EVGA NForce 680i SLI Motherboard

[pentium777]

IMO the best currently is Coolermaster Stacker 830 they just revised the model to the SSN2 version which allows for viewing Raptor X and includes wheels and better PSU (longer types) support. I have the Stacker 830 SSN1 version right now but on Wednesday I will also have the new Stacker 830 so wife inherits the old version since I have Raptor X drives I am interested to see the different windows for viewing them.

Also keep in mind that currently the Stacker 830 is the only 8800 SLI certified case. Don't know why so many people love this Lian Li stuff I've seen many of their cases and friends have them but I just don't think much of them. Stacker 830 support for up to 9x120mm, realistic only 7-8 but that is more than enough for a vortex. I am 5-8'C lower temps on CPU/GPU1/GPU2/MB than everyone else I know but I'm using 8x120mm 110CFM fans and it isn't really that loud but I also run a room AC for computer room so the noise is relative.

Hey all,

a question on the EVGA 680i and the Tuniq Tower 120: I really need a new case, my trusty old Chieftec miditower from 2001 is getting too small...

I am considering the Lian-Li PC-G70 Link, but will the EVGA and the Tuniq tower fit if you use the top mount for the power supply? That distance seems to be a problem for the EVGA with most cases since the cpu socket is located so close to the top edge of the board.

Thanks,

[Senater_Cache]

hey guys... quick question.
If not using SLI but just one card, do I need to plug in the Molex by the IDE and SATA ports?

[icon57]

hey guys... quick question.
If not using SLI but just one card, do I need to plug in the Molex by the IDE and SATA ports?

technically no, but i would think giving more juice to the mobo could benifit, when i had a single card i had mine plugged in, it cant hurt, besides, i am sure you have a spare connector

[Senater_Cache]

I have a spare connector, but the front panel ports are also right there and routing them around a molex elegantly is near impossible.

I couldnt find anything in teh manual saying it needs to be plugged in when not in SLI

[dinos22]

I am at 479mhz with P20, was at 475 with P19.

are we talking about booting to 479 or?


i seem to have a FSB wall at 1800MHz (450MHz) FSB...i can boot at 1798 but can't at 1800+

i can clockgen to 500MHz (2000) and even do 1M SuperPI
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=126463



DETAILED BIOS SHOTS

The motherboard has a windows boot FSB WALL at 449MHz FSB so i clockgened past that (i tried everything from the usual suspects when it comes to FSB walls but nothing is triggering it. I'm leaning towards a bios limitation here as all the other hardware is 100% capable of exceeding that FSB and i can also bench a whopping 51MHz FSB higher with clockgen)

This is with P21 bios which i upgraded through windows as i didn't have floppies lying around heheh nor the drive itself

[Leon2ky]

I work with these boards daily, and I'm actually enjoying working with them. I've not encountered too many problems.

[JacobF]

Hi guys,

The P23 BETA BIOS is available now!!! You can get it here:

http://www.evga.com/community/messag...TOPIC_ID=23034

[MTP04]

are we talking about booting to 479 or?


i seem to have a FSB wall at 1800MHz (450MHz) FSB...i can boot at 1798 but can't at 1800+

i can clockgen to 500MHz (2000) and even do 1M SuperPI
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=126463

Yes, setting 1917 in the bios and then booting. Haven't tried clockgen yet but nice results, I'll have to give it a go soon.

[sierra_bound]

Hi guys,

The P23 BETA BIOS is available now!!! You can get it here:

http://www.evga.com/community/messag...TOPIC_ID=23034

Thanks. Flashed and so far, so good.

[billdavis]

Thanks. Flashed and so far, so good.

no problems here

stable @ 3600 dont have the time to try more tweaks
________
HONDA CB250RS

[bachus_anonym]

Hey guys,

Just posting the email I have received few hours ago from NVIDIA regarding SATA issues and new P23 BETA BIOS. Passing it on, for all interested to read, despite some already aware of the new BIOS release...

