*** Official ASUS A7N8X/Deluxe (nForce2) Thread ***

[Kdiver58]

Thanks Jim123

I was just at the Nvidia web site and see that they had a problem
with some drivers on their site adn now have it fixed . they go into
detail on how to roll back so that you can reinstall the proper
drivers I hope this is my problem. I'll let you know ..

 

[OverskillD]

Anyone running the A7n8x Deluxe with DDR PC2400?

I have a 512 stick 2400 I want to use to hold me over until I can get 1gig of 3200.


This was taken from the Asus Site (Which does not list pc2400):

Dual-Channel DDR 400
3 x 184-pin DIMM Sockets
Max. 3 GB unbuffered PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600 non-ECC DDR RAM Memory (Twinbank)


Also this is the specs of the PC in the works. If anyone can spot any conflicts my research might have missed. I'd appreciate the feedback.

A7n8x Deluxe
Amd XP 2600+
Creative 12x cdr
Sony 4x dvd -r/+r
450 P/S
WD 120gig & 80gig
Floppy 3.5
Radeon 9700 pro

Now: Nanya PC2400

Later: 1GB PC3200 Level2 Dual Pack (2x512MB)

Over$killd

 

[pac1085]

With the 1004 bios, which says it supports 3200+ (400fsb) for 1.04/1.06 boards, does this mean it will run stable at that(200mhz)? Has anyone tried it?

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: Vortex
With the 1004 bios, which says it supports 3200+ (400fsb) for 1.04/1.06 boards, does this mean it will run stable at that(200mhz)? Has anyone tried it?

The 1004 bios has enabled some people to run at 200MHz FSb who were not able to before. Others had no luck.

 

[gordy33]

I have the Deluxe board rev 2.0, with bios 1002. What is the max stable fsb I should be able to achieve? Running a 2500+ with OCZ pc 3500. Should I be able to drop the multi and run at 200 mhz fsb no prob? Or do I need a bios update? I would really rather not update the bios, because thats when things go wrong!

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: gordy33
I have the Deluxe board rev 2.0, with bios 1002. What is the max stable fsb I should be able to achieve? Running a 2500+ with OCZ pc 3500. Should I be able to drop the multi and run at 200 mhz fsb no prob? Or do I need a bios update? I would really rather not update the bios, because thats when things go wrong!

You should be able to run well over 200MHz FSB. The bios should be fine. But start at 166MHz and work your way up in 5MHz increments, testing for stability along the way. If you make too big of a jump and your system can't handle it bios can get corrupted and you'll have to RMA the board.

 

[Anonemous]

does anyone know how accurate is the asus probe for the cpu/mobo temperature? if the probe is showing 41C cpu/ 30Cmobo what would be the actual temperature?

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
does anyone know how accurate is the asus probe for the cpu/mobo temperature? if the probe is showing 41C cpu/ 30Cmobo what would be the actual temperature?

Asus Probe shows the socket temp, which is typically 5C-10C lower than the cpu diode. The diode temp can be found in bios, or in Windows if you use a program like MBM5. I think the MB temps from Asus Probe are pretty accurate in the older bios versions (which yours obviously is), but in 1004 for rev. 1.04 and 1.06 boards the MB temp reads rediculously low.

 

[Anonemous]

edit: misread pelikan's post... my bad - thx pelikan for the info

 

[batmanuel]

Originally posted by: Huntress

Originally posted by: Huntress
I have two of these boards, one I am setting up now.

Couple of questions with setup of this board.

1) How do I get this board to recognise only one single SATA harddrive (using IDE drive with RocketRaid converter) as boot device? I only have one harddrive hooked up and would like to obtain the added performance of the SATA controller. I would be using RAID 0, but until the Sil / nForce2 issue is addressed, I would just like to use one drive. I have the SATA controller enabled, and it detects the harddrive. I have the boot sequence as Floppy, CRROM, SCSI or HDD0 (neither of which work). On boot it trys everything (including the network) to boot from except the HDD.

One note: I did install XP Pro from the IDE controller initially because of this.

