X38 vs 780i Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh

[drunkgamer]

Hi All,

I tried to search for similar threads and google and no real answers, so I'm guessing the info simply is not out there yet or people have not become well versed enough.

So I probably simply need to wait until their chipset comes out but I thought I'd try this board since you guys are always knowledgable.

I also imagine Tom's will do a comparison the moment they get their hands on a 780i vs. x38 but until then, any comparisons out there?

I've read that 780i is simply 680i with a few more things thrown in but not really a new chipset. That is very dissappointing, especially from NVidia.

I am used to it from ATI/AMD and maybe this is why they had their compatability issues?

Truth be told, I won't ever really SLI (I rather pour my cash into the best single card available at any one time) so I don't need Nvidia board for those reasons but I'd like to have it as an option.

So are therey any bullet point differences that anyone knows of yet or one of us should consider if we're looking to get a new Penryn system in the next week or two?

Wait to see what NVidia releases in December?

THANKS!

 

[drunkgamer]

BTW, to add to my confusion...

I've started already leaning towards a X38 vs. 780i based on various threads on the net and pieces of info such as:

If you want SLI, then get the nVidia chipsets, the 780i will support PCIe V2. It is probably only worth getting one if you are definitely gonna go SLI, as they don't overclock as high, and are not as stable.

The P35 is much better at overclocking the Quad, so I'd vote that if you want single-card setups.


----


SLI: 680i/ 780i based board.

id recommend a P35, all round better, plus your not realistically going to need more than one 8800GT. when the times comes you do there will be a card available thats beats to 8800GT's for cheaper.

personly, go the P35.


---


The 680i also runs hot. The P35 does not.

Google problems with the P35 and the 680i and I think you'll find the 680i has many more issues than the P35.


---


In summary,


780i SLI = 680i SLI ＋ NF200

750i SLI = 650i SLI ＋ NF200

There is nothing new other than the NF200 (BR04) PCI Express 2.0 switch that transfers 1 x16 to 2 x16 or 4 x8 and hence enables 3-way SLI at 16/16/16 (vs. 16/16/8 in 680i). The performance is more or less identical. That's a kind of disappointment.

Perhaps NVIDIA is busy in developing 790i (C73; support for DDR3 and native 3-way SLI without using NF200).


********************** BUT *********************

what really now confuses me is whether to wait for this so called X48 and if it does indeed come, do I really want it for a top-tier system based on such things as:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Intel-039-s-X48-to-Come-in-Just-Another-5-Weeks-67604.shtml

http://www.tehnoguru.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=937&Itemid=30

 

[badge]

BTW, to add to my confusion...

I've started already leaning towards a X38 vs. 780i based on various threads on the net and pieces of info such as:

If you want SLI, then get the nVidia chipsets, the 780i will support PCIe V2. It is probably only worth getting one if you are definitely gonna go SLI, as they don't overclock as high, and are not as stable.

The P35 is much better at overclocking the Quad, so I'd vote that if you want single-card setups.


----


SLI: 680i/ 780i based board.

id recommend a P35, all round better, plus your not realistically going to need more than one 8800GT. when the times comes you do there will be a card available thats beats to 8800GT's for cheaper.

personly, go the P35.


---


The 680i also runs hot. The P35 does not.

Google problems with the P35 and the 680i and I think you'll find the 680i has many more issues than the P35.


---


In summary,


780i SLI = 680i SLI ＋ NF200

750i SLI = 650i SLI ＋ NF200

There is nothing new other than the NF200 (BR04) PCI Express 2.0 switch that transfers 1 x16 to 2 x16 or 4 x8 and hence enables 3-way SLI at 16/16/16 (vs. 16/16/8 in 680i). The performance is more or less identical. That's a kind of disappointment.

Perhaps NVIDIA is busy in developing 790i (C73; support for DDR3 and native 3-way SLI without using NF200).


********************** BUT *********************

what really now confuses me is whether to wait for this so called X48 and if it does indeed come, do I really want it for a top-tier system based on such things as:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Intel-039-s-X48-to-Come-in-Just-Another-5-Weeks-67604.shtml

http://www.tehnoguru.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=937&Itemid=30

I'm currently running the X38 in my sig. My system is ready for Penryn, PCIE 2.0, 16 x 16 Crossfire, etc. BIOS revison will allow 680i to run Penryn, but software never works as well as hard revision for a new, revised chip such as penryn. Intel 975 will not run penryn by BIOS revision for example.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3138&p=2

 

[neoxblu1]

Its cheaper for sli than having the best video card.

2x nvidia 8800 gts work better than one nvidia 8800 ultra (actually works almost twice as well) ultra is near $700 and 2 8800gtx is near $650 so u get double for the same price.

check out toms hardware video card charts

 

[dashbarron]

Hm. I play at 1280x1024, and I've kind of got the impression from people that I should just go for a X38 and get a 8800GT, and then upgrade to something newer when it comes time.

