* ASUS A8N-SLI experiences/results/issues

[bap4201]

Originally posted by: user1234
I got the board today and built the pc (3000+) but haven't overclocked yet. Just wanted to say I'm impressed with Asus quality, now I understand why they call this product deluxe. Also this was the easiest build ever, everything worked without any problems, I didn't even forget to connect any wires or anything else. On the downside, the chipset fan is noisy - I can hear it from inside the closed case, and it's a little annoying.

congrats user1234 on your setup! glad things went ok! Have you or anyone here tried sound blocking material inside the case like what they sell at frozen cpu.com?

 

[user1234]

My initial overclocking results are: 265.13 x 9 = 2386.18 MHz CPU at 1.55V, and memory at 216.93 MHz at 2.5-3-3-8 and 2.75V (DDR333 divider selected for memory clock which translates to CPU/11). HTT multiplier is x3. Note how I chose very lenient settings for voltages and latencies, so this wouldn't become a problem while overclocking the CPU. But I can't increase the FSB further in clockgen, as the machine reboots if I try to set it to 270MHz. And even if I lower the CPU multiplier to 8, so it runs at about 2220MHz, it still reboots if I try to set the FSB to 270. So it's something else, right ? The memory should also be able to handle it (270 FSB will be about 222MHz for memory) with the relaxed settings. Next I will try to choose a lower memory divider, so it runs slower, and see if I can increase the FSB more. I haven't done any serious stress tests, except from running aquamark3.

 

[athlete]

smc13--

I'm having exactly the same problem as you. I don't think the A1 slot is bad... maybe just some really bad compatibility problems on dual channel. One of my modules is a Corsair and one is a Geil. Let me know what you do, I'm no sure if I should try to find a match for my Corair or just buy a whole new pair.

-Kyle

 

[bkzshabbaz]

I've been getting this issue when i play games that give me more than 110 FPS. Games like Americas Army, and Rainbow Six. Everytime i hit over 110 FPS, it starts to go slow motion for strafing. The mouse is fast, but i move side to side and foward, slowly. anyone experience this?

 

[century child]

Originally posted by: athlete
smc13--

I'm having exactly the same problem as you. I don't think the A1 slot is bad... maybe just some really bad compatibility problems on dual channel. One of my modules is a Corsair and one is a Geil. Let me know what you do, I'm no sure if I should try to find a match for my Corair or just buy a whole new pair.

-Kyle

Using matching memory modules in dual channel is a must. And by matching, I mean exact matches, same model and revision number. Your best bet would be to sell the ones you have and just buy 2 new ones together to ensure they are a match.

 

[barkeley]

Originally posted by: user1234
I got the board today and built the pc (3000+) but haven't overclocked yet. Just wanted to say I'm impressed with Asus quality, now I understand why they call this product deluxe. Also this was the easiest build ever, everything worked without any problems, I didn't even forget to connect any wires or anything else. On the downside, the chipset fan is noisy - I can hear it from inside the closed case, and it's a little annoying.

Hmmm...haven't make my mind yet on which NF4 board to get (more coming to get a real choice) but that noisy chipset fan, reported by many, is probably what will prevent me from getting this mb.
I like rather silent computers and I don't see the point to spend some extra bucks for silent fans here and there if it's spoiled by the mb. The problem is no one has found so far from what I read a good substitute to this fan.

 

[Chugworth]

So after reading a few posts here, I thought my problem was related to the Audigy 2. Now I've been running for about three days without the Audigy 2 or any PCI cards. I had just gotten Windows all setup how I like it. I even installed Half Life 2 and was playing that for a while. So today I was working on installing another game that was 3 CDs. I never even considered the lockup problem since I figured I had it fixed. Well I was installing the game while surfing the net. CD1 went through with no problems. CD2 went through with no problems, except it did spin up and down some near the end. Then about half way through CD3, the mouse started jerking and the other windows started acting slow. "Oh no, this is how it does before it hangs." I checked the event log and it had no errors. I checked the task manager, and every time the mouse would jerk, "System" would jump to 99%. I just knew it was going to hang at the end of the install.

So the install got all the way to the end and... it did NOT hang. "Wow! The Audigy 2 must have been the problem!" So I went to the event viewer. There was a small mouse jerk along the way, but I paid no attention to that since it finished the install successfully. There were still no errors in the event log. "Now I'll just copy the game's small EXE patch and..." system hangs. :|

But I'm not finished yet. "At least I know how to get back into Windows." So I shut off the computer's power for five minutes, turned it back on, and I STILL got the endless XP loading screen. I got mad then and just let the machine sit in the BIOS for 30 minutes. I rebooted again, and still got the endless loading screen. So I powered off the computer for a few hours, started it back, and Windows loaded fine.

