Conclusions
After delivering a less-than-inspiring nForce 780i SLI chipset last year, Nvidia has finally followed up with its true next-generation core logic in the 790 SLI Ultra. An all-new north bridge lies at the heart of this latest nForce chipset, complete with a DDR3 memory controller that not only boasts significantly lower latencies than its rivals, but also supports memory speeds all the way up to 2000MHz. 32 lanes of second-gen PCI Express are packed into the 790i SLI SPP, as well, complete with SLI-specific optimizations and the ability to run a third graphics card for three-way multi-GPU configurations.

Nvidia built the 790i SLI reference platform with enthusiasts in mind, endowing its BIOS with arguably the best mix of overclocking, tweaking, and fan speed control options on the market. The vast majority of these options are exposed in Windows through Nvidia's excellent System Tools software, too. This all comes neatly packaged on a new motherboard design that sports a solid array of integrated peripherals, including support for multi-channel digital audio output. The layout of the new board is nearly perfect, and it can even accommodate some of the largest aftermarket processor heatsinks around.

However, it's in this reference motherboard design that we see the first cracks in the 790i SLI's appeal. A CPU-hungry auxiliary storage controller tasked primarily with eSATA connectivity is the first blemish, and it's joined by a Firewire controller with relatively slow write speeds. These peripherals aren't technically part of the chipset, of course, but we also observed lackluster throughput from the 790i SLI's integrated Gigabit Ethernet controllers. The power consumption of Nvidia's nForce reference platforms continues to be higher than that of Intel-based boards with similar peripheral payloads, as well.

These little flaws are hardly show-stoppers, but for a premium product like the nForce 790i SLI Ultra, they're a little tough to swallow. $350 and up for a motherboard is a big ask, even for a high-end platform like the Ultra, making it tough to forgive even a small collection of imperfections.

Yet the nForce 790 SLI Ultra still manages to unseat Intel's X48 Express from its throne as the reigning uber-high-end chipset thanks to two key features. The first and most obvious is support for SLI—a feature that Nvidia continues to deny its chipset competitors. With the new GeForce 9800 GX2 ready for effective four-way SLI configurations, the 790i SLI will be able to play host to what should be the highest performance graphics configuration on the market. That's a big deal for an ultra-exotic platform like the, er, Ultra. The 790i SLI also offers full support for the Enthusiast System Architecture, which is the best solution for open hardware monitoring and control that we've seen to date. ESA is more than just a specification; it's now backed up by real hardware and phenomenal Nvidia System Tools software.

Obviously, top-of-the-line chipsets like the Ultra are less concerned with value and more about winning bragging rights in a technical arms race. In the arms race between Core 2 chipsets, the nForce 790i SLI Ultra definitely leads.