nForce 590 SLI for Intel

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Like its counterpart for AM2 processors, the nForce 590 SLI for Intel gets most of its appeal from a solid dual-PCIe x16 SLI implementation, loads of PCI Express connectivity, ample Serial ATA RAID and Gigabit Ethernet options, and useful extras like FirstPacket, DualNet, and nTune. Performance is pretty good, too, although power consumption remains a thorn in Nvidia's side. That's the price you pay for such a feature-rich chipset, I guess.

Some may question whether there's really a need to integrate extra features into a core logic chipset. After all, it's possible to tap auxiliary peripheral chips to build a motherboard that can go toe-to-toe with the 590 SLI and consumes less power in the process. However, unless you pick the right peripheral chips—something that motherboard makers don't always do, especially when they're trying to cut costs—you don't always get equivalent performance. By consolidating all these extras, the nForce 590 SLI ensures more consistent peripheral performance across a wider range of motherboard implementations, taking some of the guesswork out of picking a board.

If you were to pick a board, the Asus P5N32-SLI Premium would be a pretty good choice. The Premium has all the bases covered, including passive chipset cooling, Firewire, eSATA, digital audio outputs, integrated Wi-Fi, and an intriguing third PCIe x16 slot. Asus has done a good job with the board's BIOS, as well, and we hope Core 2 Duo multiplier control and additional nTune hooks are added soon.