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Is this a good gaming mobo?
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by laZnTYl

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Short take tied to the thread: several posters here made the key trade-offs — GPU choice and CPU support matter — so add a hardware-inspection and compatibility checklist before committing to that EVGA 680i board, especially when buying used years after release. Notes below expand on , , and without repeating the exact points already made.

  • Visual and socket check: clear photos of the CPU socket area and all capacitors are essential; bulging, leakage or scorch marks are deal-breakers.
  • POST verification: a screenshot or simple confirmation that the board POSTs with one stick of RAM is high-value evidence.
  • BIOS and CPU support: a BIOS version visible at POST lets one confirm which LGA775 CPUs are supported; later microcode updates can change compatibility.
  • Power and cooling: confirm the board’s VRM/heatsinks are intact and whether the planned PSU has the required CPU/PCIe connectors and headroom for any multi-card setup.
  • I/O and drivers: confirm onboard audio, LAN and RAID controllers have driver support for the intended OS (older chipsets may lack modern drivers).
  • Functional testing: memtest86 (RAM) and a CPU/GPU stress run are the usual validation steps for long-term stability.

Practical setup notes: BIOS updates should be applied carefully (stable power and the manufacturer’s procedure) if a newer CPU is planned. Run single-stick RAM tests to exercise all DIMM slots, and probe each PCIe slot independently before attempting a multi-card configuration. Keep expectations realistic for feature gaps of an older platform (modern OS/driver support, power efficiency and CPU/headroom).

Final context: the board can still form the heart of a capable retro/older-generation gaming rig when found in good condition and with a tested BIOS, but for contemporary gaming workloads a newer platform will be more straightforward and future-proof.

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Member Avatar for maui_mallard

Hey,

This looks like a good gaming mobo...The possible 4/8 gb expansion for RAM is fantastic...lots of SATA ports always important...And the SLI capable is great for gaming...
Just make sure that you use two GOOD video cards..I used two crappy ones as SLI... WORST DECISION EVER
I bought 2 8800 GTX and ran SLI and the quality was unbelievable

Good Gaming Motherboard :)

Member Avatar for The New Normal

Yes, until the new 780i came out, that was the ultimate gaming motherboard.

The only difficulty you may face is that board does not support the brand new intel quad cores which (correct me if I'm wrong) arn't even released yet (Q9450 and Q9550 etc.)

However, many gamers are sticking to dual core at the moment (and anyway, if you want an intel quad, this board will run the amazingly cheap Q6600...)

The guys 'round at sliZone love this board apparently (well did until the 780i came out.

Member Avatar for laZnTYl

Well, they have now released a few of them. The QX6600's I beleive.

Member Avatar for jbennet

one high end 8800 is better for most games than two low/mid end 8600s in SLI

Member Avatar for maui_mallard

one high end 8800 is better for most games than two low/mid end 8600s in SLI

I agree totally....

One thing to add though the 8800GTS is half the price of the 8800GTX...

But the quality has a huge difference

Member Avatar for laZnTYl

Yeah it does, I used to have a 8600 GS, just got a 8800 GTX, and I was amazed at how much better the quality was.

Member Avatar for jbennet

a 256mb GTX can also give greater real word performance than a 512mb GS

Member Avatar for laZnTYl

Hmmm, It does? Didn't know that, well I have a 384 MB.

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