Nvidia has rolled out a cut-down version of its nForce 680i SLI top-of-the-line chipset for Intel processors. The new logic's key differentiator from its parent product: Nvidia's reduced the maximum clock speed of SLI-specific memory.

The nForce 680i SLI can automatically overclock SLI-certified memory modules to 1,200MHz. The new chipset, the 680i LT SLI, can run them at up to 800MHz, the same frequency that standard DDR 2 memory will run at when connected to a 680i LT SLI-based board.

Like the 680i SLI, the 680i LT SLI will dynamically overclock the frontside bus from the CPU's maximum - just not as far, Nvidia indicated.

The two chipsets' other specifications remain identical: two PCI Express x16 slots for multi-GPU configurations, with a third x8 PCIe slot for a physics-processing graphics card; support for six 3Gbps SATA and two parallel ATA drives; RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 support; two Gigabit Ethernet ports that can be combined to operate as a single, double-bandwidth link; TCP/IP acceleration; ten USB ports; and HD audio.

Nvidia said boards based on the new chipset are available immediately for around $200 (£102/€151). Mobo suppliers supporting the 680i LT SLI include EVGA and XFX.