Where Are The Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 Motherboards?

[TheBeagle]

Does anybody know the REAL scoop on whether or not Gigabyte is going to actually produce the new Series 600 motherboards? Now that it seems that nVidia has solved the SATA corruption and lockup problems associated with the early 680i reference motherboards, will Gigabyte finally produce these boards? Aside from a very limited piece on one web site, there has been virtually nothing provided by Gigabyte as far as specs, pictures, etc. What are they waiting for? Thanks to anyone that has REAL info on this (and not just some home-grown speculation), since I would very much like to purchase one of the GA-N680SLI-DQ6 boards, but I'm NOT willing to waiting until NEXT Christmas (2007) to buy one!

 

[Gary Key]

Should be here after CES, review samples will be ready late next week.

 

[j00k]

according to the site below, it looks like the board's still on track to release sometime next month. I gotta say it looks pretty sweet.

http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/review.php?tid=711440&extra=page=1

 

[Fallen Kell]

So any word on the board? I know it made it in todays Anandtech article. Just wondering if you guys got a review sample in yet, or are even slated to get one to look at. The more I read about what is going on with the reference boards, the more I don't want a reference board. And the fact that the Asus boards are non-existant, and seem to be getting a new hardware revision doesn't make me want to pick up either of them. The Abit board might be nice, but the GA-N680SLI-DQ6 seems to be a much better board from a technical standpoint.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I take that as a no?

 

[Gary Key]

Our review sample ships on Friday from Taiwan. It should arrive the middle of next week, will get a preview up as soon as possible.

 

[TheBeagle]

Now that Gigabyte has "Announced" this product (GA-N680SLI-DQ6) AGAIN on January 15, 2007, when will they post some specs on their web site about the product, i.e., manuals, drivers, bios, specs, overview, etc? Although there are now a few pictures, there are no precise specifications. For example, the few photos indicate that there is NOT any legacy parallel port on the rear IO plate, but there seems to be a LPT pin out on the lower edge of the board. Does that mean that there IS a parallel port on the board, albeit by means of cable and faceplate to be used in a slot opening? If this board has truly reach the point of production, where is the normal product information?

 

[Fallen Kell]

I think it has the following: 4 G-Eth, 4 eSATA, 6 SATAII, 10 USB 2.0, 1 serial port, 5.1 analog sound out, 1 optical SPDIF out, 1 IDE, 1 Floppy, 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x8 (physical x16 slot), 1 PCIe x1, 2 PCI 2.3, 1333 MHz FSB support. The big thing being the 1333 MHz FSB support.

 

[idiotekniQues]

interesting

 

[Fallen Kell]

A little bump...

Anyone hear any more about the board? It is amazing that there are no reviews of any 680i boards other then reference boards here.

 

[TheBeagle]

An email response from Gary Key of last week indicated that his Gigabyte board would arrive on Tuesday (today) from the Giga-Gods of Taiwan. However, I haven't seen any postings yet. Maybe the Pony Express had slow horses this week or something, and he didn't get the retail version of the board yet. The absolutely remarkable thing about this board is the total lack of specifications, etc from Gigabyte. You would think that a company like Gigabyte that supposedly has a killer product like this new 680i board would want to get the product info, etc out in the public consumption ASAP. But no, not Gigabyte. We have to wait like hungry lap-dogs from some scraps from their info table to be tossed about to satisfy our thirst for info about this new board. Well, Gigabyte ought to wise up, since I, for one, are just about ready to purchase an ASUS Striker Extreme instead of this new Gigabyte board, if for no other reason other than Gigabyte's absolute arrogance in this whole matter. Wake up Gigabyte. Either you have a new product that fills the limited info that you have floated or you don't. Stop wasting our collective time if you are really running a sham on us!

 

[hardwareking]

Hey Gigabyte actually seems punctual compared to DFI with their RD600.Its out now but how many delays did it have.

