* ASUS A8N-SLI experiences/results/issues

[pjwinkler]

anyone know when the normal A8N will be on the shelves?

 

[frootbooter]

Hah, this thread sure did make me glad I didn't go out and spend ~$200 on one of these motherboards...

I think I'll wait a bit longer before I jump on the SLI bandwagon.

 

[AlexBmur]

I have a Maxtor DiamandMax 10 hard drive that supports SATA II and NCQ and I am wondering if my new A8N-SLI supports NCQ? And if so how do I make sure that it is enabled?

Also a second question, for some reason my hard drive is listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware" window (as if it were a USB drive or something). Does anyone else who has a SATA drive have this same issue? Its not really a problem just seems odd to me, and I want to make sure my hard drive is operating the fastest it can.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

My sata raid array also shows in the "Remove hardware" tray

 

[davidwiz]

Originally posted by: AlexBmur
I have a Maxtor DiamandMax 10 hard drive that supports SATA II and NCQ and I am wondering if my new A8N-SLI supports NCQ? And if so how do I make sure that it is enabled?

Also a second question, for some reason my hard drive is listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware" window (as if it were a USB drive or something). Does anyone else who has a SATA drive have this same issue? Its not really a problem just seems odd to me, and I want to make sure my hard drive is operating the fastest it can.

Im using this same HD(mines the 300g model). Mine does NOT show this "Safely Remove Hardware". I just plugged it in and did not use any sata or raid drivers. WinXP install recognized immediately. Sounds like you loaded the sata/raid drivers.

Im just running mine with no special drivers and my drive is recognized as an IDE drive by winXP and Im using the regular Win IDE drivers. The drive gets a drive Index of 51MB/S in Sisoft Professional, which seemed pretty good for a single drive. Any other single drive Ive tested in my other systems were about 1/2 that.

 

[AlexBmur]

Originally posted by: davidwiz

Originally posted by: AlexBmur
I have a Maxtor DiamandMax 10 hard drive that supports SATA II and NCQ and I am wondering if my new A8N-SLI supports NCQ? And if so how do I make sure that it is enabled?

Also a second question, for some reason my hard drive is listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware" window (as if it were a USB drive or something). Does anyone else who has a SATA drive have this same issue? Its not really a problem just seems odd to me, and I want to make sure my hard drive is operating the fastest it can.

Im using this same HD(mines the 300g model). Mine does NOT show this "Safely Remove Hardware". I just plugged it in and did not use any sata or raid drivers. WinXP install recognized immediately. Sounds like you loaded the sata/raid drivers.

Im just running mine with no special drivers and my drive is recognized as an IDE drive by winXP and Im using the regular Win IDE drivers. The drive gets a drive Index of 51MB/S in Sisoft Professional, which seemed pretty good for a single drive. Any other single drive Ive tested in my other systems were about 1/2 that.

Hmm I didn't install any extra SATA drivers either. Oh well, I just ran Sisoft and I am at 50MB/S so my performance isn't hurting at all, so I am not worried.

Do you know if our motherboards support NQ and if so how do you make sure it is enabled?

 

[lorelevitt]

I was unable to load XP-64-bit as I'm using a Raid 0 array and the drivers are not complete to produce an F6 disk during the install. I checked the files produced by the make Raid floppy utility on the disk that accompanied the MB and compared that to the directory extracted from the beta nForceware from Nvidia's site. There are two *.cat files missing from the beta and these are required by XP-64 pro to do the install. They are specific references to the 32 files so just copying the two .cat files to the floppy with the rest of the 64 bit drivers wont work.

Additionally I've had nothing but problems trying any bios upgrade of the MB. If I try either the 1002 or the betas (1003-001 to 1003-004), the manual update from DOS appears to go fine but when it reboots I ALWAYS get a bios checksum error and I have to reload the 1001 driver from the recovery CDROM.