"We’ve got the official statement from NVIDIA about the SATA issue to all EVGA 680i MB users.

NVIDIA would like to thank all of EVGA's customers who have purchased the NVIDIA-designed nForce 680i-based motherboards and who have patiently been waiting for a fix to the SATA issue.
Together with EVGA we are testing a new BIOS that fixes the SATA issue that some readers were experiencing. In the meantime, we are releasing a beta version for you to use. If you feel that your BIOS needs to be updated, we will be posting a link to download the new BIOS and instructions how to flash your motherboard.

Maintaining the integrity of our brand is important, however, it is more important for us that all of our customers have the best possible experience with our products. We wanted to send a big thank you to everyone who posted messages and technical information in the EVGA forums. We reviewed the message boards daily and the sheer level of information you provided was a huge resource in helping us resolve this issue.

We plan to release the final BIOS in a few days. Please use the BETA version in the meantime.

On behalf of the entire NVIDIA nForce engineering team, thanks for being patient with us while we investigated the issue. We hope that all future experiences with the NVIDIA nForce 680i will be a positive one.

Thank you,

Joe Darwin
jdarwin@evga.com
Marketing

UPDATE:
Here are the instructions for flashing the P23 BETA BIOS.
Please note that this is a BETA BIOS, it is not a final release. This BIOS flash is ONLY for the EVGA mainboard part number 122-CK-NF68.

Floppy Method

* Download the following file: ftp://ftp.evga.com/BIOS/nf68_p23beta.exe
* Insert blank floppy disk into drive and run executable
* Restart your PC and set the floppy drive as the primary boot device
* The BIOS will automatically be updated, after the update restart your PC and clear CMOS


NVIDIA System Update Tool

* Download the following files:
http://us.download.nvidiacom/downloa...datecenter.exe.
and
ftp://ftp.evga.com/BIOS/p23beta.bin
* Select update boot block, and click apply
* Select browse and locate NF68P21.bin
* Select load bios
* Power off PC completely, on reboot load defaults in BIOS"

Thread where this info was posted by EVGA:
http://www.evga.com/community/messag...6&whichpage=30

[qdemn7]

By God, you have to give EVGA credit for working the problem. Methinks is this was Asus, they would still be going "Problem, what problem?"

[mcfurius]

Does anyone here know if the Tuniq Tower 120 can be placed on an EVGA 680i and fit inside of an Antec P180B without any modifications?

I'm basically looking to get much better cooling on the CPU in that setup and the Tuniq Tower 120 is what I'm considering. I'm also thinking of the Zalman 9700, but I hear the Tuniq is better. The damn motherboard doesn't support some coolers like the Scythe Ninja or Infinity, so this is proving difficult.

Help is much appreciated.

[pentium777]

Does anyone here know if the Tuniq Tower 120 can be placed on an EVGA 680i and fit inside of an Antec P180B without any modifications?

I'm basically looking to get much better cooling on the CPU in that setup and the Tuniq Tower 120 is what I'm considering. I'm also thinking of the Zalman 9700, but I hear the Tuniq is better. The damn motherboard doesn't support some coolers like the Scythe Ninja or Infinity, so this is proving difficult.

Help is much appreciated.

You will see in my sig I don't have any problems with the Scythe Infinity and my BFG 680i which is basically the same as the Evga board.

[icon57]

Does anyone here know if the Tuniq Tower 120 can be placed on an EVGA 680i and fit inside of an Antec P180B without any modifications?

I'm basically looking to get much better cooling on the CPU in that setup and the Tuniq Tower 120 is what I'm considering. I'm also thinking of the Zalman 9700, but I hear the Tuniq is better. The damn motherboard doesn't support some coolers like the Scythe Ninja or Infinity, so this is proving difficult.

Help is much appreciated.

yeah, it fits on the evga, dont know if it will fit in the p180 for sure, but my guess would be yes.
not really sure if the tuniq is so much, or even better than the 9700 zalman.

