NVIDIA 780i: Evolution Plus Triple SLI

Launch Motherboards

At launch, two 780i motherboards are available from NVIDIA partners. As is often the case with new NVIDIA chipsets, both boards follow the NVIDIA reference board layout.

The XFX 780i will certainly stand out on a shelf. The package is almost twice the thickness of a normal motherboard.

The motherboard itself is remarkably similar to the NVIDIA 680i, which should not come as a surprise to anyone.

Ports and port layout for the XFX 780i are the same as the earlier 680i reference board.

EVGA has also introduced a 780i motherboard. EVGA uses more standard motherboard packaging, with a very green NVIDIA theme.

As you can see in the photo if would be difficult to tell the EVGA from the XFX board were it not for the EVGA logo.

Changes Compared to 680i

While the boards may look like 680i boards, there have been a few changes made to the reference design. We complained about the location of the front panel header, as did almost every site that reviewed the 680i. NVIDIA listened and they have now moved the front panel (power on, reset, LED, HD) connector block to a more traditional and easy to work with location.

NVIDIA also added a CPU thermal diode LED nest to the CPU fan pins. This turns red when the board detects abnormal CPU heat. This is not particularly useful once a board is in a case, but for test bench overclocking it is a nice feature. Windowed case users may also find it a useful addition.

Finally, NVIDIA has revised the heatpipe design to work better and keep the system a bit cooler. An optional fan is still included, and it is needed for serious overclocking. Those who value quiet can run the board without any active cooling at stock speeds.

Availability