Also ANY attempt I've made to overclock the CPU results in the system just hanging at boot time BEFORE Windows even loads. I've tried the AI NOS, the AI manual, the full manual and I've tried varying size increments. All non-default settings cause the system to hang at boot time. If anybody has any ideas on either the bios problem or overclocking problem, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks-- Lore

System: FX55, A8N-SLI-D, 2 GB (4x512) Crucial Ballistix DDR400, Thermalright XP-120 heatsink, Microcool North Pole heat sink, PCP&C Turbo Cool 510 Express PS, 2-74 GB SATA Raptors (Raid 0), 1 Maxtor 300GB SATA 16MB, Pioneer A08 DVDRW, Sony floppy, Lian Li V1000 case

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Try using the windows based ASUS update utility that came on the mobo CD. I've used it sucessfully to update from a file that I downloaded, and over the internet directly from the asus site.

As for overclocking, I've found this board quite easy to O/C, however the lack of control over the memory divider limits your ability to acheive a maximum CPU overclock, and overclock ram at the same time.

You can run ram 1:1 as high as your CPU and ram will allow, Or you can run AUTO and raise your FSB to your max CPU o/c and your ram will run at less than 200mhz.

To run 1:1 set your memory clock manually to DDR400 and loosen you memory timings to something like 3-4-4-10 (you can tighten them back up some when you find your O/C) leave all your jumber free setting at Auto, boot to windows at stock speeds, then use AI booster utility to increase your FSB over 220(increasing CPU & DDR voltage as necessary). When you get the O/C you want reboot, and your memory should still be running 1:1. Check the memory tab in CPU-Z(free downloadable utility) google for it. Oddly enough, once you O/C using this method and reboot, you can now adjust the jumper free settings in bios and the memory clock will not revert to Auto.

To run memory async and achieve the best CPU overclock, set the memory clock to auto, then use either the jumper free section of the bios or the AI booster utility to tweak your FSB and cpu voltage, automatic dividers will be applied once you raise FSB past 217 and your memory will run at less than 200mhz. Stock voltage for you ram should be fine using this option.

Also remember to drop the HTT multi from 5x to 4x before attempting any overclocking, If your FSB goes over 255-260 drop it again to 3x

If you still have problems post the settings you are attemping to use while overclocking, and I will try and help.

*edit*

I should have read your sig, before I replied. I see that you are running an FX55 and 2gb of Crucial balistic. The lack of memory dividers shouldn't be a problem for you(just us folks with 3000/3200). And running 2gb or ram you probabally can't run the memory 1:1 with a very high FSB anyway. Do you have 4x512 or 2x1024? Either way a high memory clock is most likely out of the question due to the limitations when using four sticks or 1024mb modules.

You should be shooting for something like

215 x 14 = 3010mhz ram 1:1 @ 215mhz htt5x fsb1060 or
250 x 12 = 3000mhz ram(auto) @200mhz htt4x fsb1000

 

[lorelevitt]

Thanks. I'll try those settings in a couple of days after I increase my Raid 0 array to 4 Raptors tomorrow.

Lore

System: AMD64 FX55, Asus A8N-SLI-Deluxe, 2 GB (4x512) Crucial Ballistix DDR400, 1 Gigabyte 6600 GT PCI-X graphics card, Thermalright XP-120 heatsink, Microcool North Pole heat sink, PCP&C Turbo Cool 510 Express PS, 2-74 GB SATA Raptors (NVidia SATA II Raid 0), 1 Maxtor 300GB SATA 16MB (Addonics SATA II PCI-X controller card), Pioneer A08 DVDRW, Sony floppy, Lian Li V1000 case, Samsung 243T monitor, Logitech MX1000 Laser mouse, Logitech Media keyboard, Contour Design Shuttlepro 2

 

[imported_billy]

Originally posted by: runestone

I fitted a XP120 on with a PAPST fan. Oh about the XP120...I put the heatpipes facing the back of my pc and the 'overhanging coolblock' hangs over my ddr-memory... How did others place it? The same or just the other way arround?"[/quote]

How are your temps? I have only dry fitted my xp120-looked like it should go the other way around than yours, but then there is barely room to get the ram in first slot.
Hope to build in 2 days-time off.[/quote]

32 idle and +- 46 when 100% loaded

 

[imported_billy]

Originally posted by: lorelevitt
Thanks. I'll try those settings in a couple of days after I increase my Raid 0 array to 4 Raptors tomorrow.

