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Perplexed over 680i

J

Jacmac

n00b
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
13
I've been researching/shopping around and reading reviews of several 680i motherboards. I'm most interested in the MSI P6N Diamond nForce 680i because it looks like it's loaded with features and it has that X-Fi built in. However, past experience has taught me plenty of lessons about buying feature packed motherboards (I started back in the 8088 6.67Mhz IBM clone days). Reading reviews from average users (like any of us are average :D ) on many sites; there are horror stories galore. Multiple RMA's, RAM compatibility problems, general instability, BSOD, etc.

So is there a common thread? Are many of these users simply using a bad combo of equipment like a cheezy power supply or flaky memmory? I wish all users posted reviews that stated exactly what hardware they were using when they had problems (some do, most don't).

Is there a resource where hardware combinations known to work are listed? I'll cherry pick hardware to make it right the first time. I'm in no hurry really, aside from the fact that my current system is about 3 years old and out of upgrade options.

I noticed that Dan_D recommend reference 680i boards in another thread, but himself has a Striker Extreme system listed in his signature. I've been wanting to build something very close to what he has listed. I've got boxes of stuff sitting in the corner waiting for the engine!
 
The eVGA 680i MB is an excellent choice. It is undoubtedly the most user friendly OC'er MB that I have ever owned. Their CS is second to none, period. Dan mentioned early problems with the initial MB and their were problems. However, eVGA corrected those problems and the A1 is the most stable MB that I have ever owned. I also own their VC's and this is an amazing combination.
 
What are those Corsair Dominator modules you have rated at? I was looking at getting some PC8500 (1066Mhz), but I've heard of people having problems with RAM if the specs are too high. Normally I'd go high to be sure I had quality RAM, in this case, people are acting like going high end caused them problems.

I guess I'll take a hard look at the eVGA board. I take it you didn't have any problems with 2 8800's? i see you have a 1KW P/S, I was planing on using a 750.
 
Well I think the MSI release migth be good but it's too late on the market like the soon to come DFI board, I think you will be sort of a guinea pig as most users will have EVGA and Asus releases and you might b left in the dark if their are issues because it's also a non reference design. Both boards you propose are good with EVGA being quicker solving issues because they have a reference board and ASUS trailing behind with updates due to the non reference design...

But most of the raid , mem probs are solved, there will always be hardware that doesn't work together, main thing get a good PSU and buy ram if possible that's in the QVL lists and you should be fine...But these boards are not easy to setup if you start pushing hard and the voltage options can damage hardware if you go to fast...

Read up on the forums ( loads of topics ofcourse )
 
theseeker said:
The eVGA 680i MB is an excellent choice. It is undoubtedly the most user friendly OC'er MB that I have ever owned. Their CS is second to none, period. Dan mentioned early problems with the initial MB and their were problems. However, eVGA corrected those problems and the A1 is the most stable MB that I have ever owned. I also own their VC's and this is an amazing combination.
Click to expand...

To follow up on what jacmac asked...

1. are you cooling your memory?
2. what voltage is it running at?
3. what speed is it running at?

Most of the problems I've seen with 680i boards are related to memory, although I have a hard time believing the evga message boards that are blaming all the problems on the memory. Seems if it really was a memory problem, then ALL boards using high voltage memory would have problems, but I've only read about problems with respect to the 680i boards.
 
the meomory problems with 680i are related to running RAM at 2.4v+ and are not necessarily exclusive to 680i. from what I can tell, this board automatically overvolts the ram ~.5v if not more,I am more stable at 2.15v voltage than any other configuration I've tried. I am also using the corsair RAM cooler just for piece of mind, but I don't think I'm going to have any issues.
 
The higher end corsair mem is 2.1v. It doesn't even heat up without active cooling. the Striker Extreme is a 680i reference board with some custom heatpipe arrangements and a few LEDs.
 
The striker extreme is a highly modded 680i board.

With an extra sound card, on board LED and LCD, custom heatpiping, and lots of other stuff.

The EVGA, ABIT, BFG, are nvidia reference boards.

The Asus boards are definetely a breed of there own with 680i chips on them.
 
I am running the EVGA A1 and have for awhile, my experience with ram is as follows

2 x 1 gig sticks of Mushkin Extreme XP2-6400 @ 1.9v was rock solid running it 350ghz (the board)

2x2 gig sticks XP2 6400 was a different story I had to go 2.1 volts and 325 mhz(the baord)
 
Im using a reference board directly from nVidia. When I update my bios I update with BFG. Anyways I have had great success with this board and is the same as the evga board. I have not run into any problems and I am VERY happy with it.
 
jacuzz1 said:
I am running the EVGA A1 and have for awhile, my experience with ram is as follows

2 x 1 gig sticks of Mushkin Extreme XP2-6400 @ 1.9v was rock solid running it 350ghz (the board)
Click to expand...

Yeah.. What memory did you say you had? lol :D
 
AliP said:
Yeah.. What memory did you say you had? lol :D
Click to expand...


Mushkin

To clarify i am currently running 325fsb for 1300 325x9 for 2.92gz and change
Running the memory around DDR2 975 if memory serves.......I am at work but can offer a screen shot but its not spectacular so i am not sure why the question?
 
Take a look at the bold stuff in the quote, you accidentally wrote 350Ghz :)
 
Reading reviews from average users (like any of us are average ) on many sites; there are horror stories galore. Multiple RMA's, RAM compatibility problems, general instability, BSOD, etc.

So is there a common thread? Are many of these users simply using a bad combo of equipment like a cheezy power supply or flaky memmory?
Click to expand...

I was in this same position not too long ago. from my experience, the majority of people at the boards are people having problems in the first place. its not necessarily that something is bad, its just that people having problems flock to the net to find solutions (especially with pc parts!). now thats not to say the first 680i boards weren't flakey, honestly I think they had lots of problems. I think they've been ironed out now, especially with the A1 revision of the eVGA 680i. there is a reason newegg (by far the most popular online pc component retailer) switched from the AR to the A1 seemingly overnight. they phased out their AR's real fast. eVGA says it was just a fix for the quad core users, but I'm sure it fixed a lot more than that. its hard to find AR's now. I went with the eVGA 680i and have been problem free, though I haven't tried OCing yet (hope to in the next couple weeks)
 
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