Asus P5N32-E SLi nForce 680, Striker in disguise?

The Asgard · 20 Feb 2007 at 21:32

Whats the deal with this board?

Looking for a replacement for my EVGA 680i. Was going to go for the new Gigabyte 680 but the cooling looks like it will be hassle with my waterblock. I fancy a striker but don't want to pay through the nose. This board looks like a cut down striker? Anyone got one of these?

The Asgard · 20 Feb 2007 at 21:52

reading conflicting reviews about which is better

Asus P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce?

HugeChopper · 20 Feb 2007 at 21:58

Check out the Gigabyte GN-680SLI DQ6 :eek:

More features than you can shake a stick at

The Asgard · 20 Feb 2007 at 22:27

HugeChopper said:
Check out the Gigabyte GN-680SLI DQ6

More features than you can shake a stick at

looks a good board but not for watercooling

The Asgard · 20 Feb 2007 at 22:30

Interesting reading about the P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce. Seems like Asus are doing some fancy footwork.

P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce
or
P5N32-E SLI 680

Looking like the plus is better even though there is some question about the chipsets. 500+ FSB

WJA96 · 21 Feb 2007 at 09:08

The Asgard said:
Interesting reading about the P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce. Seems like Asus are doing some fancy footwork.

P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce
or
P5N32-E SLI 680

Looking like the plus is better even though there is some question about the chipsets. 500+ FSB

There aren't many users who actually work above 450FSB which I think explains why so many boards have the capability but so few are actually useable in that area.

The Asgard · 21 Feb 2007 at 10:55

Ordered the non plus in the end, lol. I dont think you loose either way

marinecommando · 21 Feb 2007 at 18:05

The Asgard said:
Interesting reading about the P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce. Seems like Asus are doing some fancy footwork.

P5N32-E PLUS SLi nForce
or
P5N32-E SLI 680

Looking like the plus is better even though there is some question about the chipsets. 500+ FSB

Whats the difference between them? I thought i read somewhere on t'web (must be true :rolleyes:

) that the plus sli is a 590 chipset and the sli 680 is a 680 chipset. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

The Asgard · 21 Feb 2007 at 19:27

marinecommando said:
Whats the difference between them? I thought i read somewhere on t'web (must be true ) that the plus sli is a 590 chipset and the sli 680 is a 680 chipset. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

The plus is an hybrid of chips the 680 is the striker without the bells, whistles and solid caps. The latest bios 920 on the 680 version makes the non plus rock!

Spent more time than usual researching this one

The Asgard · 22 Feb 2007 at 12:33

Just recieved the P5N32-E SLI 680 today and I must say I love the white P5N32-E SLI sticker thats just plonked ontop of the Striker Extreme motherboard Logo

WJA96 · 22 Feb 2007 at 12:47

The Asgard said:
Just recieved the P5N32-E SLI 680 today and I must say I love the white P5N32-E SLI sticker thats just plonked ontop of the Striker Extreme motherboard Logo

From what I've read about the Striker Extreme, that's not necessarily a good thing...

The Asgard · 22 Feb 2007 at 12:51

WJA96 said:
From what I've read about the Striker Extreme, that's not necessarily a good thing...

Well this board is performing well with most bugs sorted over on XS with the 902 bios.

Nitram · 24 Feb 2007 at 10:35

Keep posting your experiences with this board, looking to get one myself

What Memory are you using ? I am well confused as the Asus QVL looks well out of date (or most of the modules are not available in this country!)

Cheers Tony

The Asgard · 24 Feb 2007 at 14:42

Nitram said:
Keep posting your experiences with this board, looking to get one myself

What Memory are you using ? I am well confused as the Asus QVL looks well out of date (or most of the modules are not available in this country!)

Cheers Tony

Well only had a quick play but the first thing that is a BIG plus over the EVGA 680i is this board allows my G Skill HZ Micron based ram to run at 1T. The EVGA was very flacky. Bios wise its very tweakable with voltages that could easily fry your memory, fairly hardcore. Like I said previously it is a Striker Exreme without the bells and whisles. Compared to the EVGA its quiet. Not had any issues with my X-FI and so far very stable. 450 + is easy. Solid quality board, typical Asus high end. Very impressed and high recommended for the money. Striker Extreme for £129.99+vat

Nitram · 24 Feb 2007 at 15:04

Why did you go for the G.Skill ?

Also which speed did you chose?
I am thinking of going with OCZ or Geil as it's well priced atm.
There seems to be some "issues" with this i680 chipset (according to reviews in that it doesn't clock as well as i650 Nforce5 boards) but, that could all be a way to clear the old stock i650 boards

what's your opinion

The Asgard · 24 Feb 2007 at 16:00

Nitram said:
Why did you go for the G.Skill ?

Also which speed did you chose?
I am thinking of going with OCZ or Geil as it's well priced atm.
There seems to be some "issues" with this i680 chipset (according to reviews in that it doesn't clock as well as i650 Nforce5 boards) but, that could all be a way to clear the old stock i650 boards what's your opinion

Wouldn't touch Geil too many issues. G Skill HZ (6400) IMHO is some of the best memory available for the money. Never had a 650i and never had any issues with the 680i. Running a 629B 6600 which will easily do 3.8 on this and my previous EVGA 680i. Was playing with 500 FSB this morning for about 10 mins. 8x2000.

Nitram · 24 Feb 2007 at 17:12

Wouldn't touch Geil too many issues. G Skill HZ (6400) IMHO is some of the best memory available for the money. Never had a 650i and never had any issues with the 680i. Running a 629B 6600 which will easily do 3.8 on this and my previous EVGA 680i. Was playing with 500 FSB this morning for about 10 mins. 8x2000.

That's excellent,(3.8) thanks for the feedback,it's reassuring to know this board works ok at higher overclocking levels , hope to order mine this week

Cheers Tony

techmonkey · 25 Feb 2007 at 01:02

Bar some different capacitors and different chipset (though a 650i and 570 combo allow SLi 16x) there doesn't appear to be much difference in performance. I think this is just a revision by Asus as their current cooling implementation on this area of board isn't too good. The NorthBridge on my P5N32-E gets very hot indeed and I plan to invest in an after-market heatsink to complement mine. I guess the 650i just runs cooler so that's more than likely the main reason Asus brought out the plus version, along with the fact that the 650i is supposed to be cheaper to produce.

Nitram · 25 Feb 2007 at 08:44

I suppose as both boards are priced the same there can't be a lot of difference in actual performance, time will tell which will be the most reliable and popular.
Asus probably have seen that there was more to be got out of a 650i and 570 chipsets as a combo and if it runs cooler that's got to be good !

Everything will settle down over this i680 chipset soon and each manufacturer will have "a reliable top board" but, for now it's a bit of trial and error and careful research by us through the mists !.............
................Of course by the time we are happy the next revision chipset will be here though

Exibit · 25 Feb 2007 at 09:45

I have the Asus P5N32-E SLI great board no problems very stable

Read Custom PC March edition they review this board and they say it rocks,