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Over the past few
months we have been hearing about how great the new NVIDA nForce 680i
motherboards were going to be, but at first they were all suppose to be
released in early December, now many of those release dates have been
pushed back to January after the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
But while the big
boys on the block were stalling, EVGA comes along and takes everyone by surprise and has
their version on the market and readily available to the public. Now we
all know EVGA, but we know them for their NVIDIA based video cards, not
motherboards. EVGA has a huge lead on the other motherboard manufactures
with their 680i SLI motherboard, but with EVGA being somewhat new to the
motherboard sceen as well as getting an early start, will their 680i SLI
motherboard be something computer enthusiasts and gamers alike will
flock to and trust? From what I've seen from the 680i SLI board so far,
that answer will be a firm YES.
Right now EVGA has
one Socket 775 motherboard to offer and this is it. What EVGA lacks in
variety, they apparently have made up in quality, performance and value. EVGA has targeted
one specific group
of people with this board, the computer enthusiast. When someone says
enthusiast, I think of the hard core gamers and overclockers.
Apparently, people with T-Type personalities are the only people who are
tough enough to handle this kind of power. Sorry, wussies need not
apply.
Specifications
|
Brand |
EVGA |
|
Model |
122-CK-NF68-AR |
|
Supported CPU |
| CPU Socket Type |
Socket T (LGA
775) |
| CPU Type |
Quad-core/Core 2
Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium |
| FSB |
1333/1066MHz |
| Supported CPU
Technologies |
Hyper-Threading
Technology |
|
Chipsets |
| North Bridge |
NVIDIA nForce
680i SLI |
|
Memory |
| Number of DDR2
Slots |
4 x 240pin |
| DDR2 Standard |
DDR2 800 |
| Maximum Memory
Supported |
8GB |
| Dual Channel
Supported |
Yes |
|
Expansion Slots |
| AGP Slots |
None |
| PCI Express x16 |
3 |
| PCI Express x1 |
2 |
| PCI Slots |
2 |
|
Storage Devices |
| PATA |
1 x ATA100 up to
2 Devices |
| SATA 3Gb/s |
6 |
| SATA RAID |
0/1/0+1/5 |
|
Onboard Audio |
| Audio Chipset |
Azalia(HDA) |
| Audio Channels |
8 Channels |
|
Onboard LAN |
| Max LAN Speed |
Dual
10/100/1000Mbps |
|
Rear Panel Ports |
| PS/2 |
2 |
| USB |
6 x USB 2.0 |
| IEEE 1394 |
1 x IEEE 1394a |
| S/PDIF Out |
1x Optical |
| Audio Ports |
6 Ports |
|
Onboard USB |
| Onboard USB |
2 x USB 2.0
connectors support 4 ports |
|
Onboard 1394 |
| Onboard 1394 |
1 x 1394
connector supports 1 port |
|
Physical Spec |
| Form Factor |
ATX |
| Dimensions |
12.0" x 9.6" |
|
Features |
| Power Pin |
24 Pin |
|
Packaging |
| Package
Contents |
122-CK-NF68-AR
Driver Disk
User Manual
Floppy Drive Diskette
Rear I/O Panel Shield
IDE/PATA Cable
FDD Cable
6 x SATA Cable
3 x Power Cable
IEEE 1394 Bracket
USB Bracket
Serial/COM Bracket
SLI Bridge
Fan |
Out of the box experience...
As soon as I opened
the box, I was very pleased with what EVGA has packed for us. EVGA
provides everything we need, but ONLY what we need. Unpacking the 680i
wasn't like unpacking my P5WDH Dlx. where it took me an hour and two
people to identify and check off each item in the box. I love goodies as
much as the next guy, but there is a point to when all this extra stuff
become ridiculous. For that I am thankful EVGA did not go over the top
with extras.
EVGA provides the cables, I/O Panel,
SLI bridge, driver disk and user manual.
Remember when you had to special order
rounded IDE Cables? Rounded cables come with the 680i.
EVGA even includes SATA power cable adapters
and plenty of SATA cables.
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