A8N-SLi premium

[ElTorrente]

Well I ditched my mobo in my sig, and am now running a DFI LanParty sli.

I use "systool" to monitor my temps and voltages, and I immediately noticed that all my voltages are rock-solid on the DFI. The voltage graphs in systool are simply straight lines that don't jump around like the ASUS did.

I am running at 2.88ghz now, and can go further if I feel like it- but I'm scared of giving it too many volts. It is interesting seeing the differences in overclocking between the two boards.

With the ASUS premium, I needed 1.52 to be stable at 2.76ghz. With the DFI, I was Prime95 stable at 2.76ghz with only 1.47 volts. That was surprising, and I don't know what was up with that.

I started bumping it up more and more, and somewhere around 2850mhz is where I began really needing more and more voltage, and I was seeing diminishing returns. I messed around above 2900mhz, but to be Prime95 stable, I needed 1.7volts or more. Now I'm at 1.64 and with two Prime95s running my temp hits about 43C, so I'm satisfied right here.

People were saying to watch out for Corsair RAM with the DFI, but that is very far from the truth. I can run my RAM faster with this board than I could with the ASUS. I am at 240mhz and 2.5-3-2-5 timings at 2.9volts, and I haven't seen their limit yet- still messing with settings. With the ASUS at 2.9volts and the same timings, I could only get around 235mhz.

In other words- I'm sooooooo happy I got rid of the ASUS. However- I would recommend the ASUS sli premium to anyone as long as they weren't hard-core overclocking.

 

[Pl0p]

Ok, if you don't overclock get the ASUS, but still don't get an Asus if you want to use more than 2 memory banks.

I have the exact same experience as Solofly: i've removed my second and third module and it's working fine now. During the week i'm mostly in Holland working on a laptop, but during w-e i'm in Belgium on this gaming rig. Today I got home ... very sick... booted the machine and the first boot just hung in the windows startup screen. Second boot, I had a BSOD ffs. Third time, hangining again. To test it I removed 2nd and 3rd ram module and it's running fine now priming in the background.

I'm going to write Asus about this!

To be complete here's my config:

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 5ux0r m0f0
AMD64 X2 4400+ Toledo
2 x CMX-512-3200XLPRO XMS3200 512MB 400MHZ XMS3208V1.1 0509037-1 2.2.2.5 (S/N: 000118275 - 00118276 are removed now, but two same still in system)
Antec Truecontrol 550W
2 x MSI NX7800GTX VT2D256E SLI enabled
CL Audigy 1
2 x Raptor 36GB RAID0 PATA

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: Pl0p
Ok, if you don't overclock get the ASUS, but still don't get an Asus if you want to use more than 2 memory banks.

I have the exact same experience as Solofly: i've removed my second and third module and it's working fine now. During the week i'm mostly in Holland working on a laptop, but during w-e i'm in Belgium on this gaming rig. Today I got home ... very sick... booted the machine and the first boot just hung in the windows startup screen. Second boot, I had a BSOD ffs. Third time, hangining again. To test it I removed 2nd and 3rd ram module and it's running fine now priming in the background.

I'm going to write Asus about this!

To be complete here's my config:

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium 5ux0r m0f0
AMD64 X2 4400+ Toledo
2 x CMX-512-3200XLPRO XMS3200 512MB 400MHZ XMS3208V1.1 0509037-1 2.2.2.5 (S/N: 000118275 - 00118276 are removed now, but two same still in system)
Antec Truecontrol 550W
2 x MSI NX7800GTX VT2D256E SLI enabled
CL Audigy 1
2 x Raptor 36GB RAID0 PATA

I can't tell if it's a nforce problem or asus problem.. im running pc-dl (xeon 3.2s) and using all 4 banks 1gbx4 crucial and it works fine. I jus bought the a8n-sli with 4gb and its still fine.

What revision is your board?

 

[Pl0p]

Rev 1.02
A8N-SLI Premium - EAY (Sticker on the parallel port)
Bios: A8NP3 1005 E100 GSA01

 

[Pl0p]

Forcesho, thank you for showing interest in the problem. What is your rev and BIOS version?

Here's mine again:
------------------------------
Rev 1.02
A8N-SLI Premium - EAY (Sticker on the parallel port)
Bios: A8NP3 1005 E100 GSA01
-------------------------------

I've submitted a VIP-Member support inquiry to Asus. I'll post the responses here.
WTM20050916659174517 Motherboard A8N-SLI Premium 2005-09-16 07:14:40

This mail didn't reply yet !!

