Tech Link (Motherboard): A1 Revising your Motherboards for Kentsfield

If you are unfortunate enough not to be able to replace your 680i-based board with a Kentsfield-overclocking version, then you might want to do this mod. vr-zone has a guide that not only covers eVGA's, but also on ASUS P5N32-E SLI or ASUS Striker Extreme. Note that eVGA is using NVIDIA*'s reference board, so mod on the eVGA is, theoretically, doable on other reference boards as well (Asus* is an ODM, so they make their own design). Anyway, check it out...

About two weeks ago, EVGA announced that their NVIDIA 680i SLI Motherboards have gone into the Revision A1 state, an updated revision with improved overclocking for the Quad Core Kentsfield Users. As a show of their good customer service, they have offered direct cross swap for all customers of the first version of EVGA 680i boards and to cover the shipping costs both directions.

It's all good and easy if you live in the US, but some staying in certain countries may even find this "win-win" arrangement difficult... Or even, those with NVIDIA Reference boards but not under the EVGA brand name might not even be offered this service. Or even, those with non-reference 680i motherboards, what to do? I was lucky enough to receive a A1 revision and checked out what is it that is actually changed:

Source:A1 Revising your Motherboards for Kentsfield

Tech Link (Motherboard): 680i Quad Core Update

So finally, mystery has been solved. I still remember going nuts about this board and cursing it till I can't find the right word to say. I even sent a PM to FUGGER because, for the life of me, I can't break 330FSB on my QuadCore. Well, FUGGER said he is having the same issue, so my board was sold "just like that" and I bid goodbye to such a sucky product. Anyway, if you don't know what I am blabbering about, it's specific to QuadCore overclocking. Check out eVGA*'s response by expanding this blog post.

Dear 680i Users,

Some users have reported they are encountering obstacles in over-clocking Intel Quad Core CPUs in excess of 1300MHz FSB on the EVGA nForce 680i SLI platform.

If you have an Intel Quad Core CPU and are experiencing this issue, EVGA will swap your original unit for a motherboard that improves your Intel Quad Core over-clocking.

U.S. - EVGA advanced RMA service will replace the board
Canada - EVGA will replace the board in a normal RMA process
Europe - EVGA will replace the board in a normal RMA process

If you are interested in receiving a replacement, please be sure your product is registered on our site at http://evga.com/register/. After registering, please visit http://evga.com/support/680i_fsb.asp and enter your serial number and stay tuned for an update on when to RMA your board in early March via email.

Note: This offer is only applicable for the Intel Quad Core issue listed above.

Thank you,

EVGA Management Team

Source:680i Quad Core Update

Overclock: Back in Black !! K|ngp|n Brings Down The ORB...AGAIN !!

Famous overclocker, K|ngp|n, has just claimed all of FutureMark*'s 3DMark benchmark World Record. He used a new motherboard based on eVGA*'s with the newest NVIDIA* chipset 680i running two brand spanking new video cards based on 8800GTX. He is just unstoppable. Expand for more...

Time to smash the orbs up again.
These runs all done with 8-9hrs benching time using all the hardware at once.
GPU's only pushed maybe 60-70% . So much left untapped...imagine what the scores will be 1 month from now lol:

NVIDIA EVGA 680i SLI motherboard (bios reads wrong in cpu-z)
Kentsfield b3/Conroe b1 @1.75v actual vcore/-100c loaded temps.
2 x 8800gtx SLI -40c to -45c approx 850-870/1150 Tek-9 ln2
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 8888 2gb
1 SILVERSTONE ZEUS 850W PSU 12v stayed at 12.3v load through all benches with max clocks.

3DMARK 2006 SLI with KF NO LOD AT ALL

Source:Back in Black !! K|ngp|n Brings Down The ORB...AGAIN !!