*** Official ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce4) Thread ***

[syd968]

Chexi,

Are you trying to run "cool and quite" also? AI booster stopped working for me when I installed cool and quite; with out it AI works fine.

Syd

 

[PoshFrosh]

So, what are you guys plugging your case fans and such into?

Motherboard headers?
Power supply leads?
BayBuses?

And how are you controlling them?

ASUS Qfan?
Other software (e.g. SpeedFan)?
rheostat or other hardware tach controller?
not controlling them running at full speed?

I'm just wondering what to do because the motherboard headers will provide monitoring and control, but I've heard some reports about them being blown out by powerful fans (I'll be using 2 120mm fans). The power supply I'm getting (Neopower) says it will control case fans according to temperature, but is that optimal? Also, if I use something like SpeedFan, won't the fans spin at full tilt until I get into Windows and FanSpeed loads?

Any cooling advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: Wombath

Originally posted by: JMag

Originally posted by: Wombath
Hi to all!

I wonder if anyone has found a working solution to the CPU voltage problem - like i can not set my 3000+ above 1.45 Volts.
Ntune says, CPU voltage setting failed
AiBooster does nothing,
Clockgen says 1.45 is the maximum

now, if i set it in the BIOS, then no matter what i set, i get the voltage around 1.45 Volts - it fluctuates a little, though

This is quite annoying, since it limits the OC options...

First off what BIOS are you using? I am using 1003.005.
2ndly Clockgen isn't reporting the actual Voltage, but you can use it to up your voltage. Select the dropdown menu and choose like 1.5 then click the apply to VID button. Use clockgen 1.02 cause I had crashing errors with previous versions.
After you do that use CPU-Z to detect the core voltage. I can get mine over 1.6 when changing the VID with clockgen.

I am using 1003.005 also. Thank you very much - i was able to raise the VID with this method. Now, wouldn't it be nice to have Asus release a working AiBooster?

After dorking around with clockgen last night I realized that my suggestion of raising the VID to 1.5 really only sets it at 1.45 cause thats the maximum you can raise the VID for this board... But hey, sometimes I remember it being low at like 1.35, so with the combination of the VID increase and BIOS adjustments the maximum Vcore I can get it about 1.56 idel but underload it can go past 1.6 during fluctuations

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: PoshFrosh
So, what are you guys plugging your case fans and such into?

Motherboard headers?
Power supply leads?
BayBuses?

And how are you controlling them?

ASUS Qfan?
Other software (e.g. SpeedFan)?
rheostat or other hardware tach controller?
not controlling them running at full speed?

I'm just wondering what to do because the motherboard headers will provide monitoring and control, but I've heard some reports about them being blown out by powerful fans (I'll be using 2 120mm fans). The power supply I'm getting (Neopower) says it will control case fans according to temperature, but is that optimal? Also, if I use something like SpeedFan, won't the fans spin at full tilt until I get into Windows and FanSpeed loads?

Any cooling advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

If you look in the manual it will give you specs on what the motherboard headers can handle. I can't really remember the stats except I know that they can draw 2amps max. I currently have a 120mm connected to one of the motherboard headers. It is the standard rear exhaust fan for the Lian-LI PC-v2100. I don't remeber the specs, but it is working fine.

One thing I have noticed however, is that speedfan doesn't seem to be able to adjust any of the fans I have hooked up (including the CPU and NB)...
:|

I wonder if there will be a new version released to fix it ( I tried 4.19)

 

[ajmiles]

Hey,

I've been trying some more overclocking and have hit an interesting problem. We all seem to know that above 240FSB the board seems to get unstable and eventually lock up. But as I hit around 10x245, the display keeps momentarily showing a black screen like it would if it changed resolution.

I'll move a window or open a new process and the screen will go black, and then come back again. The 6800GT i have in here is not overclocked at all, and I've tried the PCI Express Bus at 2,500mhz and 2525mhz, I'm not sure that pushing it any further is a good idea.

CPU-Z reads my core voltage as 1.504V, - multiplier of 10 x 240 seems stable, 242 onwards starts this black screening.

RAM is at 2.85V (ocz platinum rev2, 2 x 512)

CAS latency of 2.5-3-3-6

Anyone else had this black screening problem?

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: ajmiles
Hey,

I've been trying some more overclocking and have hit an interesting problem. We all seem to know that above 240FSB the board seems to get unstable and eventually lock up. But as I hit around 10x245, the display keeps momentarily showing a black screen like it would if it changed resolution.

