"Few users may actually need that second networking port, but with virtually every $200 board sporting dual GigE options, the LT starts to look a little stingy."
I hate it when reviewers take of points pointlessly. No dual Ethernet. BFD. Who needs it?

But on the serious tip, no heatpipe cooling means they don't get my money anyway.

First Post. Off to read.

Perhaps LT means "light" ;)

I wish it was a tribute to Lawrence Taylor and the board came with an 8-ball of coke.

I don't know about you guys, but dropping those 2 USB ports is whats bothering me the most. I have some other issues with it, but I use all my USB headers on my NF4 build right now. I would find it unacceptable to go back to 8 ports from 10 at this point.

(reply to #11) Was that sarcasm? I finally added a 6 port hub so I wouldn't have to climb around to the back every time I needed to dump my camera. At least they have a TI based 1394, MOTU don't like VIA. Why are they putting 8-channel sound on board when they can't get two to sound good? Is there anything on this board that isn't on a dozen others?

While it's no longer new technology, my MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum has 8 SATA ports, dual gig NICs, options for up to ten USB 2.0 ports (4 rear, 6 front with the right connectors), and Firewire, and it cost $140. I'm still a little curious as to how it takes $200 now (the only difference I see that I don't have is SLI, which really isn't a matter of cost any more) since nVidia has managed to have most of these features in the past without a board coming in at a $200 price point.

At this point, I think the ASUS Commando beats this board hollow for the same price. The Intel BadAxe2 does as well. Both have a better layout, passive cooling for the price, neither have Realtek audio, and the ASUS has dual gig NICs.

Nvidia still wants to piss me off by promising Vista compatibility for nforce3, then taking it away, then promising support with drivers, then not delivering.

They really want to lose me as a customer.

I guess the trouble I have is that when the successor to Windows Vista comes out, nVidia will probably wash their hands of all their motherboard chipsets out now much like they have done with today's so-called older products which support CPU's that are much faster than Vista's minimum spec. Meanwhile, Intel and everyone else will still be supporting their chipsets. Good example: I could have carried my old 865PE into Vista quite happily if I wanted to.

Geoff, just out of curiosity, if you were asked to bring out a sub $200 version of the 680, what would you have cut to do it?

Another fake rebrand...some countries that would be considered illegal. How hard is it to actually sell it as it is.

I mean imagine going down to your car dealer. he shows you a fine new 2007 model. But its not a 2007 model. Its a 2006 with a new sticker on. There we would crush his skull. With computers we seem to eat it raw.

680 LT is just a 680 board paried with an older southbridge.

SLI is still the only gimmick that 680 family has over its competitors.

Meh, I don't give a hoot about SLI. I'd toss my hat in the P965 camp.

The conclusion page really needs the drop-down table of contents list.

How is the noise level on that chipset fan?