NVIDIA 680i: The Best Core 2 Chipset?

jmke · 8th November 2006, 22:20

It has been six months since NVIDIA announced their new 500 series chipsets. This past May the launch coincided with the release of AM2. Today NVIDIA launches a new chipset family, called the 600i family, with no mention at all of AMD and a launch date to coincide with the new Intel Core 2 Quad (Kentsfield).

Perhaps these two events, set just six months apart, best define the dramatic shifts that have occurred in the enthusiast market during this time. AMD was undisputed performance leader for the past couple of years, and enthusiasts didn't much care about Intel chipsets. With the launch of Core 2, however, the enthusiast world changed. Today Core 2 Duo and Quad are the undisputed performance leaders and AMD is once again the "value" chip. This will likely change again in the future, but for now Intel Core 2 is clearly the processor enthusiasts are demanding.

jmke · 8th November 2006, 22:20

more reviews:
- http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q4...i/index.x?pg=1
- http://www.hothardware.com/viewartic...leid=902&cid=3
- http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/chi...-680i-sli.html
- http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...i-chipset.html

jmke · 8th November 2006, 22:25

Quote:

Interestingly, all of the 2MB cache Core 2 processors we tested reached at least 2000 FSB, with the two tested E6300 reaching 2100 FSB (522x7 and 6x525).

Cheapo CPU, high end board? let's hope the cheaper 680 derived Intel mobo has same OC capabilities

8th November 2006, 23:34

Ohh, I am hoping alright! Interested in seeing what some of the bigger names can do with it as well!

Absolutely no need for SLI with G80 around, people would have to first buy a 3007WFP to make use of it...

9th November 2006, 00:50

in 3 reviews it crapped out at 450 FSB, that is very bad for such a high priced, hot chipset

jmke · 9th November 2006, 07:33

it seems not only the mobo can "crap out"; as a different CPU seems to make a difference too, and the FSB may well be limited by CPU, not mobo.

9th November 2006, 13:37

And in two reviews it hit over 2,000FSB, with a third at 1960FSB. At those speeds the rest of the hardware in the system becomes a factor besides the C2D chip... You weren't kidding about the high price though!

jmke · 9th November 2006, 14:03

who makes the cheapest?

thorgal · 9th November 2006, 22:55

Quote:

Originally posted by jmke
it seems not only the mobo can "crap out"; as a different CPU seems to make a difference too, and the FSB may well be limited by CPU, not mobo.

That's right : check out the Anand review :

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=2869

2Mb cache cpu's seem to do better, but for the 4Mb chips no explenation has been found yet : some do good, other do much better...

10th November 2006, 05:43

Quote:

Originally posted by jmke
who makes the cheapest?

I didn't even look, the Asus Striker was going for $399 before it sold out at ZZF...

$270 for that eVGA though... yuck. I guess there won't be any going for under $240 at all...

8th November 2006, 22:20	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	NVIDIA 680i: The Best Core 2 Chipset? It has been six months since NVIDIA announced their new 500 series chipsets. This past May the launch coincided with the release of AM2. Today NVIDIA launches a new chipset family, called the 600i family, with no mention at all of AMD and a launch date to coincide with the new Intel Core 2 Quad (Kentsfield). Perhaps these two events, set just six months apart, best define the dramatic shifts that have occurred in the enthusiast market during this time. AMD was undisputed performance leader for the past couple of years, and enthusiasts didn't much care about Intel chipsets. With the launch of Core 2, however, the enthusiast world changed. Today Core 2 Duo and Quad are the undisputed performance leaders and AMD is once again the "value" chip. This will likely change again in the future, but for now Intel Core 2 is clearly the processor enthusiasts are demanding. __________________

9th November 2006, 07:33	#6
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	it seems not only the mobo can "crap out"; as a different CPU seems to make a difference too, and the FSB may well be limited by CPU, not mobo. __________________

9th November 2006, 14:03	#8
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	who makes the cheapest? __________________

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8th November 2006, 23:34	#4
Kougar Posts: n/a	Ohh, I am hoping alright! Interested in seeing what some of the bigger names can do with it as well! Absolutely no need for SLI with G80 around, people would have to first buy a 3007WFP to make use of it...

9th November 2006, 00:50	#5
Rutar Posts: n/a	in 3 reviews it crapped out at 450 FSB, that is very bad for such a high priced, hot chipset

9th November 2006, 13:37	#7
Kougar Posts: n/a	And in two reviews it hit over 2,000FSB, with a third at 1960FSB. At those speeds the rest of the hardware in the system becomes a factor besides the C2D chip... You weren't kidding about the high price though!