But anyway the Gigabyte version of the nforce 680i chipset is hopefully gonna be sweet.And hopefully won't end up like their P965-DQ6 board.(good board but poor bios support compared to the 965P-DS3)

 

[Gary Key]

Specs - Board finally arriving this Friday


Model GA-N680SLI-DQ6
CPU/Keep out Zone Socket 775
Chip nVidia nForce 680i SLI
(C55XE+MCP55PXE)
Form Factor ATX
PCB Size (mm) 244x305
FSB 1333/1066/800/533
Graphics PCI-Ex16 *2
1 PCI-Ex 1+3 PCI
1 PCI-Ex8
Memory Type Dual Channel, DDRII 800/667/533
Memory Socket DDRII*4
USB port 10*USB2.0/1.1 (6 by cable)
ATA connector 1*PATA133
10*SATAII( NV 6S
& GIGABYTE SATA2 2S*2)
RAID Yes (*Note 9,10)
Audio HD audio(Realtek ALC888 DD)
Codec 8-channel
LAN Quad GbE LAN( Marvell 8052+8056+2*Marvell 1116 phy)
Dual BIOS Quad BIOS
1394 1394a
NB Fan Sink MOS/ NB/SB heatpipe
IDE/FDD cable SATAII*4+
PATA*1, FDD*1+ eSATA cable*2

 

[VooDooAddict]

Does it have that back "cool plate" like the P965-DQ6?

The backside cool plate and the trouble with heat sink mounting is the prime reason why I haven't had any P965-DQ6 based systems purchased through me. Otherwise the motherboard cooling and second PCIe physical slot would get the extra $$ over the P965-DS3

 

[Fallen Kell]

Yes, it does have the back "cool plate", at least from the pics I have seen. I am wondering how this may effect heat sinks like the Tuniq Tower being used.

 

[Fallen Kell]

So did it show up yet?

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: TheBeagle Well, Gigabyte ought to wise up, since I, for one, are just about ready to purchase an ASUS Striker Extreme instead of this new Gigabyte board, if for no other reason other than Gigabyte's absolute arrogance in this whole matter.

the funny thing about this is that Gigabyte United is half-owned by Asus anyway so it's a win, win for them whichever mobo of the 2 that you buy ...

 

[Arctucas]

From what I hear, the Striker has stability problems. I really would like to see the GA-N680SLI-DQ6 released so the various review sites can evaluate it. I have been holding off for a couple of months on my new build in anticipation of a really killer mobo. I have always liked Gigabyte, I hope they get it right with their 680 board the first time.

 

[Gary Key]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell
So did it show up yet?

Yes, using it now.

 

[xorifrafox]

Interesting that you have your hands on one... do tell!!

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell
I think it has the following: 4 G-Eth, 4 eSATA, 6 SATAII, 10 USB 2.0, 1 serial port, 5.1 analog sound out, 1 optical SPDIF out, 1 IDE, 1 Floppy, 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x8 (physical x16 slot), 1 PCIe x1, 2 PCI 2.3, 1333 MHz FSB support. The big thing being the 1333 MHz FSB support.

Quad Bios
10 Sata
4 esata
3 PCI slot
Realtek ALC88DD
Also choke are protected
SMD capacitor instead of DIP capacitor Asus striker uses

 

[Fallen Kell]

10 SATAII? You certain of that and not the fact that it has 6 SATAII and 4 eSATA = 6 + 4 = 10?

 

[eklock2000]

:thumbsup::thumbsdown:...well Gary, did you get it to post? Any eVGA type problems? C'mon...give us sometin' to chew on.

Thanks

 

[eklock2000]

I know the answer is probably when ur done, but when is Anandtech's review/preview estimated to be posted?

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: eklock2000
I know the answer is probably when ur done, but when is Anandtech's review/preview estimated to be posted?

Well if it takes the same amount of time to do the Gigabyte review as it has been for them to make the Asus Striker Review, it will be April 29th assuming the Asus Striker Review is posted tomorrow...