ASUS P5N-T Deluxe 780i SLI

[Cheex]

For those who are not familiar with this motherboard, here is a link to it:
ASUS P5N-T Deluxe 780i SLI

My board should be arriving later today, so my question is...

Is there anything I need to know about this board, that I should be aware of during the hardware setup phase (building) and then the software setup phase (loading).

I will be running Windows Vista Ultimate x64.

Note 1: I am aware of the early problems and that those have been fixed with the latest BIOS.
Note 2: I was told that it has been shipped with the latest BIOS.
Note 3: I have already downloaded the latest drivers from ASUS.
Note 4: This is my first Nvidia Chipset motherboard.
Note 5: The board is a gift.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Cheex]

Thanks for the help you guys

 

[JustaGeek]

Well, all the NVidia chipset guys usually sleep between 1:00 and 8:00 AM, Cheex

I have an older "cousin" of your MB, but will try to help you later - if I find time, because my 4GB RAM kit from G.Skill arrives today!.

A few hints: work with 2 memory modules ONLY, at least in the beginning.

Set RAM voltage manually, possibly CPU voltage manually, too.. Leave NB voltage on Auto, increase if you have problems, even to >1.5V, but provide adequate cooling.

Choose "unlinked" overclocking. Set CPU frequency manually (don't OC yet, get it stable first!). Set RAM frequency, then timings (and subtimings, if available) manually.

This might help:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...d306efbcb62338f8&f=189

Work with 2T command rate - very important!

Do all these settings BEFORE you do the Repair Install, or install the Operating System.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[xWilDx]

Is there any news on the quad sli array yet? I think i should opt for the nvidia 780 mobo as its had great reviews and totally ingore the ddr3 mobo's in terms of game play(even though future will be ddr3)

 

[Cheex]

Thanks a lot JustaGeek.

I tried to install before but after the install, when trying to boot into Windows Vista x64 the first time I got a BSOD.
Maybe I've hit the 4GB RAM issue. Although, I didn't ever have that problem on my P965 DS3.

I will try those settings and see if it helps.

 

[Cheex]

Okay, I have verified that this was indeed the "dreaded" 4GB RAM issue.

Everything installed and booted into Windows (installing drivers and software now) without a problem and more importantly, no BSOD.

Haven't done the Windows Updates yet, so I have put the other 2GB stick back in yet.

Will update...

:beer:

 

[krnmastersgt]

Ooo, another 780i owner hope you have fun with it, haven't seen anyone with the Asus 780i, but I hear the BIOS is nice and fun.
As for WilD, wait for the 790i if you want to have the board ready for DDR3, and the 780i is plagued with its own problems just like any other board, for nice cpu overclocking most people ignore and avoid nVidia chipsets.

 

[Cheex]

Well I've read a lot of things since I got word that I was getting it so...

At least I know that the horror stories from early on were all sorted out with newer BIOS releases.

I flashed to the latest BIOS so, I'll see how it performs once I have all the initial setup procedures completed.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: Cheex
Okay, I have verified that this was indeed the "dreaded" 4GB RAM issue.

Everything installed and booted into Windows (installing drivers and software now) without a problem and more importantly, no BSOD.

Haven't done the Windows Updates yet, so I have put the other 2GB stick back in yet.

Will update...

:beer:

It sounds like someone didn't take my advice. Did you forget or did you want to experience that BSOD for youself?

 

[Cheex]

Originally posted by: SteelSix

Originally posted by: Cheex
Okay, I have verified that this was indeed the "dreaded" 4GB RAM issue.

Everything installed and booted into Windows (installing drivers and software now) without a problem and more importantly, no BSOD.

Haven't done the Windows Updates yet, so I have put the other 2GB stick back in yet.

Will update...

:beer:

It sounds like someone didn't take my advice. Did you forget or did you want to experience that BSOD for youself?

The only reason I went ahead and tried it was because, on my previous board 965P-DS3, I could install Vista x64 using 4GB with absolutely no issues...

So I tried now on the 780i and failed...You learn from experiences.

So it is not that I ignored your advice...:thumbsup:

I'm up and running now though with all 4GB (after the hotfix) and all is well.

Will update after some more testing...

:beer:

 

[Hauk]

Yea I've never had the BSOD issue with any other board and 4GB+ either, including other Asus / nV chipsets. Odd. But after all is said and done, board should be solid.

On the memory link/unlinked suggestion, I'm using linked. At 1425fsb linked with 3:2 divider I get 950 memory. Unlinked, I run in to problems at the next higher mem setting (971). Voltage bump doesn't help, and mem is rated for 1000. Other linked divider settings run mem way to high so I'm stuck at 950 3:2. May mess with it again later but I'm happy for now.

 

[Cheex]

Well I'm at 1720FSB (430x7) = 3.01GHz
Memory is running in Sync Mode @ 860MHz

Solid so far.

 

[Cheex]

Does ANYONE else on AT have this board?

