Test System

     For this review we'll be using an EVGA nForce 680i SLI motherboard which is based on NVIDIA's NF68 chipset.

     Here is a basic rundown of the test system:

Testing

Default Memory Speed and Timings

     The first test will be with the memory, CPU and motherboard at motherboard default clock settings. This means these are the default bios settings right out of the box. Please take into consideration that the experienced computer enthusiast would change the bios settings first thing to optimize the performance of the system. This portion of our testing is only to show you what the EPP can do for the inexperienced user.

Sandra Memory Bandwidth results shown above in red: 7551/7564

     Running at CPU, memory and motherboard default settings, hitting 800MHz with the memory was effortless, just as it should be. Remember, this is not even at the full rated memory speed of 1066MHz. Even with the memory only running at 800MHz, we are seeing some of the fastest memory scores ever here at ClubOC!

EPP and SLI-Ready Memory Explained

     First off, let us save you some time by explaining a little about this EPP feature which only works with "SLI-Ready" memory. The SLI-Ready Memory setting in the bios is only for the inexperienced, and/or to quickly setup the memory bus speed settings. It only identifies the memory and correctly sets the memory bus speed. In this case, it will change the memory bus speed from 800MHz, to the correct bus speed rating of this OCZ memory which is 1066MHz. It does not change anything else, including memory timings. Not to knock the EPP feature, but EPP is not a magical setting that will automatically overclock memory or lower memory timings below factory recommendations. SLI-Ready memory will work with just about any non EPP motherboard and you do not need SLI-Ready memory to run in a SLI motherboard. EPP and SLI-Ready memory is only an enhancement feature.

     The screenshot above shows the FSB and Memory Config screen in the bios with the SLI-Ready Memory setting enabled and at 0% CPU overclock. Yes, EVGA has even given us a quick and easy way to overclock the CPU here. Unfortunately, this overclocking feature allows us to overclock the CPU by percentage points, but not overclock the memory. The reason is, when you enable the SLI-Ready Memory setting, the bios "unlinks" the bus speed ratios between the CPU and memory which then allows the user to overclock the CPU independently. A nice feature for the inexperienced user, but it wont help us out much here today since we are here to test the memory, not the CPU.

EPP and SLI-Ready Test

     For this test we will be enabling the SLI-Ready Memory setting with the CPUOC (CPU Overclock) setting to
0%.

Sandra Memory Bandwidth results shown above in red: 7747/7756

     As you can clearly see, just by enabling the SLI-Ready Memory setting gives us a huge performance boost. Just keep in mind that the SLI-Ready Memory setting properly sets the memory bus speed from 800MHz to 1066MHz. Normally, the user would manually change the memory and/or CPU bus speed in order to meet the rated speed of the DDR 2 memory.

A note about the CPUOC setting under the SLI-Ready Memory setting in the bios: Oddly, we have discovered that by increasing the CPUOC from 0% on up to "CPUOC Max" does very little if anything for memory performance. Normally, every motherboard we have ever tested shows an increase in memory performance as CPU bus speeds increase. This doesn't seem to be the case with the 680i. We will learn more as we get into manual overclocking.