I'll move a window or open a new process and the screen will go black, and then come back again. The 6800GT i have in here is not overclocked at all, and I've tried the PCI Express Bus at 2,500mhz and 2525mhz, I'm not sure that pushing it any further is a good idea.

CPU-Z reads my core voltage as 1.504V, - multiplier of 10 x 240 seems stable, 242 onwards starts this black screening.

RAM is at 2.85V (ocz platinum rev2, 2 x 512)

CAS latency of 2.5-3-3-6

Anyone else had this black screening problem?

Did you try your mem on 2t? I have the OCZ 4200EL Plat Dual channel kit and I can run up to 297mhz on the memory with loose timings of 3-4-3-9 and at 2t.... Although my bandwidth is comparable to 238ish at 2.5-3-3-9 1t

Also why are you running 2.5-3-3-6? We have pretty similar RAM (mine are the TCCD chips as well)
Anyway, I noticed I get the best scores at 2.5-3-3-9 vs 2.5-3-3-X( I tried 7 through 11, so maybe I should test 6 before I shoot my mouth off right?)

Also I have noticed on bootup when I am trying to push things to their limit, I sometimes get a full screen black screen instead of the Windows load screen... But your prob sounds a little diff...

Also if you really want to try to push your memory to see what its maximum mhz is, use timings like 3-4-3-9 or 3-4-4-9 or something like that...

 

[jlambvo]

Originally posted by: ajmiles
Hey,

I've been trying some more overclocking and have hit an interesting problem. We all seem to know that above 240FSB the board seems to get unstable and eventually lock up. But as I hit around 10x245, the display keeps momentarily showing a black screen like it would if it changed resolution.

I'll move a window or open a new process and the screen will go black, and then come back again. The 6800GT i have in here is not overclocked at all, and I've tried the PCI Express Bus at 2,500mhz and 2525mhz, I'm not sure that pushing it any further is a good idea.

CPU-Z reads my core voltage as 1.504V, - multiplier of 10 x 240 seems stable, 242 onwards starts this black screening.

RAM is at 2.85V (ocz platinum rev2, 2 x 512)

CAS latency of 2.5-3-3-6

Anyone else had this black screening problem?

Yeah, running at 250x10, every once in a while the screen goes blinks black. Didn't think it was the motherboard, because I've had no stability issues at that speed (other than the black screen I guess, and it was very rare), although I'm beginning to think the OC is related to my sound card stability problems.

My memory was default at 2t, 3-4-4-8, 1:1, 250MHz FSB, vcore 1.45v, x10 multiplier, 4xHT

I hadn't notice people were having problems above 240

 

[Shaga]

Everyone talks about memory settings like: 2t, 3-4-4-8. I know where to put 2t but rest values are unknown to me. Could someone tell me name where to put memory timings, or even better. take screenshot from memorysettings-page from bios. There are so many values in newest beta bios that confuses me, and don't know names of values. I'm using kingston DDR400. Thanks already.

 

[genemd]

I don't see any voltage drops before the shutdown. Here is some more data.
Ran memtest 86 instead of the Windows memtest program I was using. Ran it all day while at work, it went thru 33 passes eith no mem errors. I know it did not reboot all day while running because I unchecked the auto reboot in the systems program so that I get the BSOD instead with windows error message (see below). Conclusion - mem is stable. When I got home I stopped memtest and rebooted to win xp. The cpu temp was 57 and before all systems tray items even loaded, I got a shutdown (I know this is not a tray item incompat because I have the same prob with all sys tray items off). Below is the gist of the bsod standard problem detected screen:

"Run a system diagnostic utility etc etc. In particular, run a memeory check and check for faulty or mismatched memory. Try changing video adaptors. Diable or remove any newly installed hardware and drivers etc etc.

Tech info
xxxstop:0x0000007F (0x000000, 0x000000, 0x000000, 0x000000)
Beginning dump of physical memory etc etc


I have not tried removing hsf yet or using hand fan - I don't think it is a cpu heat prob. None the less, I would like the temp to be lower no matter what so I will install a 120mm Thermalright heat pipe tomorrow. I am hoping the prob is my psu. I will install an OCZ 600w Powerstream tomorrow as well. I know it is overkill but I like the dual 12v rail amps and will be ready for additional power hungry cards and drives in the future. Any other thoughts?