Diana

Still looking for an answer to question one please

I know it is not exactly an elegant way to do it, but if you were desperate you could always reinstall WinXP on the SATA drive with an IDE drive installed. I haven't tried it, but theoretically the new install should throw use the bootloader on the IDE drive and then handoff to the SATA drive for the rest of the boot. Then all you have to do is remove your original istallation on the IDE drive, and remove the option for that installation from the startup. Again, not the most elegant of solutions, but it is a way to get all of your core OS files to run from the SATA drive (which AFAIK remains stubbornly unbootable in the BIOS).

Of course, unless you are running a WD Raptor you probably won't get much added performance from running SATA on a single drive, so it may not be worth the trouble at this point. The real benefit would be in running the drives in RAID 0 (which is still a bit dangerous with all the corruption issues), but if you have an old hard drive laying around maybe you could use it on your IDE channel to hold the bootloader and backups of important stuff that's you'd miss if the array goes corrupt. Then you could throw your two faster drives up on the SATA controller and get some nice RAID action.

Heck even if you don't have an old drive laying around, you can get some of the smaller drives pretty cheap now. A few weeks ago, OfficeMax was running 40GB WD hard drives for $29 after rebate, so getting another hard drive is not so much an issue as it was (on that note, it really seems like a lot of vendors are clearing out their IDE drives now for super low prices, so maybe a wave of reasonably priced native-SATA drives are about to hit).

I know it probably isn't the answer you were looking for, but it is at least a way to get things up and running until a BIOS comes along that makes the SATA drives bootable by themselves.

 

[upwardspiral2]

I just bought this mobo and directly after went to crucial.com for my memory; i bought two sticks of 512mb pc3200 with cl=3. i know i should have done more research but the last two systems i have built crucial memory has been great.

my question/delima is, should i have purchased this ram (i can still cancel the order). i am reading that corsair memory is better and that i should not go above cl=2 (from tomshardware). also a lot of people have been having trouble with crucial and this board (especially with pc2700).

i only need 512 so the extra price isnt an issue for other ram. what are you guys using? what would you recommend i get? sorry for sounding like a newb, but i just need to know if i should cancel my order.

ill be running this with an xp2200.

many thanks.

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: upwardspiral2
I just bought this mobo and directly after went to crucial.com for my memory; i bought two sticks of 512mb pc3200 with cl=3. i know i should have done more research but the last two systems i have built crucial memory has been great.

my question/delima is, should i have purchased this ram (i can still cancel the order). i am reading that corsair memory is better and that i should not go above cl=2 (from tomshardware). also a lot of people have been having trouble with crucial and this board (especially with pc2700).

i only need 512 so the extra price isnt an issue for other ram. what are you guys using? what would you recommend i get? sorry for sounding like a newb, but i just need to know if i should cancel my order.

ill be running this with an xp2200.

many thanks.

I like the prices of Corsair XMS at NewEgg right now. It's $95. for a 512MB dimm of pc3500. You could get a couple of those or two of the 256MB's. It will run at Cas 2-2-2-5 at 200MHz. You may have to give it a little extra voltage.

 

[upwardspiral2]

thanks for the info pelikan...

another question, forgive my ignorance.

what is the big difference between that memory and what corsair "recommends" on their website (TWINX512-3200LL 512MB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Memory w/Heat Spreader). It sells for 154 on googlegear. Is it worth the price difference?

Thanks.

 

[manly]

Having finally read through the whole thread, I just have a few minor questions:

1. Any reason I should use a copper shim for my CPU? I don't have the CPU yet , but it's probably going to be an XP 2500+ Barton core.
2. I usually run "reference" drivers, but since Nvidia pulled the nForce 2.4 series, I'll probably go with the Asus 1.16 unified drivers. Unless anybody thinks this is a bad idea, that is. My only concern is when I eventually upgrade to Nvidia's reference drivers (in case Asus doesn't update theirs in a timely fashion), I'd want that transition to be as smooth as if I had been running the reference 2.03 driver set. I realize that the underlying drivers are currently identical, but I don't know if Asus' "packaging" so-to-speak is any different.
3. Since I purchased the refurb Deluxe motherboard from newegg.com, would anybody be willing to send me a CDR of the software CD?