Lore

System: AMD64 FX55, Asus A8N-SLI-Deluxe, 2 GB (4x512) Crucial Ballistix DDR400, 1 Gigabyte 6600 GT PCI-X graphics card, Thermalright XP-120 heatsink, Microcool North Pole heat sink, PCP&C Turbo Cool 510 Express PS, 2-74 GB SATA Raptors (NVidia SATA II Raid 0), 1 Maxtor 300GB SATA 16MB (Addonics SATA II PCI-X controller card), Pioneer A08 DVDRW, Sony floppy, Lian Li V1000 case, Samsung 243T monitor, Logitech MX1000 Laser mouse, Logitech Media keyboard, Contour Design Shuttlepro 2

Hey how did you place the xp120? I placed the heatpipes to the back of my pc and the 'overhanging coolblock' hangs over my memory..What about you?

 

[runestone]

I placed xp 120 the other way around, billy.
Bios says 33c for cpu(cold in room); guess either way works. I did do a bit of lapping to heatsink, some rough edges. Sanding showed that the bottom is copper.

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Try using the windows based ASUS update utility that came on the mobo CD. I've used it sucessfully to update from a file that I downloaded, and over the internet directly from the asus site.

As for overclocking, I've found this board quite easy to O/C, however the lack of control over the memory divider limits your ability to acheive a maximum CPU overclock, and overclock ram at the same time.

You can run ram 1:1 as high as your CPU and ram will allow, Or you can run AUTO and raise your FSB to your max CPU o/c and your ram will run at less than 200mhz.

To run 1:1 set your memory clock manually to DDR400 and loosen you memory timings to something like 3-4-4-10 (you can tighten them back up some when you find your O/C) leave all your jumber free setting at Auto, boot to windows at stock speeds, then use AI booster utility to increase your FSB over 220(increasing CPU & DDR voltage as necessary). When you get the O/C you want reboot, and your memory should still be running 1:1. Check the memory tab in CPU-Z(free downloadable utility) google for it. Oddly enough, once you O/C using this method and reboot, you can now adjust the jumper free settings in bios and the memory clock will not revert to Auto.

To run memory async and achieve the best CPU overclock, set the memory clock to auto, then use either the jumper free section of the bios or the AI booster utility to tweak your FSB and cpu voltage, automatic dividers will be applied once you raise FSB past 217 and your memory will run at less than 200mhz. Stock voltage for you ram should be fine using this option.

Also remember to drop the HTT multi from 5x to 4x before attempting any overclocking, If your FSB goes over 255-260 drop it again to 3x

If you still have problems post the settings you are attemping to use while overclocking, and I will try and help.

*edit*

I should have read your sig, before I replied. I see that you are running an FX55 and 2gb of Crucial balistic. The lack of memory dividers shouldn't be a problem for you(just us folks with 3000/3200). And running 2gb or ram you probabally can't run the memory 1:1 with a very high FSB anyway. Do you have 4x512 or 2x1024? Either way a high memory clock is most likely out of the question due to the limitations when using four sticks or 1024mb modules.

You should be shooting for something like

215 x 14 = 3010mhz ram 1:1 @ 215mhz htt5x fsb1060 or
250 x 12 = 3000mhz ram(auto) @200mhz htt4x fsb1000

So in order for my to run my 3200+ at 10x250 at 1:1 RAM and with HTT set at 4X I am going to first have to go into Windows, use the Asus utility, overclock past 220, go back into the BIOS and change RAM to DDR500? I just got my board and am still waiting on my other components to come in, but want to clarify so I'll have a good gameplan going in.

BTW, I have heard of the two beta BIOS' out there, are either one of them worth fooling with or does the stock BIOS work without issues?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: jdogg707

So in order for my to run my 3200+ at 10x250 at 1:1 RAM and with HTT set at 4X I am going to first have to go into Windows, use the Asus utility, overclock past 220, go back into the BIOS and change RAM to DDR500? I just got my board and am still waiting on my other components to come in, but want to clarify so I'll have a good gameplan going in.

BTW, I have heard of the two beta BIOS' out there, are either one of them worth fooling with or does the stock BIOS work without issues?

Don't go back into the bios and set to DDR500. If you do the system will try and boot up to 2500mhz at stock voltages, won't work. Leave it at DDR400!!! Your ram will be running at DDR500+ speeds if your FSB is 250 or more.