---------- Incoming Message ----------

Apply date : 9/16/2005 6:59:17 AM

[Contact Information]
*Name : ********
*Email Address : kingkong@bambam.cg
Phone Number : ********
City : ********
*Country : ********

[Product Information]
*Product Type : Motherboard
*Product Model : A8N-SLI Premium
*Product S/N : *********
Place of Purchase : ********
*Date of Purchase : 2005/7/24

[Motherboard Specification]
*Motherboard Revision : 1.02
*Motherboard BIOS Revision : 1007.002 on board A8NP3 1005 E100 GSA01

[VGA Card Specification]
*VGA Card Vendor : MSI
*VGA Card Model : NX7800GTX
*VGA Card Chipset : NVidia
*VGA Card Driver : 77.77

[CPU Specification]
*CPU Vendor : AMD
*CPU Type : Socket 939
*CPU Speed : 4400+

[Memory Specification]
*Memory Vendor : Corsair
*Memory Model : DDRAM cmx512-3200XLPRO
*Memory Capacity : 4 x 512 of the above

[HDD Specification]
HDD Vendor : Western Digital
HDD Model : Raptor
HDD Capacity : 36

[Add-on Card Specificatio]
Add-on Card Vendor :
Add-on Card Type :
Add-on Card Model :

*Operating System : WinXP

[Problem Description]
With 4 memory modules inserted the pc crashes, reboots, doesn't boot.
Memory used:
4 x Corsair CMX512-3200XLPRO XMS3200 512MB 400MHz 2.2.2.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update / Edit:
Running Prime95 in the background: temps rising to 48°C/48°C
Windows session crash while surfing and monitoring with asusprobe... possibly some soft issue, but i'm still not fully confident now that the problem is only the 2 additional memory modules.

 

[Capt Caveman]

fwiw - I've been running 1gbx4 Crucial Ballistix's w/out any issue @ 250mhz 3-3-3-8. The only issue I have with this board is that the newer bios cap the vcore to 1.45v and that there isn't enough memory tweaks in the bios. Using A64Tweaker, I can get my 1gb sticks to 280mhz 3-3-3-8.

 

[Pl0p]

... Well this is what I thought would happen if I wrote Asus. And I'm thinking they are right when I see the posts here.



Reply from Asus Support:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Firend,

Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

My name is **** and I would be assisting you today.
Sir,please try to only use one memory to have a try,because you bought the mb have not a long time,I think the chance of the problem on the mb is not bij,please try to comfirm you memory brand and other parameter whether beongs to the memory list of the manual.


Welcome to refer FAQ for ASUS products in ASUS website:

http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.aspx?SLanguage=en-us



If you have any other problems, please don't hesitate to let me know. Let's discuss together.

Thank you for using ASUS products and enjoying services!




ASUS Customer Service Center (Shanghai)

If you have any suggestions or complaints about our technical support service, please e-mail your valuable feedback to ********. We will then arrange for a specialist to work on your issue. Your suggestions and feedback are most appreciated and allow us to serve you better.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Pl0p]

Hey Capt Caveman, you're lucky I guess Check out the Vendors List for DDR 400. I was just unlucky like a lot more of us are.

I have to stop bitching, it is my own fault:

http://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/soc...LI%20Premium/e1952_a8n-sli_premium.pdf

The DDR400 Qualified Vendors List lists only three modules which will work in the 4banks to attain 4GB:
1024Mb Kinston KVR400X64C3A/1G DS HYB25D512800BE-5B
1024Mb Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 DS
1024MB Transcend TS128MLD64V4J Samsung DS K4H510838B-TCCC
Only these modules are flagged that you can use all 4 banks for it. All the others in the list are 512 or less x 4, and even the 512Mbs are not supported for the use of 4 modules.



Next time I buy a rig I need to download all of the documentation first so that I know that all hardware will work with each other... crap!!

 

[Pl0p]

Here is another update on the memory subject and it's getting really bad now!!!!

***************************

Hello again,

I'm investigating to see wether it is possible to have 4GB on this motherboard. I stumbled upon a flagrant error in your documentation:

On page 38 of document e2128_A8n-sli_premium.pdf on the 24th line on the table of DDR400 Qualified Vendors List it says:

"1024MB Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 N/A DS N/A *A *B" => "this does NOT SUPPORT for 4 modules inserted into the blue and black slots as two pairs of Dual-Channel memory configuration" as stated at the bottom of the table!!

While on page 39 on line 30 of that same document in that same table it says:

"1024MB Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 N/A DS N/A *A *B *C" => "this DOES SUPPORT for 4 modules inserted into the blue and black slots as two pairs of Dual-Channel memory configuration" as stated at the bottom of the table!!



How should a consumer know what type of memory can be fitted on this motherboard and what will work for him? I used to be a happy al the time ASUS user, but i'm getting worried that this will change. And unfortunately i'm not the only one thinking of it this way. I've been looking on fora to see what other people their experiences are with this motherboard and there are quite some people who are changing towards DFI! I'm thinking of taking the same step as my memory is more expensive than the motherboard itself. I've already lost a lot of time on figuring out where the problem is coming from and my business is suffering from it. I do know that the current memory I have is not supported on the motherboard when using the 4 modules of CMX512-3200XLPRO, but i'm looking into getting 4GB, but unfortunately it isn't documented what will work and what not. Why take 4GB if i'm thinking of moving towards DFI... well it's easier to replace ram modules then to swap out a whole motherboard and re-installing everything.

Thanks in advance,

***************

 

[Capt Caveman]

You know, I've never bought RAM based on what the Motherboard Manufacturer lists as qualified. I find that they don't test many different brands of memory. And many of the memory manufacturers use the same memory chips for a particular type of RAM produced.

