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

[floccus]

From what I understand it has digital audio outs and some cool audio stuff.

There is an S/PDIF connector in back, thats the digital out. The rest are analog jacks. As for running your stereo in, you'd have to use the line in, which isn't digital.

 

[XRdirtHead]

Just picked one up from newegg....its a rev 2.0....

 

[besttoxin]

asus A7N8X, pcb2.0 and bios is v1003
need i update my bios?
I can't find a new bios from asus.com.

 

[floccus]

you have the latest BIOS...

 

[Harvey]

Here's the link to the latest BIOS for the A7N8X. The info in the More... tab says:

Enhance system compatibility with Transcend DDR333(MOSEL chips) memory modules.

 

[XRdirtHead]

I DID IT!
OK, OK...it's not that big of a deal but I used AC3 instead of the thermal pad.
I had to RA my mobo so I thought I'd try out what everyone else uses. Well....this stuff kicks a$$!! I just booted it and its sitting in Bios bouncing between 30 and 33 C. I'm guessing thats pretty good because the thermal pad had me 58 to 60 C.

I really didn't look forward to cleaning the heat sink and CPU but what a piece of cake! Goof Off and some rubbing alcohol (Budweiser for me) and low and behold it was clean beggin me for some AC3....damn...hope the wife isn't planning on a romantic night...I have 3 other family computers calling for some AC3.....

This is my daughters computer and the chip said on it AXDA2200DKVC3....T bred????...I know I can find out somewhere if I look but I need to start ripping my other computers apart....Hmm....Dairy Queen for the wife and I could have a night alone with my computers.....did I just say that?

I just fired up my other two computers that have this same motherboard. The only difference with these other two is they are Rev 1.4 (not 2.0)and they have thermal pads. The MB temp is reading 14C/57F...sorry my house is not that cold....the CPU is reading 54C....something isn't right....the one I just did with the arctic silver is still staying at 33C and the mb temp is at 23C/73F...sounds about right....whats up with that

 

[qquizz]

rudipooimf
Might wanna check and make sure your Window CD is clean/dust free etc.

 

[nippyjun]

What memory should I get for this board? Does running two sticks in dual channel give much of a performance increase? I'm deciding about getting one stick of 512 versus 2 sticks of 256. Of course one 512 stick is cheaper. I'm also deciding about PC2700 versus PC3200. I don't want to overclock, I just want stable reliable memory. Should I spend extra for pc3200 or will the difference between pc2700 and pc3200 really make much of a difference?

If anyone would mind looking at the memory at newegg and let me know which of the less expensive pc2700 or pc3200 i should get. To me the KINGSTON HyperX Series 184-pin 256MB DDR333 (PC2700) 32X64 DDR RAM modules, Model# KHX2700/256 at $43 seems like the best deal for 256 of pc2700, but i read some posts here that this memory give this board some problems, but I don't know if version 2.0 of this board with the newest bios has problems with this memory. Or should I just get the Viking 256MB 32X64 PC2700 DDR, Unbuffered, CL2.5, Model VGDDR32X64PC2700 for $29 for 256? OR would you get the cheaper PC3200 memory like the GEIL 256MB PC-3200 (400MHz) DDR RAM, 6 Layer Ultra Low Noise Shielded PCB, 32x8 Low Density/Unbuffered, Model# GE2563200 for $40 for 256? Is GEIL any good?


I don't want to spend more on memory then the 2500 processor I'm going to get.

So, Should I get two 256 sticks or 1 512 stick? and then should I get pc2700 or pc3200?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[bsr]

Wow, this is just what I wanted to see. This is the board im going to put in my next system. Is there any reasons why I should not get it ??

 

[XRdirtHead]

Nippyjun,
Chiz answered that earlier for me ....I know there is a ton of posts but if you skim through them you'll find your answer.

BSR...buy the board

 

[qquizz]

XRdirthead,
Did you check you temp in the bios or with AsusProbe (assuming all your boards are Asus)? AsusProbe has that nifty utility that will record your temps/voltages/fan speeds so you can put a load on system and go back and see how it reacts.

 

[Laredo]

TO: Gdc9J...I used the bios AN8B102.a.AWD that I downloaded from Asus website with no problems. You have to uncompress it onto a floppy disk that also contains the basic files you will need for flashing...This includes the flash utility program as per Asus Website. The only real problem I ran into was when I tried to save the exsiting bios to the floppy. There wasn't enough room, and the program sort of froze.

With regard to your hard drive. CHeck on the access mode setting for the WD hard drive with-in bios. The default setting is AUTO. Unfortunately that doesn't work for some large hard drives. I changed it to LBA MODE, and things went smoothly thereafter.


Delays in boot-up, and in shutting down can be attrributed to the operating system looking towards hardware that isn't installed, or is installed improperly. I don't use the SATA header so I disabled by jumper setting on the motherboard, and in bios. Same with Printer/Serial Ports, and both networking adapters. If you don't disable SATA on the MB, you will definitely get delays.

 

[azkiwi]

Originally posted by: nippyjun

Does running two sticks in dual channel give much of a performance increase?