The lack of a manual memory divider setting, somewhat limits the O/C on this board with a 3200, worse for a 3000

With my 3200 I can get a 2.6mhz cpu o/c. but my memory runs at a sickly 170mhz 2-2-2-5

Or I can run 1:1 at 2.4mhz with ram running 253mhz 2.5-3-3-10 (I get better bench's this way)

With a manual memory divider of 5/6 I think I could get another 150-170mhz and run something like
2.55mhz with ram at 235mhz 2-3-3-8

I hope ASUS will include manual memory divider in future bios releases. Thats the only thing keeping this board from being a monster overclocker.

Even with out the manual dividers its a good(not great) overclocking board. I've got a very stable overclock of 20% and PC3200 ram running at blasing DDR500 speeds!!! WooT!!

 

[glorfy]

Just tried Clockgen for NF4 It shows PCI clock moving with FSB Man I am so P*ssed. It then crashes when I try to raise the memory - at all!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: glorfy
Just tried Clockgen for NF4 It shows PCI clock moving with FSB Man I am so P*ssed. It then crashes when I try to raise the memory - at all!

Interesting? Where did you get Clockgen? I'd like to test it on my board.

Also what device(s) do you have on the PCI bus?

I don't have any PCI cards on my board, although I was thinking of adding an audigy card.
I have (1) PCI-E 6600GT, (2) optical's & (1) 250gb IDE, & (2) 74gb's SATA. I have had the FSB up to 291 with no problems? I'm currently running FSB @ 253 with memory 1:1

*edit*

Also, what CPU and RAM are you using?

How are you trying to raise the memory?

 

[glorfy]

Creative SB 2ZS.

Clockgen for NF4

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: glorfy
Just tried Clockgen for NF4 It shows PCI clock moving with FSB Man I am so P*ssed. It then crashes when I try to raise the memory - at all!

*edit*

I stand corrected on the NF4 version, I couldn't find it on their website. Thanks!

It shows my PCI-E @ 100mhz and PCI @ 33.34mhz, and they stay right there as I raise and lower the the FSB. The locks work fine on my board.

What CPU and RAM are you using?

What do you mean "when I try an raise the memory" ? Are you raising the FSB? Changing the memory clock to DDR466,etc..?

 

[glorfy]

See link posted previously.

The world seems de=ivided in two! Those with working locks and those without! I've read of too many other people with problems now, to just dismiss it as 'my' problem - which believe me I was tempted to do!

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: glorfy
See link posted previously.

The world seems de=ivided in two! Those with working locks and those without! I've read of too many other people with problems now, to just dismiss it as 'my' problem - which believe me I was tempted to do!

Do you think I could have killed my HD if I have one of the A8N-SLI's without a PCI lock?

I was having serious issues getting my setup to work at stock speeds initially (bios 1002). I had to take out one dimm in order for things to get stable enough to install windows ( Using OCZ 4200EL PLats (the TCCD) )

Then I flashed to 1003-004

Finally after I got everything working, I decided to try to OC a little and I was confused with the FSB setting and the MAX FSB setting... So, I set my FSB in manually to 215 and then the MAX FSB setting to 250.
Ram was a 2.5-3-3-9 2.9v ( It can run these speeds in my 865pe setup NO prob)

Well my machine did't like that verymuch... Now my SATA Drive ( one of the 16mb cache Maxtors) can no longer be recoginized in the BIOS. Although the silicon image chip looks like it sees it, however if I have the drive hooked up to any of the red ports windows wont see it to install in (is there something else I need to do, to make a boot drive from the silicon image chip ports?)

I tried clearing the CMOS... nothing

I put in my raptor from my second machine and plugged it into one of the black ports... The BIOS recognized it but then rebooted shortly after!!!! ARG!

So, now I have no idea what to do here... I heard on xtremeforums that the 1003-003 BIOS is looking the best so far, maybe I will try flashing to that.

 

[atom519]

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I just recieved my A8n today, and am still waiting on my cpu and video cards (plural, i love that to come in. I'm about to buy 1gb of Crucial's Ballistix pc4000 memory, and was wondering if anyone knew if this would work or not on the Asus board. I know it's not on the mem list, but this doens't mean it neccesarily woudln't work.

The board looks great, and can't wait to fire it up! Thanks in advance.