[Pedro Rocha]

P23 Final Bios is out - you can download it here - http://www.evga.com/support/drivers/...cat=11&os=nf68

The list of fix are :

• Fix for SATA disk drives
• Improvements to memory stability and overclockability
• Disabled spread spectrum tables for improved overclockability
• Improve POST screen CPU speed reporting

The 23 Bios really seems to improve the overclockability - I find a very nice thing : in previous version any FSB above 1750 (around 430) will result in significative memory performance drop (also quite notorios in 3D mark), with P23 Bios the things changed and now with more than 1800 (450Mhz) the performance does not drop.

Also with P23 Bios memory speed above 1100Mhz seems much more stable..

Here is a Everest Mem Read Bench with the FSB at 457Mhz and the memory at 1170..



EVGA support is really doing a very nice job

[Pedro Rocha]

Does anyone here know if the Tuniq Tower 120 can be placed on an EVGA 680i and fit inside of an Antec P180B without any modifications?

I'm basically looking to get much better cooling on the CPU in that setup and the Tuniq Tower 120 is what I'm considering. I'm also thinking of the Zalman 9700, but I hear the Tuniq is better. The damn motherboard doesn't support some coolers like the Scythe Ninja or Infinity, so this is proving difficult.

Help is much appreciated.

Yes it fits, as you can see :



The Tuniq Tower 120 is the best air cooler ever made in terms of performance , period !

[Pedro Rocha]

A well tweaked memory really improves SuperPI and the 3D Mark scores on this motherboard

Here is the SuperPI Score :



Then I run 3D Mark 2001 and 2005 with 2 8800GTX with stock coolers and just 630/1000



445 on Lobby high that's a number I like to see

Here is the 2005 run



Not bad for such a low graphics cards speeds

[Omastar]

Wow, Pedro, very nice 3dmark05 scores there. Nice job!

Also, I think mcfurius was asking if the Tuniq Tower would fit in Antec P180B while using the eVGA 680i mobo, not just if it'd fit on the mobo itself.

[JacobF]

Hey guys,

P24 BIOS is out now... grab it here!

http://www.evga.com/community/messag...TOPIC_ID=24880

[InTheFlow]

Hey all,

a question on the EVGA 680i and the Tuniq Tower 120: I really need a new case, my trusty old Chieftec miditower from 2001 is getting too small...

Thanks,

Well, IMO, the best cases are MountainMods cases. Now that I've built a system in one I think I'd find it very rough to go back to a 'regular' shaped case. Everything inside those babys is highly customizable plus it all fits inside with ease. Their customer service is excellent as well.

Next time I am going to buy a case, I'll be looking for something from them for sure.

If you want to check them out: www.mountainmods.com

[H0RM0NE]

Hey guys,

P24 BIOS is out now... grab it here!

http://www.evga.com/community/messag...TOPIC_ID=24880

Hi jAKUp,

I've been considering a couple other boards but am now reconsidering...

I have been impressed by your participation, candor and the resulting customer service to the forum. Are there remaining open issues that have not been resolved with the Evga 680i SLI reference board...if so, what are they?

I used to think I was patient and could wait for the Abit or DFI 680i but I'm not sure what I would gain by waiting...

[JacobF]

Hi jAKUp,

I've been considering a couple other boards but am now reconsidering...

I have been impressed by your participation, candor and the resulting customer service to the forum. Are there remaining open issues that have not been resolved with the Evga 680i SLI reference board...if so, what are they?

I used to think I was patient and could wait for the Abit or DFI 680i but I'm not sure what I would gain by waiting...

Hey bud, yes there are a few open issues, but we are working with NVIDIA on them.

The biggest likely being the FSB scaling on Quad Core CPU's, but rest assured, we are working on it with NV and hope to have it corrected soon.

[ByrgerRI]

Is there still anyone using this mobo? its been ages since anyone last posted here, so whats the highest fsb so far? how vdroop on this board?

[M3kk]

Hello guys, which is the best bios for this board? P24 or P25 ?

Now i have p23beta ..