NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI vs. nForce 680i SLI

[BALISTX]

NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI vs. nForce 680i SLI - Tech Spot

Here is an interesting review I read at Tech Spot about the nForce 650i SLI vs nForce 680i SLI. I though I would share it with you.

"In our opinion the nForce 650i SLI packs all the essential features, offering gamers the ultimate in performance when coupled with a Core 2 Duo processor. With motherboards such as the P5N-E SLI available at just $130, it makes building a powerful gaming rig very affordable when you consider that an E6300 costs just $180. Combined with a GeForce 8800 GTS and a gigabyte or two of memory, you've got have yourself the foundation of an incredible system."

Read the full review here.

[Babrbarossa]

Here's another such comparison I posted last month:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/showthread.php?t=463

This review concluded that the 650i couldn't touch the overclcoking of the evga 680i but that clock for clock, the two chipset essentially performed on a par.

[Babrbarossa]

Tech Report reached 470 FSB on the p5n-e, and only 480 fsb on the striker extreme, though they said that on 680i reference boards they've gotten the same chip to go higher- so the striker extreme was a slight disappointment especially given it's price, while the p5n-e should be near or at the top of anyone's list of affordable overclocking c2d boards.

"ASUS' STRIKER EXTREME MOTHERBOARD is a perfect example of why high-end products garner so much attention. The name alone screams "look at me," and in a pleasant surprise, there's actually plenty to see. You get a top-of-the-line nForce 680i SLI chipset, incredibly intricate heatpipe cooling, enough blue LEDs to be seen from space, more BIOS tweaking and overclocking options than any sane person could ever need, an LCD display right in the port cluster, and a stack of unique extras in the box. The board is also a member of Asus' Republic of Gamers series, so it's your ticket to gaining access to those ultra-secret Sealand LAN parties. Or something. "

More from Tech Report

[b1lk1]

My 650i board has run 486FSB without a hiccup. I don't see any reason to spend 2-3 times the money on a 680i board that is full of things most people won't use, and even with those extra OCing options, most people won't need or benefit from them. If anything the P6N SLI-F should be on their list since it is cheaper than the ASUS board by over $25. ASUS overprices everything and their support after the sale is among the worst on the planet. One review says the 650i clocks just as well and another says it is worse. Personally, I take reviews with a large grain of salt since one reviewer might not try to push something as hard as another. You can't take 2 peoples word for something. I'd suggest reading 10+ reviews before making a final judgement on something you plan on buying. 2 is not nearly enough.

[Babrbarossa]

If any further comarisons are done, I'll keep posting them here.

[b1lk1]

I think I may have come off much too strongly in my posting above. I certainly was not trying to make you or anyone else here seem quick to judge. Considering there are only a few reviews of the 650i chipset out as it is, I would have been wise to word my response much more carefully. I look forward to updates!

[Babrbarossa]

I completely agree with you about the sample size issue- especially where there seems to be so much inconsistency due to hardware foibles on these new 680i boards- combine that with the fact that every cpu is going to behave differently, and you really are going to need alot of information before you can draw any conclusions about performance.