HELP!!!! don't know what 680i motherboard to get

[asianlonerboy]

what is the best and second best 680i boards out there in terms of features/ease of use for overclocking/performance?

i've looked around and evga's board looks promising base on performance, price, and ease of overclocking for example i can run the auto utility where it reads my components and look for the best poosible speed it can run at
is that available on any other boards or is it only on that board by evga?

i'm looking at running the e6600 with the possiblity of running quad core in the future
i game a lot and i love to have all the eyec candy on and i multitask all the time

i'm looking for a very solid motherboard now so that i can upgrade cpu later and also overclock

if you recommend the board, if there are variations in the board model please specify like the evga has the "-ar" and the "-tr" models and i can't really tell what's the difference

any help/comment is appreciated

 

[LiquidFlame]

eVGA's AR has more stuff in the box and comes with the life time warranty.

 

[Xazax310]

eVGA hands down! i bought the eVGA 680I mobo in December along with an eVGA 8800GTS, and i simply love both!

The motherboard is so simple and easy to use, excellent package, The motherboard upon crashing from Zealous OCing recovers like nothing happen, and you can goto the bios easily and change everything, From RAM timing which can go even deeper beside the CL timings and eVGA offers EAR(A painless fast,free, replacement system) in case you hurt the motherboard in someway and they have the best customer service i have encountered so far.

And my motherboard has as of yet to go wrong and i being OCing my E6400 and changing the Ram timing screwing with the voltages.

 

[LiquidFlame]

What RAM are you using Xazax310 cause that's what I'm trying to decide on now.

 

[asianlonerboy]

i'm thinking of using the CORSAIR XMS2 2x1gb
i've heard that thsoe are good
opinion

 

[n8dogg]

Well I have the striker extreme and like it alot, though its pricey and its doesn't have a lifetime warranty Its a great board.
Personally I'll never have a board for more than a year so it never bothers me not to have a lifetime warranty.

 

[BrockSampson]

I have the eVGA 680i and its an overclocking monster! I am also running the e6600 at 3.2ghz with absolutely no problems! Oh and if your wondering and cant look down.... I am running the patriot memory that was recently reviewed. From what they say, the memory overclocks like a monster! Who knew? The patriot extreme memory is an incredible deal IMO.

 

[Xazax310]

What RAM are you using Xazax310 cause that's what I'm trying to decide on now.

That one. Non EPP, memory. Great price for it now, payed like 30 more just a little while ago. I use 5-4-4-12 timings on 800Mhz and 4-4-4-12 on 533Mhz.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

You can go for the "SLI READY" memory which basically means it has EPP that makes it just a bit faster but for the money i hardy think its worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034

I find Corsair the best and the cheapest, I suggest reviewing other brands, like the recently done article by THG on DDR2.

 

[XrayMan]

Well I think that Evga is #1 and Asus is #2. It used to be the other way around. I have the Evga 680i, Evga 8800gtx, and the Corsair TWIN2X2048-9136C5D 1142mhz, and this comp has no problems. I am very happy. It takes alot to make me happy! :lol:

 

[dmplssb]

I have the eVGA 680i and its an overclocking monster! I am also running the e6600 at 3.2ghz with absolutely no problems! Oh and if your wondering and cant look down.... I am running the patriot memory that was recently reviewed. From what they say, the memory overclocks like a monster! Who knew? The patriot extreme memory is an incredible deal IMO.

I'm looking to set up almost an identical system... Is you processor still at stock voltage?

 

[Cerro]

Hmm its pretty tight tbh. I've avoided the EVGA board for two reasons: 1 initial release was horribly bugged 2. longer term support is unlikely - how long do you think AMD are going to carry on supporting an intel chipset platform?

Remember once you overclock most boards / parts it voids their warranty. I got the striker in the end, because it had a shed load of extra features which are great for overclocking (no need to reset cmos on a failed OC) and it has perhaps the best OC potential of all mobos.

My choice was between Gigabyte's 680i and the Striker, Striker won because of greater OC potential and similar features (but less on the hardware side of things). If you want a board loaded with extras and room to expand, get the gigabyte - 10 sata ports alone was nearly enough to sway me.

 

[jeff_2087]

longer term support is unlikely - how long do you think AMD are going to carry on supporting an intel chipset platform?

I think you're a little confused. The 680i is a nVidia chipset, not AMD/ATI.

The only Core 2 board by AMD is DFI's, based on the RD600.

I'm happy with my EVGA 680i. I probably should have saved money and gone for the DS3, but the 680i successfully seduced me.

As for the Striker, I dont think its worth the extra money. Check out reviews and comparisons, but I don't think the Striker has any definite superiority for overclocking. Has some cute gadgets though.

 

[BUFF]

The only Core 2 board by AMD is DFI's, based on the RD600.

<pedant>it's not you know. </pedant>
abit at least do 1 (F-I90HD) based on the Xpress 1250 .

 

[jeff_2087]

Haha ok I should have said the only one I know of.