Damn this motherboard! I've been fighting it for almost two weeks now, and it looks like it won. I hate to RMA stuff, but I guess I'll have to send this one back.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: Chugworth
So after reading a few posts here, I thought my problem was related to the Audigy 2. Now I've been running for about three days without the Audigy 2 or any PCI cards. I had just gotten Windows all setup how I like it. I even installed Half Life 2 and was playing that for a while. So today I was working on installing another game that was 3 CDs. I never even considered the lockup problem since I figured I had it fixed. Well I was installing the game while surfing the net. CD1 went through with no problems. CD2 went through with no problems, except it did spin up and down some near the end. Then about half way through CD3, the mouse started jerking and the other windows started acting slow. "Oh no, this is how it does before it hangs." I checked the event log and it had no errors. I checked the task manager, and every time the mouse would jerk, "System" would jump to 99%. I just knew it was going to hang at the end of the install.

So the install got all the way to the end and... it did NOT hang. "Wow! The Audigy 2 must have been the problem!" So I went to the event viewer. There was a small mouse jerk along the way, but I paid no attention to that since it finished the install successfully. There were still no errors in the event log. "Now I'll just copy the game's small EXE patch and..." system hangs. :|

But I'm not finished yet. "At least I know how to get back into Windows." So I shut off the computer's power for five minutes, turned it back on, and I STILL got the endless XP loading screen. I got mad then and just let the machine sit in the BIOS for 30 minutes. I rebooted again, and still got the endless loading screen. So I powered off the computer for a few hours, started it back, and Windows loaded fine.

Damn this motherboard! I've been fighting it for almost two weeks now, and it looks like it won. I hate to RMA stuff, but I guess I'll have to send this one back.

How's your case cooling? If you left it off for a few hours and all was well, you may have heat issues. Make sure your wiring is clean, fans are moving air, everything is dusted off.

 

[Chugworth]

Originally posted by: InsomniakHow's your case cooling? If you left it off for a few hours and all was well, you may have heat issues. Make sure your wiring is clean, fans are moving air, everything is dusted off.

It's not a heat problem. My case has two back fans and one front fan. The processor stays around 40C.

Besides, I have made two new discoveries. First, SiSoft Sandra's file system test will hang my system every time. Second, whenever that happens and I get the endless XP loading screen, booting with "last known good configuration" will boot it every time.

I guess the hard disk controller is bad.

 

[uOpt]

Did anyone use a TV-in/framegrabber card in this board yet?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I,m using an external USB2.0 vidieo capture device with no problems

 

[uOpt]

USB with hardware encoding is not sportish I was afraid that a raw-video PCI card would screw up, I have some trouble in my NForce3 259 Gb board.

Which one do you have? Does it have a TV tuner?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

It's an XTV 2.0 by Video @ Home

It has a TV tuner, and grabs frame shots. It has RCA, Svideo, and coax inputs.

I was skeptical about a USB video device, but I must say this thing surprised me. The quality of the recordings I've gotten with this device are better than I expected. Although there is a slight degradation in video from the source its every bit as good has a high quality VCR recording. Its a really handy little gadget for video cameras, dvd players and of course cable TV.

 

[michaeldorian]

GuitarDaddy,

I have had the same problems you have with my current rig and it is driving me crazy. With the selector set to "Dual Video" that is the only way I can get a single card system to post. With SLI, the only way I can get the machine to detect SLI in nview is with the selector card set to single mode. But with single mode set, nview properties displays the bus as 16x when it needs to be 8x. All I want is SLI to be detected with dual card selector in correct position and 8x + 8x is that too much to ask? Have you figured a solution to this problem?

Michael

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Not really? When I first set up the machine(1 card) it would only work with the selector in the dual position. After a couple of days running that way, I switched the selector to single and it worked. Not exactly sure why?

I got a second card a couple of weeks later, and ran SLI for 1/2 day until one of my cards failed and I had to RMA it. I did notice that when I went from 1 card to 2 cards and back again setting the selector card in the correct position each time, I had to clear CMOS using the onboard jumper to get bios to recognize the single or dual setup each time.

 

[michaeldorian]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Not really? When I first set up the machine(1 card) it would only work with the selector in the dual position. After a couple of days running that way, I switched the selector to single and it worked. Not exactly sure why?

I got a second card a couple of weeks later, and ran SLI for 1/2 day until one of my cards failed and I had to RMA it. I did notice that when I went from 1 card to 2 cards and back again setting the selector card in the correct position each time, I had to clear CMOS using the onboard jumper to get bios to recognize the single or dual setup each time.

This is getting too weird. Thanks for the reply, I'll clear the cmos and see if that does anything once I get off work. Once this machine is working I'm not going mess with the insides until a full replacement upgrade comes around. This by far was the worst build I have ever experienced. Wish me luck. I'll keep you posted. 2x 6800 Ultra's currently going to waste!

 

[smc13]

Originally posted by: athlete
smc13--

I'm having exactly the same problem as you. I don't think the A1 slot is bad... maybe just some really bad compatibility problems on dual channel. One of my modules is a Corsair and one is a Geil. Let me know what you do, I'm no sure if I should try to find a match for my Corair or just buy a whole new pair.

