975X or wait for nForce 680?

kayone · 20 Nov 2006 at 12:47

Wanting to build my new spinky Conroe setup. Before I can start need to work out weather to wait inline for the 680 to be released (I know there's the one already) or go for a 975X now?

The Asgard · 20 Nov 2006 at 12:56

All depends if you want SLI?

If yes 680i.

Big.Wayne · 20 Nov 2006 at 13:17

It has normally been the case that the best chipsets for an INTEL processor were made by INTEL.

I do agree that nVidia make great chipsets as well, just none yet that have been better than *native* INTEL chipsets.

Looking forward to peoples results with nVidia latest!

shadow4509 · 20 Nov 2006 at 13:19

when is there going to be an am2 680 board released?

kayone · 20 Nov 2006 at 13:22

The Asgard said:
All depends if you want SLI?

If yes 680i.

It won't be used for SLI, single GPU only.

- Best to just go ahead and hit 975X now then rather than waiting?

The Asgard · 20 Nov 2006 at 13:36

kayone said:
It won't be used for SLI, single GPU only.

- Best to just go ahead and hit 975X now then rather than waiting?

Having played with most of the top 975x boards I would recommend the P5W64 Pro. Rock solid. 450+ FSB. Little VDroop. Only downside its one of the most expensive.

Big.Wayne · 20 Nov 2006 at 13:42

The Asgard said:
Having played with most of the top 975x boards I would recommend the ASUS P5W64 Pro. Rock solid. 450+ FSB. Little VDroop. Only downside its one of the most expensive.

Looks nice, damn pricey though! :eek:

£187.99 inc VAT

kayone · 20 Nov 2006 at 14:01

Yeah, why is it so expensive?

I was also looking at the Asus P5W DH Deluxe WiFi, which has also had some good feedback/reviews?

The Asgard · 20 Nov 2006 at 14:30

kayone said:
Yeah, why is it so expensive?

I was also looking at the Asus P5W DH Deluxe WiFi, which has also had some good feedback/reviews?

Your paying for stability and OC potential. Used quite a few P5W DH's and they seem to top out between 390-420. Don't get me wrong the P5W DH is a great board but if you want the best I dont think you can beat the P5W 64 Pro. If your not pushing the envelope the P5W DH is a nice solid board.

airchie · 22 Nov 2006 at 12:30

I'm in the same boat as kayone.

I want to buy my new conroe setup at the end of the month and I don't know if its worth waiting for the 680i chipset or not?

I was thinking of waiting for the Abit IN9 680i board but that'll take me almost until xmas at the earliest before I can play CoH at max details...

I intend to get an E6300, 8800GTX, 2GB Corsair DDR2, unknown mobo, and maybe a Corsair PSU too.

Now, my questions are:-

1. Should I just buy a 965/975 chipset mobo now or wait for 680i?
2. Is the abit AW9D-Max good or is it much better to get another board?

Any advice/suggestions appreciated.

TIA.

Big.Wayne · 22 Nov 2006 at 12:33

airchie said:
1. Should I just buy a 965/975 chipset mobo now or wait for 680i?

I wonder if nVidia can make a better LGA775 chipset than INTEL? That would be something!

Out of interest what is the next chipset slated for release by INTEL?

Nelly · 22 Nov 2006 at 12:38

The Asgard said:
Having played with most of the top 975x boards I would recommend the P5W64 Pro. Rock solid. 450+ FSB. Little VDroop. Only downside its one of the most expensive.

Hi, does the P5W64 Pro suffer from the reboot issue which plagued the P5B/P5W DH motherboards?

Also Ive noticed the new 680i boards support upto 1333 FSB, do you think when the newer CPU's are released that the motherboards that support upto 1066 FSB only need a bios update to support those CPU's?

SidewinderINC · 22 Nov 2006 at 12:45

Nelly said:
Hi, does the P5W64 Pro suffer from the reboot issue which plagued the P5B/P5W DH motherboards?