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy

Originally posted by: jdogg707

So in order for my to run my 3200+ at 10x250 at 1:1 RAM and with HTT set at 4X I am going to first have to go into Windows, use the Asus utility, overclock past 220, go back into the BIOS and change RAM to DDR500? I just got my board and am still waiting on my other components to come in, but want to clarify so I'll have a good gameplan going in.

BTW, I have heard of the two beta BIOS' out there, are either one of them worth fooling with or does the stock BIOS work without issues?

Don't go back into the bios and set to DDR500. If you do the system will try and boot up to 2500mhz at stock voltages, won't work. Leave it at DDR400!!! Your ram will be running at DDR500+ speeds if your FSB is 250 or more.

The lack of a manual memory divider setting, somewhat limits the O/C on this board with a 3200, worse for a 3000

With my 3200 I can get a 2.6mhz cpu o/c. but my memory runs at a sickly 170mhz 2-2-2-5

Or I can run 1:1 at 2.4mhz with ram running 253mhz 2.5-3-3-10 (I get better bench's this way)

With a manual memory divider of 5/6 I think I could get another 150-170mhz and run something like
2.55mhz with ram at 235mhz 2-3-3-8

I hope ASUS will include manual memory divider in future bios releases. Thats the only thing keeping this board from being a monster overclocker.

Even with out the manual dividers its a good(not great) overclocking board. I've got a very stable overclock of 20% and PC3200 ram running at blasing DDR500 speeds!!! WooT!!

Can't I up the voltage to the CPU in the BIOS in order to make it hopefully work at 2.5GHZ? I am running TCCD chips that should be capable of DDR533 according to the manufacturer. Shouldn't you be running at 2.53GHZ at a 253FSB 1:1? Or did you change the multiplier?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: glorfy
See link posted previously.

The world seems de=ivided in two! Those with working locks and those without! I've read of too many other people with problems now, to just dismiss it as 'my' problem - which believe me I was tempted to do!

I've been spending tooo much time on this forum and others in the last couple of months. I've read countless posts of people claiming the locks don't work on this board(even weeks before it was available). I guess ASUS deserves it after what happened on the A8V. But I have yet to see proof of 1 single case where the locks don't work on the A8N. And most of the posted appeared to be by inexperienced overclockers blaming their inability to overclock on "no lock". I'm very glad to see ClockGen has an NF4 utilities that shows the bus speeds. Maybe we can now get a definitive answer.

If the PCI lock truly doesn't work on your board, please share the proof with us!

Screen shots or pics of Clockgen showing PCI bus higher than 33.34 would be great, or at least a description of the overclock settings you are using and how they effect the PCI bus in Clockgen.

If you can prove that the PCI lock doesn't work on all A8N's, that would be very significant and helpful to this forum, and the people thinking about getting this board. And I will be the first one in line at the ASUS bashing party.

Otherwise I would have to assume you're in the group of inexperienced overclocks, screaming "my locks don't work". I'm not trying to be an A hole, I just really want to see this issue proved one way or the other.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: jdogg707

Can't I up the voltage to the CPU in the BIOS in order to make it hopefully work at 2.5GHZ? I am running TCCD chips that should be capable of DDR533 according to the manufacturer. Shouldn't you be running at 2.53GHZ at a 253FSB 1:1? Or did you change the multiplier?[/quote]

I have the CPU volts maxed. This board apparently locks voltage for the winchesters at 1.52, you can set it higher in bios, but when you boot up all the utilities show 1.52.

I used a 9.5 x 253 = 2403.5mhz ram 1:1 at 253mhz
I can also run 10 x 240 = 2400mhz ram 1:1 at 240mhz

I haven't been able get over 2400mhz (prime95 w/ no errors) running 1:1 with any settings

If I give up running 1:1 and let the auto dividers keep my memory <200mhz, I can run 9 x 289 = 2601mhz (but the 2403mhz with ram at 253mhz beats it in everything except CPU only benchmarks)

 

[pudds]

I can't get my volts over 1.45 , whatever setting i use its the same in cpu-z. Although i can lower it. Also the voltage keeps changing in cpu-z is this normal? Goes from 1.440 to 1.456 and back again continually. Im using latest beta bios . What bios are you using to change the voltages?