know what he knows about this board.

From what I've heard the quad-core overclocking and memory performance is not the best on this board but they are still working on bios tweaks - so there is still hope. If this hope has evaporated and/or there are new issues, then I'd like to know ASAP.

[nugzo]

Roger That. Me too

[mrcape]

I'm in this for the move to SLI so P35 is of no interest. I just hope the DFI engineers have learned form the competitors mistakes and that it's a solid bios from the get go.

[EYEBORG]

I'm out, Hardware is gone and Laptop is one click away. I feel dirty...
off topic but what about this alienware lappy I'm thinking of oredering today to take with me to Kosovo in a couple weeks..
Aurora™ m9700

Processor: AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile ML44 2.4GHz 800MHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache
Operating System: Windows® Vista Ultimate - With Media Center Remote Control and Single NTSC TV Tuner
Chassis: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology
Motherboard: Alienware® NVIDIA® Mobile SLi Chipset
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR SO-DIMM at 400MHz - 2 x 1024MB
System Drive: (RAID 0) - 160GB (80GB x 2) Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 5,400 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
Optical Drive: 8x Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW
Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS - SLI
Wireless Network Card: Airgo Wireless
Mouse: Logitech® G5 Laser Gaming Mouse
Primary Battery: Alienware® m9700 12-cell Lithium-Ion Smart Battery Pack
Headphones: Alienware® Ozma 7™ Headphones with S-Logic™ Technology

Got to keep on gaming on the go..
Total price: $4200

[mrcape]

Dude, best of luck.

For what it's worth, I have an Asus gaming laptop with a 17 monitor and I gotta say I love it. I replaced the stock 1gb with 2gb Gskill 667 and flashed to a better bios. The video card's a mobile ATI 1600 tweaked just a bit with ATI tool. I can play Oblivion, Quake 4 etc. no problem with pretty good rates. It's fun to just set up anywhere. That being said, the machine your looking at should be a beast!

As far as the DFI 680 - hurry up with this thing!

[dogchainx]

I received my EVGA 680i A1 board today. Stupid Thermalright didn't package any stupid mounting hardware for the HR-05-SLI so I'll have to deal with the stock cooling for now.

Anyways, I'll check back to this thread in a bit. Right now, I'm going to have some 680i overclocking FUN.

Hopefully the DFI 680i will come out soon.

[Jobeo]

guys i think what we need to do is come up with a prority list for who gets this MB. those who have been waiting the longest get to order from the first batch, those who recently came on board for the 680i get bumped way way down on the list.

who's with me.

[OldGuy]

I received my EVGA 680i A1 board today. Stupid Thermalright didn't package any stupid mounting hardware for the HR-05-SLI so I'll have to deal with the stock cooling for now.

Anyways, I'll check back to this thread in a bit. Right now, I'm going to have some 680i overclocking FUN.

Hopefully the DFI 680i will come out soon.

Barring any outright hardware issues I think you'll like your Evga just fine...at the very least pull the stock cooling and replace thermal grease and install the fan to NB...it gets wicked hot when pushed...

[virtualrain]

guys i think what we need to do is come up with a prority list for who gets this MB. those who have been waiting the longest get to order from the first batch, those who recently came on board for the 680i get bumped way way down on the list.

who's with me.

LOL... count me in. I've been waiting since before Christmas when previews of the board were first published! (Although I was also waiting for the quad-core price cuts so this delay was ok... UNTIL NOW!!!)

[shimmishim]

24 pages... and no sign of the board... lol...

[dogchainx]

Barring any outright hardware issues I think you'll like your Evga just fine...at the very least pull the stock cooling and replace thermal grease and install the fan to NB...it gets wicked hot when pushed...

Done and done. I put AS5 on both the SB and NB. The thermal paste they had on there was like hard tooth paste. I put the fan on the NB, and then put heatpipe/heatsinks back on the motherboard.

Right now I'm waiting for my hard drive to format to 300GB. I'm actually installing windows Vista 32bit, since I can't find my Windows XP Pro disc right now.

I'm going to play some god of war 2.

On a darker note, my 37" Sharp TV has no "replacement parts at this time". $@(&*$#@ $#@*&*!@ SHARP!!! Arg...you spend $1000 on a TV and it arrives DOA, and then the parts at NOT in stock at Sharp to fix it.

[virtualrain]

Well, I got tired of waiting for Newegg and so I ordered via motherboardpro.com. They are getting some in tomorrow or Friday (overnight shipping is costing me $25). If I understand it correctly, their shipment is coming directly from DFI''s NA HQ in CA. They are having mine drop-shipped to my US address directly from DFI for pickup on Friday. They have about 10 more left in their allocation right now. They are newcomers to the business but keen to make a good impression so it seems like the risk is probably low with respect to having a bad experience. However, their actions will speak for themselves. Don't take this as an endorsement yet... until I've got a working board in hand.

[OldGuy]

Well, I got tired of waiting for Newegg and so I ordered via motherboardpro.com. They are getting some in tomorrow or Friday (overnight shipping is costing me $25). If I understand it correctly, their shipment is coming directly from DFI''s NA HQ in CA. They are having mine drop-shipped to my US address directly from DFI for pickup on Friday. They have about 10 more left in their allocation right now. They are newcomers to the business but keen to make a good impression so it seems like the risk is probably low with respect to having a bad experience. However, their actions will speak for themselves. Don't take this as an endorsement yet... until I've got a working board in hand.

Good luck bud...hope the board is worth the premium you're dishing out just to have it in hand. I'm just a spectator for the moment (my Evga works just fine) watching to see how things shape up. If I see folks getting good results with high memory clocks I may try one out in a month or so.

Have fun...

[nugzo]

Done and done. I put AS5 on both the SB and NB. The thermal paste they had on there was like hard tooth paste. I put the fan on the NB, and then put heatpipe/heatsinks back on the motherboard.

Right now I'm waiting for my hard drive to format to 300GB. I'm actually installing windows Vista 32bit, since I can't find my Windows XP Pro disc right now.

I'm going to play some god of war 2.

On a darker note, my 37" Sharp TV has no "replacement parts at this time". $@(&*$#@ $#@*&*!@ SHARP!!! Arg...you spend $1000 on a TV and it arrives DOA, and then the parts at NOT in stock at Sharp to fix it.

C'mon man they 30" dell is wayyy better than a tv. 2560x1600 no HDTV has a resolution like that. Get your money back on that sharp and get the dell.

I'm telling you this because i tried the tv thing first. No comparison! Now my dell is my most favorite piece of equipment. It's truly amazing. Best money i've spent for my system.

[adamsleath]

if i wanted sli and didnt already have a board what other choice is there but DFI :

also; it clocks quads well.

[safan80]

C'mon man they 30" dell is wayyy better than a tv. 2560x1600 no HDTV has a resolution like that. Get your money back on that sharp and get the dell.

I'm telling you this because i tried the tv thing first. No comparison! Now my dell is my most favorite piece of equipment. It's truly amazing. Best money i've spent for my system.

This just has to be quoted. people using TVs as there monitor give me a good laugh. monitors are always better than TVs!

[virtualrain]

C'mon man they 30" dell is wayyy better than a tv. 2560x1600 no HDTV has a resolution like that. Get your money back on that sharp and get the dell.

I'm telling you this because i tried the tv thing first. No comparison! Now my dell is my most favorite piece of equipment. It's truly amazing. Best money i've spent for my system.

Not to take it further off topic but QFT! Dell 30" ROCKS!!!!