ECS PN2 SLI2+ Extreme Motherboard

The 680i chipset represents nVidia's flagship silicon in the Intel world (hence the 'Extreme' moniker ECS chose for their top tier motherboard offering). Those that embraced the nForce4 x16 SLI on the AMD platform will recognize the two chip design (Northbridge and Southbridge) with support for the full x16 bandwidth when running two videocards. But unlike anything in the AMD camp, the 680i chipset supports an impressive 1333MHz FSB (perfect for INTEL's new Quad Core Processors). Rounding out the chipset are a wealth of features, such as Realtek's ALC885 high definition audio codec  and support for Intel's quad-core processor lineup.

As the great Yogi Berra once said..."It's Deja Vu, all over again", and he'd be right (if, of course he was hreferring to this board). ECS decided to stick with a good, and less expensive thing, foregoing their own board design in favor of sticking with NVidia's hreference outline for the 680i board. Tom Black did a great write up on this during his review of the eVGA 680i a few weeks back, so we won't waste much time on particulars, instead focusing on what I like and dislike about the design before moving onto the BIOS and some testing.

The area around the CPU socket is clear of any obstructions (tall caps, poor chipset cooling, etc). I had no issue using a variety of aftermarket cooling solutions of varying height or width during my testing.

I appreciate the fact that ECS placed all the connectors as close to the board's edge as possible, this should make cable management much easier. Also, I've noticed most boards lately have placed the memory slots too close to the top x16 PCI-E slot, which makes switching out memory modules slightly problematic. The PN2-SLI2+ leaves ample room to switch out modules easily, without removing the videocard, or risking damage to the modules.

The PN2-SLI2+ includes an LED debugger, which flashes codes during the board's post. This helps the user troubleshoot boot and hardware issues. Unlike a lot of boards with built-in debuggers, the user manual includes a section dedicated to the error messages.

Also found here are the CLR CMOS jumper and BIOS battery, both well placed and easily accessible.

The rear I/O plate features six USB 2.0 connectors, PS/2 mouse and keyboard connectors, two GigE ethernet adapters, an IEEE 1394 connector, an SP/DIF optical audio port, and a six port audio jack.

Overall, the decision to stick to nVidia's hreference design pays off big time for ECS. The PN2-SLI2+ is a beautiful board, one that is also extremely well laid out. I was happy to see five fan headers and a PCI-E retention system that doesn't suck.

While a fantastic idea that every board maker should include, the onboard power/reset buttons are poorly placed. They are completely inaccessible when using the bottom PCI slot, or when using a bottom mounted PSU. Placing them at the lower right corner near the CMOS jumper would have been wiser. Also, the horrible placement of the front panel connectors left me scratching my head.

The BIOS used for the PN2-SLI2+ is extremely easy to work with and allows for some serious tweaking. Every setting the enthusiast could want or need is filed away under the "Advanced Chipset" menu.

Here you'll find everything you'll need to adjust the frequencies and voltages for components. One feature I particularly liked was the ability to adjust the CPU and memory frequencies independently of each other.   

The memory timings are reduced to the most common options, a pleasant surprise considering the depth of some companies boards.....and during our testing we had no issues using various kits from OCZ, Corsair, Kingston, and Crucial.

Another nice feature ECS included was the ability to save and load different OC Profiles. This feature allows you to save three different "profiles", something that works great for those tweaking their system to get the most out of it, or those wishing to compare the effect different settings have on system performance

Note that overclocking the ECS 680i based PN2-SLI2+ can be a new experience for those of you used to simply bumping up the CPU FSB, memory frequency, and voltages. We have posted NVidia's official overclocking PDF in the forums, which you can read here.

Regardless, should you push something too far the ECS PN2-SLI2+ will simply emit two short beeps, then reset itself at the POST screen, where you can simply re-adjust things in the BIOS. During all of our testing, not once were we forced to use the CLR CMOS jumper to restore the system from a bad setting.

Our Recommendation

The best board ECS has ever made! I've been touting ECS as a company to watch over the past year as they refocus their efforts from budget board maker to mainstream and enthusiast alternative. Although their boards are not as "Extreme" in some people's eyes as those from ASUS and DFI, ECS boards have progressed to the point where they are a great choice for the first time system builder or modest overclocker who values stability and all around value over insane clock speeds.

Before receiving this board, I had some worries regarding the 680i chipset, HardOCP ran an article talking about potential problems in regards to the SATA abilities of the chipset, and our own Tom Black was also a victim of the issue. Thankfully, I had absolutely no issues at all setting up the ECS PN2 SLI2+ Extreme.

If I have to find negatives I would point out a few layout quirks that could pose problems depending upon your case and wiring. First, I love the power/reset button included on the baord, but their placement could pose problems for those using the bottom PCI slot or those who have a bottom mounted PSU. My solution here was to use a pen to push the buttons (when I installed the board in a case). My second issue was the placement of the front panel connectors, placing them directly behind the IDE port and additional 4-pin molex was really goofy, but more an annoyance than a problem.

 So why are we so eager to recommend a motherboard who's price tag is a bit higher and performance is about the same as the competition? Mainly because this board was really a dream to work with, plus those of you who have to have the best can run SLI in all its glory.......simple enough. I also have to say, that once you get used to the BIOS and overclocking features, the PN2-SLI2+ is a lot of fun to tweak. Overall, I really enjoyed this board, and considering the performance and features, have no hesitation recommending it to anyone short of the most extreme overclockers.

Other Reviews Of Note

Its always nice to have more than one opinion on a component before you spend your hard earned money. For one, We may see something others missed, or vice versa. As with all reviews published at HardwareLogic, we'll not only give you our recommendation, but also point out some reviews from some other great sites around the web.
HardwareZone
Hexus
OCWorkbench
Virtual Hideout