-Kyle

I had two of the exact same DIMMs and both worked in slot B1 so I assume the problem was with the motherboard. I returned the motherboard and was supposed to have picked it up from the fedex shipping point on my way home yesterday but Fedex decided to hand it someone else when they attempted to deliver it to my apartment. So someone has a free asus motherboard courtesy of Fedex and I am sitting here with all the parts beside the motherboard still. I think I'll just buy the gigabyte motherboard instead. This asus one seems to be jinxed. ;-)

Steve

 

[michaeldorian]

Anyway guys finally got my quirks worked out regarding SLI. Got SLI enabled on using 2 EVGA 6800U, but now another problem arises. The problems never seems to stop with this dang board. I can't seem to get into Windows XP when I'm using dual monitors on the primary vid card with SLI. With both monitors plugged into each DVI port, the windows progress bar screen would load but just as its about to go into Windows everything freezes and a hard reboot is required. Unplug one monitor reboot and the system boots no problems. When I was running just a single 6800U, dual monitor worked flawless. Is this an isolated case? Has anyone else experience this problem? Any advice on getting this fixed? Anything is appreciated.

Current System Setup
ASUS A8N-SLI
Corsair 3200XL Pro Dual Channel DDR400
OCZ Powerstream 600
2x Raptor 74 GB Raid 0
2X Liteon Drives

Monitor Config.

Primary 6800U (Blue Slot)
Port 1 - Apple Cinema Display 23 DVI
Port 2 - Sony GDM-F520 - Analog VGA


Anything help would be awesome!

 

[el burninator dapeoples]

sorry for the xpost, put this in the wrong spot earlier....

having issues with my rig (a8n-sli-d,3500,corsair xms pro 3200s

ran fine for a week after setup, but this was probably due to being at work, and not having the time to utilize the system pushing a full load. so the weekend came and after loading doom3 and prince of persia, and ut2004. all games crashed with BSOD, mem dumps.

veins of anger popped from beneath the surface of my forehead.

checked bios...
system is set on quiet and cool, running 32-34c idle temps. no oc'ing done. bios set to auto on all applicable specs. tried manually configuring dram setup to 2.2.2.5 @1t and noticed mem was set to 200mhz on auto??? changed to 400mhz.

rebooted and system message failure, due to ocing. changed the "min ras# active time" back to auto (i had it set to 5, thinking it was the 5 in 2.2.2.5) and it booted back to windows.

games now sort of play, but gameplay integrity is still greatly comprimised: sluggish motion, flickering and motion clipping going on. and it still occasionally crashes. while games are in play windows task manager is showing cpu usage at 100% constant. that cant be healthy.

so i bought another video card to test, swapped... and same problem.

pulled memory from channel a, same problem @ 512mb in channel b. swapped b out with other ddr module, same problem.

i assumed this was a memory issue, but reading the vast array of problems, i am no longer sure.

still, being rather unexperienced at ocing motherboards, this could be as simple as some voltage modification. my ultra 500w power supply is modular and all my connectors are pretty much running independently, save for the cdrw/dvdrw on the same rail. also the 20 to 24 pin converter... any chance that might cause issues? the four pin is plugged into the mb, although the manual isnt clear as to whether that is only for SLI or a requirement.

also, my ez selector card was dual card side in slot, even though the manual says it comes factory for single use. to make it more confusing the dumb bastard in charge of the user manual used a picture of the dual card side in the selector right next to where it says "the factory sets ez-selector card for single use." logic tells me the little pointy arrow on the single side faces the blue pci-e, but maybe asus doesnt use logic.

tomorrow i plan to run by best buy, return the test card and buy some test memory. if someone is all knowing and wise and would like to save me the extra trip, please, for the love of god, shine down your infinite wisdom and spare me the agony.

 

[century child]

If you installed Nvidia IDE drivers uninstall them. Also run memtest86+ to make sure your RAM is stable.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I suspect it could be the Ultra X connect power supply. I have read too too many posts of problems with this PS. One guy on these forums toasted most of the components in his $2400 A8N-SLI rig with one of these. Another guy reported loose solder rolling around in the box when he opend his Ultra X connect.

It has been widely reported that the Ultra X connect is a chromed and rebranded Powermax. Powermax is a low quality generic powersupply maker. I will say that I've have never owned or tested the Ultra X connect, and there are several people on these boards using them with no problems.

But with all the things I've read (search Ultra X,) I would get that thing out of my machine as fast as possible. It is a very cool looking modular power supply, but the quality is very questionable. RMA that thing and get a Fortran, Enermax, Antec, OCZ or PC&C.

 

[bap4201]

I agree w/ guitar daddy, you've spent so much on that rig, don't shortcut it w/ a cheap psu.

 

[govern1]

I agree with the both of you! Get a good psu in there quickly, you've got good, quality components in your rig, don't short change them with that psu.

Shawn

 

[el burninator dapeoples]

well the psu wasnt cheap, at least monitarily. it was about $100 and everywhere i read was fairly positive, even in benchmark testing. but what youre saying does make sense and i dreaded the thought of having to return it, simply because i bought it bundled with my case.

 

[user1234]

See this thread for explanation of the cause of the POST problem. It's a bug in beta bios which causes corruption after PSU is turned off or disconnected.