Seems like the performance increase for dual channel is neglible and really most suited to IGP

Should I spend extra for pc3200 or will the difference between pc2700 and pc3200 really make much of a difference?

PC3200 will make a difference when you decide to upgrade to a 400fsb processor next year...

To me the KINGSTON HyperX Series 184-pin 256MB DDR333 (PC2700) 32X64 DDR RAM modules, Model# KHX2700/256 at $43 seems like the best deal for 256 of pc2700, but i read some posts here that this memory give this board some problems

I have been asking this same question because I have some and have a board coming soon. Seems like this is not a popular choice for RAM but I have heard from several people running (and overclocking successfully with) HyperX2700 and 3000 without problems. Early posts of memory issues were often BIOS issues since resolved.

 

[nippyjun]

Thanks for the info.

 

[XRdirtHead]

Did you check you temp in the bios or with AsusProbe (assuming all your boards are Asus)? AsusProbe has that nifty utility that will record your temps/voltages/fan speeds so you can put a load on system and go back and see how it reacts.

I've just been using the bios to check the temps. Why is it that two of my mobos are reporting really low motherboard temps but high cpu temps....strange

 

[Epimetreus]

Something somebody else asked, but wasn't really definitively answered(At least for those of us who don't understand some of the deeper terminology pertaining to mobo's):
I ordered an A7N8X a few days ago, but it hasn't yet shipped. If I cancel the order right now and re order, this time specifying that I get the new revision with support for the 400 MHz FSB, would it be worth the extra time the mobo will take to arrive?

 

[qquizz]

If its an order from newegg they just sent me a rev2 board so maybe that's all they got?

 

[XRdirtHead]

I just received a rev 2.0 from Newegg also...safe bet thats all they got.

 

[nippyjun]

Newegg keeps changing the specs on this board between saying 400 and not saying 400. And for the non-deluxe they show two versions (one that says new chipset that supports 400 and the other one saying nothing; each with a different part number).

 

[Mark]

Originally posted by: chizow
I'd say its a RAM or driver issue. I'd also pull the SBLive!, as its now dated and unsupported by Creative with a long history of problems. Plus, the onboard sound is better than the Live! anyways. Make sure you have the latest drivers for all of your components, particularly your video card. Also disable any options in the BIOS under integrated peripherals that you are not using.

Chiz

Thanks for the tip. I pulled the sound and lan card and have had no crashes since.

 

[Epimetreus]

Another question for you guys -- has anybody tested performance on the Deluxe motherboard, comparing the use of the onboard sound card to performance when using a separate sound card?
Same for LAN
What I want to know, is if it would be better for me to simply use the onboard devices and not muck with re installing my old LAN card and sound card, performance wise, or if it would be better to install them?
Last mobo I had had "onboard sound", but it sucked and caused a lot of instabilities and severe performance loss. Am NOT wishing to repeat that little escapade.

Edit: Please forgive my idiocy, but I forgot to post what sound and LAN card I am using:
The LAN card is a Linksys LNE 100 TX v4.1
The sound card is a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

 

[nippyjun]

I belive I read that the onboard devices use less cpu power then add on cards.

 

[floccus]

The TBSC will produce a better signal, but if you're speakers aren't that great then it doesn't matter. I'm not real sure on the NICs... My usual suspicion is that an add-in card will perform better just because people like 3com and Netgear make this stuff solely, so they're better at designing a controller. I'm not sure about the ones on the board though since one is developed partly by 3com and nVidia is getting pretty good at architecting chips. Basically, if there is a difference, you'll probably never notice it. There are too many variable to compare real throughput world results, but a benchmark will probably favor an add-in.

 

[GungHo]

Wow, there's a lot of info on this thread! Took about an hour just to read the whole thing; great stuff! Thanks to everyone who's contributed...But Ive got a couple of questions that were hinted at, but not directly asked, anywhere else(at least that my now addled brain remembers ):

My system specs:
A7N8X Rev. 2 MoBo(BIOS 1003)
Athlon 1800+
1 stick 512 MB PC3200 RAM(OEM, generic stuff)
GeForce 3
SB Audigy
WD 200GB HD with Maxtor 30GB HD Slave

My questions:

1) I have 1 stick of 512 MB PC2700 RAM(OEM, generic) lying around, should I use that in addition to my PC3200, or will this actually slow me down, more than the added memory will help?
2) I'm a bit confused as to what I should set my CPU External Frequency to...Im not so interested in OCing as I am in stability, though Im not averse to bumping it up a notch or two. Am I correct in believing that my FSB of my CPU is 266 MHz? i.e. Should I set my CPU External Frequency to ~133?
3) The BIOS wants to default my CPU Frequency Multiple to 11.5. Is that appropriate for an 1800+(I'm assuming so since 133*11.5~1530)?
4) I was under the impression that PC3200 RAM had the capability to run at FSB of 400MHz...If so, is there anyway to achieve that, with a STABLE system? Or must I have a CPU capable of a similar FSB capablity to take full advantage of my PC3200's speed?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Jeff7181]

How can I check to make sure I'm using dual channels? I'm using two different sticks of RAM, and I know if there's enough differences between them, it will just revert to single channel.