 

[Owls]

I just got this board over the weekend. having a ton of problems with BSOD's. I got a Q6600 and 4GB of ram with Vista 64 (which seems to be the common thread).


Check this hotfix out. I will give it a shot but I don't know if I still need it with SP1.

http://www.microsoft.com/downl...404C-850C-377541E93C18

I'm going to wrestle with it some more but I will more than likely swap this sucker for an EVGA 780i.

 

[Owls]

Man, I don't get this board. I've been running stable on this board at 3.4GHz (1700 QDR, 1080MHz RAM) for the past hour.

I think the majority of the board's problem stems from faulty auto ram timings. That said I would probably still get the EVGA 780i board since it has much less problems.

 

[Cheex]

Well I've read that the Auto timings on the RAM can't really be trusted on any board.

I set all my timings and sub-timings manually and I'm running perfectly. The only problem I have had was installing Vista with 4GB and that was simple to solve...Just install it with 2GB, install the hotfix, install the rest of the RAM...Perfect since.

Which BIOS are you using and what is the exact make and model of your memory??

 

[Owls]

I'm using the OCZ PC2-9600 FlexXLC. 4x1GB
Using the 802 bios.

Just finished running Prime95 stable for the past 6 hours at 3.4GHz.

I have a 2nd 8800 Ultra coming in to run SLI so I will report back.

 

[Cheex]

I found some settings for you...but...
Yours is the 9600...these timings are for the 9200 version to yours.
They seem however to be round about the same, so maybe you can try these.

tCL (CAS Latency): 5
tRCD: 5
tRP: 5
tRAS: 18
Command Per Clock (CMD): 2 clock (2T)

Advance Memory Settings
tRRD: 5
tRC: 22
tWR: 6
tWTR: 8
tREF: AUTO
tRD: 7
tRFC: 42
Async Latency: AUTO


:thumbsup:

 

[Owls]

Sweet! Thanks for this!

Right now I only have the tCL, tRCD, rRP, and tRAS set. Hopefully I can push the memory a bit higher with the other settings. Thanks again! :heart:

 

[Cheex]

No problem man. Glad to help.

Just remember though that those are for the 9200 (1150) and yours is the 9600 (1200) so it might still require a bit of tweaking but that should get you started.

:beer:

 

[Owls]

I'm pulling about 14.4k in 3dmark 06 with the latest 169 drivers. Is that low? I don't know

Q6600 @ 3.4GHz 1.448v (QDR @ 1700, DDR@1080 2.31v)
4x1Gb OCZ 9600 DDR2
1x MSI 8800 Ultra OC (620/1150)
Seagate 400Gb SATAII drive
P5N-T Deluxe
Antec 550HE
Antec 900 case
Vista 64 Ultimate SP1

 

[krnmastersgt]

It's pretty standard, you'd score higher with XP if memory serves me correctly.

 

[Owls]

I could try XP64 but I don't know about the driver support or if it's going to be the same as Vista 64 in terms of performance.

Either way, what do you guys recommend? 2GB and run XP or 4gb and Vista64?

 

[schizoid77]

First post here guys, so bear with me.

I have been working on this motherboard for almost 3 weeks now, and I'm about to lose my mind.

Specs;
P5N-T Deluxe - BIOS 0802, XP Pro
Q6600 (G0) at 2.4Ghz
2 x 2Gb Corsair XMS DDR2 PC-6400 (in slots A1-B1) - RAM was extensively stress tested good prior to install
2 x 8800GTS G92's in SLI
Audigy 2
2 HDD's and 1 Optical.
PP&C 750w Silencer PSU
Scythe CPU cooler - can't remember the name.

I get BSOD's constantly. Even at stock speeds. I've set everything to auto, I've set everything to what everyone tells me to, I've manually adjusted the memory timings, the voltages, the NB voltages, the CPU voltages, everything. I've tried to boot up with every possible posted config I've found on the internet. I've tried every profile, standard, auto, AI overclock, manual, etc etc.

I always get into Windows, but as soon as I do something that works the system, and 1 or 5-10 minutes, BSOD.

The Asus forums are slow and clunky and basically everyone there is either returning their board, or just throwing it away.

Are BSOD's always RAM related?

I just don't see how I am crashing on even stock settings. My CPU temp at idle is 20C, at load it barely gets to 40C. At load, LOL, as if I can run OCCT for more than 1 minute without if failing on me. There are no temp issues whatsoever.

I've upped the mem volt to 2.2v, no luck, I've upped the CPU to 1.45, no luck.

Nothing is stable. Nothing. Well, it's stable as long as I don't start a game or run a benchmark.

Anyone have any ideas on what I should start being suspicious of, or where to start? I only either keep thinking the mobo hates the ram or the mobo itself is just broken. This is one helluva expensive mobo to just give up on.

Please, for the love of God, someone tell me how to get this thing working before I toss it out the window.

 

[Owls]

Stick the ram in A2-B2 config. Then if you can set the timings manually.