Also Ive noticed the new 680i boards support upto 1333 FSB, do you think when the newer CPU's are released that the motherboards that support upto 1066 FSB only need a bios update to support those CPU's?

thats the only reason i'd be buying a 680i board when i come to upgrade in the next month or so... a good future life, so if it is just a case of bios upgrade which i doubt it will be then i'll get a 975 board.

i'm still 32bit

but i remember when i bought my DFI Lanparty NFII, i still had an XP2000 chip, but since ditching everything else and upgrading ive kept the board and its serving me well, i know how to clock it etc. etc. and the only reason i'll be upgrading is due to graphics restrictions.

The Asgard · 22 Nov 2006 at 14:30

Nelly said:
Hi, does the P5W64 Pro suffer from the reboot issue which plagued the P5B/P5W DH motherboards?

Also Ive noticed the new 680i boards support upto 1333 FSB, do you think when the newer CPU's are released that the motherboards that support upto 1066 FSB only need a bios update to support those CPU's?

Hi there,
I believe the reboot issue was fixed on the P5B/P5W DH and the same fix is in the pipeline for the P5W 64.

1333 is supported by the 680i and I'm sure its just a matter of a bios update.

Both are great boards. The only reason I went with the 680i was for SLI support on the 8800GTX.

Nelly · 22 Nov 2006 at 16:41

Okay thanks for the info.

Another question regarding the 1066 to 1333 FSB Bootstrap, I have noticed that with most motherboards once you go past 401 FSB the P5B-Deluxe as an example reverts to the 1333 Bootstrap right? & there is a loss in performance. Why is this? Does the 680i Motherboards also suffer this performance loss over 401 FSB?

BUFF · 22 Nov 2006 at 17:11

Nelly said:
& there is a loss in performance. Why is this?

less agressive memory settings

Does the 680i Motherboards also suffer this performance loss over 401 FSB?

I don't know if it happens at 400 but I have been reading on forums about 975s being faster than 680is so it sounds similar ...
Maybe once the BIOS starts to mature that will improve.

Nelly · 22 Nov 2006 at 19:37

BUFF said:
less agressive memory settings

I don't know if it happens at 400 but I have been reading on forums about 975s being faster than 680is so it sounds similar ...
Maybe once the BIOS starts to mature that will improve.

Cool, will be interesting to see what happens anyway.

You holding out for the Abit IN9 32X-MAX ? Noticed your a keen user of Abit, I have previously used 2 Abit boards in the past KR7a RAID & AV8 both Very Good Motherboards. I was very tempted by the AW9D-Max but with all the new boards that have come out I've kept patient. All Ive bought so far is the G.Skill PC2-6400 HZ Ram & a Tuniq 120 Cooler! :rolleyes:

Flanno · 22 Nov 2006 at 21:01

The Asgard said:
Having played with most of the top 975x boards I would recommend the P5W64 Pro. Rock solid. 450+ FSB. Little VDroop. Only downside its one of the most expensive.

Do you still recommend the Bad Axe, as I remember you posting about it being the most reliable board you every used.

marscay · 22 Nov 2006 at 21:32

bad axe is a good board but it needs mods

p5w64 is great straight out of the box

The Asgard · 22 Nov 2006 at 23:32

Flanno said:
Do you still recommend the Bad Axe, as I remember you posting about it being the most reliable board you every used.

The Badaxe is a great board don't get me wrong but the P5W 64 Pro is just like the Badaxe with a FSB of 450+ Also I bought the p5W 64 Pro after the Badaxe.

Here's my list of recommended board with stability & High FSB in mind.

EVGA 680i
P5W64 Pro
Badaxe
P5W DH
DS4
P5B Delux

I played with the P5B Delux on release on wasn't impressed but I have never tried one with the latest Bios. So I cant really comment.

One thing to realize with me. If I have a motherboard/processor for more than a few weeks I'm doing really well. My kit is swapped out usually on a weekly basis. Luckily it never cost me anything.