As mentioned earlier, I ran 4gb(1gbx4) of Crucial Ballistix w/out any issues. Today, I got a 2gb(1gbx2) kit of Mushkin's XP4000 RAM. For the heck of it, I decided to mix the RAM - 2 1gb Ballistix and the 2 1gb Mushkin sticks. At first, I couldn't get it to post but after booting up with one pair and changing the memory setting to 2T in the bios, I'm up and running with 4gb, 4 memory banks, different RAM:
2GB(1gbx2) Crucial Ballistix and 2GB(1gbx2) Mushkin XP4000

 

[Vegito]

so many a8n thread, finally found the one i was on.. I am 1.02 also and i just switch to 1009 w/o problems yet.

BTW where are you BSODing at splash of windows or in windows ?

also which SP are you in..

Check this for XP SP1

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328269&Product=winxp

 

[Pl0p]

I'm running SP2

I'm tired of it, i never checked what the mfg booklet says about the memory, but now i will before I try a system.

I'm still not sure what I want to do:
- Move back to Intel... i was used to having intel while AMD had always given me troubles... this one might not be related to AMD but hell, i'm just more lucky with intel
- Change my RAM (quite expensive). Try to get it exchanged via Corsair with only difference pay and shipping.? we'll see.
- RMA the motherboard.
- Replace the power supply with an even more powerfull one... I have two NX7800GTX's so they need power. Replace the Antec 550W with my enermax 600W (which is in my fileserver with 9 hdd's)

I've had a couple of symptoms:
- PC boots, goes into the windows bootscreen where you see the little blue bar going back and forth (if it works it is still very long, takes about nine scrolls before it continues) and then the screen goes weird and hangs. Only a couple artifacts show up and it hangs. The artifacts show up immediately even when the scrollbar still moves, but then the whole sjebang hangs.
- BSOD: this one is related to the SW driver from Nvidia. I re-installed the drivers, but I had installed the SW IDE Driver as well which caused problems... I experienced what I had read on the forums about this driver I managed to remove that one.
- When in windows all seems to work, but then I hit CTRL+ESC then R for run and type www.google.com and voila a BSOD. This not only happens when I have 4 ram modules inserted. I had it as well when trying with only 2 modules but with very sharp timings: 2-2-2-5.

* (Oh btw can someone tell me what timing is what when you list these, i'm always confused as where to enter the 2s and the 5 in the bios )

* I'm now running with upped voltages on the RAM. Btw what should the voltage be for those rams?

* Question 3: What is the best set of tests to see if all runs fine? Sisoft Sandra? Memtest? 3DMark? Games? Demo's? Timedemos? (I have LOMAC... very heavy)

 

[Pl0p]

this is hilarious. the support guys from ASUS are all the time on an opium trip. Here is there answer on my question what type of RAM would work if I wanted to use the four modules:


Dear Firend,

Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

My name is Zane and I would be assisting you today.
Sir,we have tesed some memory,some of them works well on the mb,So we put them in the memory list,I think the memory list can works well,please don't be worry.If you wan to buy more then one,I think you'd better buy the same memory.

 

[Superguy]

That's a good one.

I complained in a support ticket about the vCore problems on the Premium and when they finally answered, it said one word: Close!

Of course, Asus's website has been jacked up (at least from accessing at home and work), so I haven't been able to tell them that's an unacceptable answer.

 

[openwheelformula1]

super guy: install .net frame from microsoft

 

[SMatson]

Does this board have Wi-Fi?

I've read conflicting things. The ASUS site doesn't say it does but I was hoping it does.

Thanks

 

[virtualrain]

No the A8N-SLI Premium does not have Wifi as an option. I think the new dual x16 board does.

 

[Seeruk]

I'm glad I found this thread! - I was looking at this board for a purchase next week, BUT I have 4 x 512 v damn expensive RAM sticks, and I refuse to not use them all

Any recommendations for a nice performing mobo alternative other than the DFI?? (not available at my supplier)

 

[Skott]

I think Abit makes a mobo in this version that can use all four RAM modules without a problem. Try Abit.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Seeruk
I'm glad I found this thread! - I was looking at this board for a purchase next week, BUT I have 4 x 512 v damn expensive RAM sticks, and I refuse to not use them all

Any recommendations for a nice performing mobo alternative other than the DFI?? (not available at my supplier)

What are you talking about? I can run 4x1gb of a combination of 2x1gb of Crucial Ballistix and 2x1gb of Mushkin XP4000 w/out any problems. See my post a little further up.

 

[Seeruk]

Is that at a reduced speed (i.e. 333?)

Just a few people here, as well on the official forums and amdmb.com have all mentioned issues with 4 sticks. On my current board (MSI Neo2 Platinum) I also have to drop the speed in order to have things stable and it is something I want to avoid thats all.

IMHO a board shouldnt come with 4 RAM slots if it cant run with 4 ram slots full and at full speed!!

My ram is GEIL 4 x 512mb DDR4300 ...... anyone got the same and able to use it full speed??

Otherwise I am looking perhaps at the ABIT KN8 Fatality thingy...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Nope, running at 400 but at 2T. You can see my screenshot link up a few posts.