Home | Forums | Cool Case Gallery |Archive | Reviews | Articles | Guides | Links | VH Gear | Contests | Downloads | Contact
 





  Thermalright TRad2 VGA Coolers Review  
 
 
  Cooler Master HAF 932 Case Review  
 
 
  Zotac AMP Graphics Card Round Up  
 
 
  G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-4GPI-B DDR2 Memory Review  
 
 
  OCZ ModXStream-Pro 600w Power Supply Review  
 
 
  NZXT Whisper Case Review  
 
 
  OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler Review  
 
 
  Antec Notebook Cooler 200 Review  
 
 
  Thermaltake Armor+ MX Enclosure Review  
 
 
  Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler Review  
 
 
  Norco Technologies DS-1000 Storage System Review  
 
 


Get prices for...

 
 
Top Products

Motherboards
Intel | Abit
Gigabyte | Asus
Epox | Iwill
MSI | Shuttle
Tyan | Soyo
ECS | ASRock

Processors
AMD | Intel
Compaq

Cases
Antec | Lian-Li
Thermaltake
SilverStone
Coolermaster
ATX | BTX

Graphic Cards
ATI | nVidia

Memory
DDR | DDR2
Corsair | Crucial
OCZ | Patriot

Sound Cards
Creative Labs
Turtle Beach

Hard Drives
Seagate | Hitachi
Western Digital | Maxtor

Monitors
Viewsonic | Dell
Samsung | Apple

CD & DVD Burners
Plextor | Lite On
Sony | LG

 
 

 
Best viewed @ 1024 x 768 and higher

ECS PN2-SLI2+ NVIDIA 680i SLI Motherboard Review
Date Published:
01-25-2007
Written By:
Temujin
Edited By:
Diceman
Provided By:
ECS Elitegroup
Where to Buy:
ECS Elitegroup
Discuss Article:
VH Forum link
Pages: 1 2 3 4

 
 
 
 
 



Installation and Testing:

   Since some overclocking will eventually be performed, the optional NVidia Chipset Fan was installed. It simply clips over both heat pipes that passes through the top of the heat sink. The two small black dowels basically help to hold it in place. You can leave it like this and it will never fall off. However, if you are worried about any movement, there are two very small screws that screw in to base of the heat sink.


Chipset Heat Sink

Clip On w/Screws

Finished Look

Since the 680i chipset is suppose to be a very capable over clocker, the greater methods were used in order to make sure there were no issues with CPU heat whatsoever. Some overclocking numbers have climbed upwards of 1600MHz on the Processor Front Side Bus frequencies from the stock 1066MHz that the Intel Core 2 Duo comes with. This is further evidence that the Core 2 has quite a bit more to offer in future revisions as the Core frequencies start to climb.


Mounting Motherboard

Adding Peripherals

Need to CoolIT!!

While many motherboards may have similar chipsets and components, performance can still very due to any component revisions, BIOS capabilities, and drivers. Very few manufacturers ever match exactly in performance, most especially in the overclocking area. Certain makers just seem to product better BIOS updates among improvements upon the power management. The PN2-SLI2+ looks very much like the EVGA 680i, but nothing like the Asus 680i Striker which has custom heat pipes and LEDs.


Logo

Advanced Bios

Advanced Chipset

FSB & Memory

Memory Timing

System Clock

CPU Configuration

Integrated

System Monitor

After assembling the test system, everything did just as I would expect from quality motherboard. The Post screen flew by as I quickly pressed the DEL key. Looking over the BIOS, there were plenty of new settings to familiarize with. The most prominent changes are the use of Linked and Unlinked options under the Front Side Bus & Memory Configuration. Setting the FSB-Memory Clock Mode to 'Unlinked' allows the user to change the CPU Front Side Bus and Memory Frequency individually. Raising the Memory Frequency alone will not effect the system's performance unless you raise the CPU Front Side Bus as well.


Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock!

Test System:  

  • Processor: Intel E6600 (2.4GHz) Core 2 Duo

  • Cooling: CoolIT Systems Eliminator CPU Cooler

  • Motherboard: ECS PN2-SLI2+ 680i SLI

  • Memory: 2 x 1GB OCZ PC2-9200 DDR2 Flex XLC

  • Graphics: Geforce 7900 GT-OC PCIE

  • Storage: 2 x 80GB Seagate SATA2

  • Audio: Bluegears 7.1 Theater Sound


CPUZ

Mainboard

Memory Speed

SPD

The ECS PN2-SLI2+ ran completely stable and never once produced any errors or issues during testing. While some may debate other system components as being the more important parts for system stability, the motherboard is by far the most important building block for any computer. I've personally spent more money on motherboards and power supplies than any other component that operated perfectly fine using the other cheaper components such as memory, video cards, and sound cards. If any system can't maintain stability and continue to work normal no matter the number of operations it may be involved in, then it will always get a big fat "Flea-Market" stamp. This platform is a whole new experience that resembles nothing less than a quality built platform.

<< Detailed Look | Testing >>

 

Got News? Send 'em in!

.







 

 - Quiet Computer Fans
 - Quiet CPU Cooling
 - Quiet PC Power Supply
 - Quiet Laptop Cooling
 - Silent Computer Fan
 - Noctua Fans
 - Noctua CPU Fans
 - Noctua NH-U12P Quiet CPU Cooler
 - Noctua NH-C12P Quiet CPU Cooler
 - AcoustiPack PC Sound Proofing
 - Laptop Toys - Laptop Cooling
 
Acoustic PC: Quiet Computer Hardware & PC Soundproofing

 - Data Recovery
 - Raid Data Recovery
 - Electronic Components from Made in China
 - Data Recovery
 - Data Recovery Software
 - Raid Recovery
 - Data Recovery Software
 - Data Recovery
 - Computer Forensics
 - RAID Data Recovery
 - Computer forensic
 - Shopbot Canada
 - MjM Data Recovery Ltd
 - Data Recovery
 - Data Recovery
 - Data Recovery Services
 - IPDRA.org
 - Computer Forensics
 - Computer Repair
 - Digital Photo Frame
 - RAID Data Recovery
 
 
 
 

Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Virtual-Hideout LLC.
All other trademarks and copyrights on this site are property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.