I'm interested to hear other people's thoughts. How's the X38 in overclocking?

 

[badge]

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3149

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3134&p=1

 

[zeljkodjurkovic]

Here You can find some info on 780SLI from Gigabyte in comparison to 680SLI...

Personally I think that 780sli is the Best Buy for gamers RIG now ...
Hot swap hdds, raid, pciex2.0 and still ddr2 cheap ;-)

http://www.tehnoguru.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1266&Itemid=29

 

[chookman]

Its cheaper for sli than having the best video card.

2x nvidia 8800 gts work better than one nvidia 8800 ultra (actually works almost twice as well) ultra is near $700 and 2 8800gtx is near $650 so u get double for the same price.

check out toms hardware video card charts

2 cards is not always better. If you are running a low res SLI will have very little benefit if any (1600x1200 and up). For 2 cards you need a significantly better PSU which costs more money. You need an SLI mobo which is limited to NVIDIA chipsets which have had many problems are a generally more expensive than others. 2 cards rely on driver stability and performance more than a single card, in some games you may not see much improvement over a single card others you will. and on top of all that you are opening up more incompatibility issues that will have you pulling your hair out.

Typically at the moment i would suggest either a P35 or x38 chipset motherboard with Intel CPU (x38 only really adds PCI-e2.0 and more lanes). And depending on your video needs anything new from NVIDIA or ATI has been great

 

[dashbarron]

What does the 790i add to the 780?

 

[JonnyRock]

I just got a P5N32-E SLI to go with my new Q6600. I must say that coming from an nforce4 board i was hoping for more from the 680i. now maybe its just this board but i cant overclock much at all. The only reason i went with the 680i and not an x38 chipset is because i want to SLI 2x8800gts cards.

I have 2x 7900GTX's which i love. i did get an XFX 8800 GTS 320mb Fatal1ty which is a really great card even though it only has 320mb RAM. I got this card with plans to get another. This was before the 8800gts 512 was realesed.

I know there is a big debate around SLI/Crossfire or single card. For me 2 cards are the sh!t as it smooths out frame rates with AA, plus you have a few other nice AA options to play with.

Now if ATI had a Crossfire config that could compete with even 2x8800gts's 512 i would go x38. As they don't i will just have to live with the 680i, as i am going to replace the XFX 8800 GTS 320mb Fatal1ty with 2x 8800gts 512 cards soon.

would the 780i be better than the 680i? From what i see i don't think it will.

nVidia are getting lazy!!!!!!!! and there products are becoming over priced.

 

[hcforde]

^^ JONNYROCK, What are you smoking on this lovely day in HD3870x2 land. Are you saying that that 2 x2's cant compete with 2 gts's ?

 

[WazzaUK]

theres nothing wrong with the nvidia 680i chipset - i got SPP/MCP version, never given me any issues (wait for wolfdale thou lol (MSI say under testing lol))... Suppose it depends wether or not SLI is needed/personal preference..... and i suppose get 780i now... But probably depends on motherboard - pay for what you get........

 

[JonnyRock]

^^ JONNYROCK, What are you smoking on this lovely day in HD3870x2 land. Are you saying that that 2 x2's cant compete with 2 gts's ?

well 2x x2's = crossfireX; now please tell me i am not going to have any issues running this setup and that the drivers are mature. :lol:

a quick look here http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html and i don't see any crossfireX drivers just 3070 drivers. And please don't tell me i must start stuffing around with BETA drivers to make it work properly.

Right now i am not convinced about the X2. i like my AA and ATI and AA are not very close m8s atm.

how many x2 reviews have you read? One site is saying this another that. one benches this way another this...

Right now i know if i drop 2x 8800gts's or 8800gtx's in SLI into my box they are going to work and the drivers are going to work.

For me nvidia gets my vote when you do muti gpu.

 

[Slobogob]

What does the 790i add to the 780?

To my knowledge the 790i is a new chipset while the 780 is just the old 680 with an additional pcie 2.0 chip onboard. The exact specifications of the new chipset have not been revealed yet.

 

[darkstar782]

The 790i is DDR3.

The 780i is crap. You'll regret buying one. I know I do.

 

[neisonator]

im stuck in the x-38 vs 780i decision as well will be gaming at 1680X1050 with my gts im thinking of getting a e8400 oc it to 4ghz i would like to play crysis on max settings but even with 2 cards in sli it wont happen so im thinking of getting the x-38 then get either 2 ati cards or nvidias next gen.

 

[david714]

I have a 680i and it runs very hot at stock speed...

 

[raven0920]

I have the same dilemna with drunkgamer. I thought the 780 is the way to go, but after hearing and reading all these reviews...I'm delaying on getting the Asus Striker II Formula or MSI P7N Diamon....

But I've already spent on the Q6600, 4GB Dominator PC28500 1066 MHZ and 2 x XFX 9800 GTX ....

So, I don't know which way to go... If I go for the X38 , does it mean that I will give up the SLI?