EVGA nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital PWM Motherboard

Performance Summary: The overal performance offered by the EVGA nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital PWM met our expectations. What we didn't expect was the alternating victories between the EVGA nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital PWM and the Intel X38 Express motherboard. In many of our tests, the EVGA board performs right on par with the Intel X38 board. In some other tests, however, the EVGA board outperforms the Intel X38 and vice versa.

There is no doubt that the EVGA nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital PWM brings a lot to the table, including great features and design, solid performance, excellent quality, and a sizable yet practical bundle. On top of all that, EVGA manages to add a layer of enthusiast-oriented detail while still making the board accessible to the average user. It is an impressive board all around.

We can think of only two real issues that cause us pause recommending this new motherboard - the price and the Intel's X58 launch. The board will set you back over $300 and is obviously not for everyone. If you have no intention of considering at least 2-way SLI and don't care about most of this board's features, you owe it to yourself to research a less expensive alternative. EVGA has cheaper nForce 7 Series motherboards that you could look at. In addition to the price, we can't help but think about the Intel X58 boards that are on the market. EVGA even released an X58 board recently, and it looks to be one worth considering (in fact we have it in the test lab right now). We're looking more than favorably at X58 boards that are compatible with both NVIDIA and ATI multi-GPU solutions. Additionally, the undeniable performance gains offered by Intel Core i7 processors, in conjunction with an X58 board, is not easily ignored.

If you are building a brand new system with all new parts, and have the budget, you should consider the Intel X58 / Core i7 combination first in our opinion. On the other hand, if you already have a Core 2 processor, but you want to get more life out of it or perhaps tap in on the solid deals that exist in Core 2 chips currently, then the EVGA nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital PWM is definitely worthy of your consideration. In a sea of reference nForce 790i SLI-based motherboards, the EVGA nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital PWM is clearly a stand-out product.

•  Enthusiast-oriented BIOS •  Great features •  Good performance •  Thoughtful design and layout •  8-phase digital PWMs •  100% solid state capacitors •  3-way SLI capable •  24/7 Tech Support in N. America •  Limited Lifetime Warranty	•  Expensive •  Less appealing with Intel X58 on the market now