 

[trake1]

A7N8X in HP Pavilion 725 and 735?


What version of A7N8X is it?

Has anyone any details on the supported processors FSB for this motherboard?

It appears HP has scarffed up all the world's 266FSB Athlon XP 2600's for use in the 735n.

Does this mean that 333FSB does not work?

http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x639619434a69d711abdc0090277a778c,00.html

 

[Anonemous]

anyone using this board (rev2 /w 1004 bios) with the Mushkin promo build (pc3200 rated 2-2-2) and having trouble getting past 180fsb in sync even at lower multipliers (9) on a 2100+?

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: upwardspiral2
thanks for the info pelikan...

another question, forgive my ignorance.

what is the big difference between that memory and what corsair "recommends" on their website (TWINX512-3200LL 512MB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Memory w/Heat Spreader). It sells for 154 on googlegear. Is it worth the price difference?

Thanks.

I don't think its worth the price difference unless you are going for over 210-215 FSB with tight timings.

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: manly
Having finally read through the whole thread, I just have a few minor questions:

1. Any reason I should use a copper shim for my CPU? I don't have the CPU yet , but it's probably going to be an XP 2500+ Barton core.
2. I usually run "reference" drivers, but since Nvidia pulled the nForce 2.4 series, I'll probably go with the Asus 1.16 unified drivers. Unless anybody thinks this is a bad idea, that is. My only concern is when I eventually upgrade to Nvidia's reference drivers (in case Asus doesn't update theirs in a timely fashion), I'd want that transition to be as smooth as if I had been running the reference 2.03 driver set. I realize that the underlying drivers are currently identical, but I don't know if Asus' "packaging" so-to-speak is any different.
3. Since I purchased the refurb Deluxe motherboard from newegg.com, would anybody be willing to send me a CDR of the software CD?

1. You don't need a shim.
2. The Asus drivers are the ones to use.
3. I think you should be able to download the utilities from the Asus site. If not, PM me and I'll see if I can make you a copy of my CD.

 

[marklp77]

Someone mentioned in an earlier post that in the bios, if your memory setting shows 200mhz
your actual FSB is 400mhz (200mhz x 2) - as mine should be. The question I have is that when the computer
boots it shows 200mhz which is the same as my other much older computer upstairs. Am I actually
getting a 400mhz FSB on my new computer?

Thanks,
Mark

MB: A7N8X - earlier chipset, bios - 1002A
RAM: Corsair 400Mhz, PC3200, Dual Channel, 512MB
CPU: 2500+ 512kb

 

[edmundoab]

yes,
you are getting 400 FSB

 

[xobitx]

I just recieved a newegg refurb A7N8X Deluxe and after getting it installed and setup everything works great. I just have one annoyance everytime the system boots I hear a Dr. Evil audio clip from Austin powers the spy who shagged me through my speakers using line out. It says the line about the sharks with freakin laserbeams the wierd part is it plays just slightly before the windows loading screen appears. So it seems its coming from the hardware not windows I have disabled all sound in windows but I still hear evil at boot up is this normal and is there any way to disable it?

 

[John Hancock]

I'm trying to make sure I get a rev 2.0 and I just got off the phone with newegg:

<snooty voice>

"We don't gaurantee revisions sir."

</snooty voice>


I guess I don't gaurantee that they will get my $500 then.

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: xobitx
I just recieved a newegg refurb A7N8X Deluxe and after getting it installed and setup everything works great. I just have one annoyance everytime the system boots I hear a Dr. Evil audio clip from Austin powers the spy who shagged me through my speakers using line out. It says the line about the sharks with freakin laserbeams the wierd part is it plays just slightly before the windows loading screen appears. So it seems its coming from the hardware not windows I have disabled all sound in windows but I still hear evil at boot up is this normal and is there any way to disable it?

You can disable that in bios.

 

[Chobits]

What is that called in the Bios? I would love to hear that Dr. Evil thing about friggin laserbeams since that part always cracks me up

 

[pelikan]

It's called "Enable Dr. Evil at startup."