 

[tcxoman2]

I am currently running on a C: drive that is a PATA 250MB 7200 spin and want to install the OS on two 300GB Maxtor 16MB drives in RAID 0. Any simple instructions on making a RAID? After I enable the RAID in BIOS do I reinstall the OS on it? Do I need the floppy drive because mine is not working right? Simple Steps would be real helpful. Thanks, Scott

Scott,

There is an easier way to install the system on a Raid array. Just load the drivers for the raid array now. Download CasperXP (yes its the friendly version of Ghost) from Future System Solutions. They will allow you to use it 30 days free. Copy your existing drive to the raid array and change your bios to boot from the raid array and your are done. You will not need a floppy if you do it this way. The software works while running windows and there are no boot disks or other drivers to load. BTW it is well worth the price they are asking.

 

[pac1085]

Winchester 3000+

2500MHz @ 294 x 8.5 doesnt go higher than 123 deg f under 100% load prime 95 stable for 24 hours
1.5875v
3x HT
ram at 2-2-2-5 1t ddr 333 setting in bios, running at 227 mhz.

have new ram and psu in the mail. hopefully cpu will do more

 

[ajmiles]

OK, I've tried my RAM at 2T 3-3-3-9 and a multiplier of 10 and I still can't get the FSB much beyond 460 which is 2x230. It is quite annoying now because I know my RAM can do "at least" 530 or so, and the Winchester 3500 is more than capable of 2.6ghz.

Hopefully some new BIOS will stabalise what is going on with my graphics, because as soon as I see it "blackening" randomly, I know something is up. In fact, I've now noticed how quickly it flashes black screens at you is equal to how unstable it is.

Black screen every 1 seconds = uh oh, about to lock up
Black screen every 10 seconds = OK, i've got time to lower the FSB and make it stop.

So, relaxed timings on the RAM didn't help.

Oh, and I 100% DO have PCI Lock on the original 1002 BIOS, but only with certain settings. Default BIOS settings do not enable the PCI Lock, but something I changed in the Jumper Free Config turns it on. I would be surprised if this wasn't the case for all motherboards with the 1002 bios.

Adam Miles

 

[Shaga]

Try using 1005 bios. Has been best for my needs, and has PCI Lock setting.

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: pac1085
Winchester 3000+

2500MHz @ 294 x 8.5 doesnt go higher than 123 deg f under 100% load prime 95 stable for 24 hours
1.5875v
3x HT
ram at 2-2-2-5 1t ddr 333 setting in bios, running at 227 mhz.

have new ram and psu in the mail. hopefully cpu will do more

What voltage are you running your mem at? Also, what type is it?

Do you have Sandra installed? I would like to see some bandwidth results on that...

Also, don't half multipliers round something, so what you see in cpu-z or whatever isn't ture?

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: Shaga
Everyone talks about memory settings like: 2t, 3-4-4-8. I know where to put 2t but rest values are unknown to me. Could someone tell me name where to put memory timings, or even better. take screenshot from memorysettings-page from bios. There are so many values in newest beta bios that confuses me, and don't know names of values. I'm using kingston DDR400. Thanks already.

Dude, just download a64 tweaker... It will allow you to change almost every memory setting...

Although, as of yet I have been unable to change my CAS in a64 tweaker w/out locking up the machine, but that really doesn't matter much b/c it is the only one I have to change in the BIOS

 

[Tanclearas]

I'm connecting case fans to my Sonata's power supply. There are "Fan Only" connectors that adjust fan speed based on case heat.

Anyway, here are three odd things I've noticed. Not problems, per se, but rather just kind of weird things that are happening.

1) If I choose shut down, and suspend, the system will suspend properly, and come back on when I hit power. After I do this, when I check my speeds, the system is actually underclocked (1937 MHz)! I have it set to run at 220 x 10. If I reboot, it goes back to 2200.

2) If I choose shut down, and restart, when the system is starting back, I hear the "System fail due to CPU overclocking" message. I just hit F1 to continue, or reset, and it starts up fine. If I start the system up cold, I don't have a problem. Now, I have had the system running at 2200 MHz for over a week, and have not had a single problem. I've run it through Sandra, memtest, Prime 95, various 3D Marks, and been playing Doom 3, Far Cry, HL2 all during this time.

3) If I leave vcore at default in the BIOS, CPU-Z shows core voltages as high as 1.46. If I manually set the vcore anywhere from 1.4 to 1.45 in the BIOS, it never gets above 1.44 in CPU-Z.

Anyway, not really looking for solutions, because not of these seems to really be a problem. Feel free to comment though!

 

[pac1085]

Originally posted by: JMag

Originally posted by: pac1085
Winchester 3000+

2500MHz @ 294 x 8.5 doesnt go higher than 123 deg f under 100% load prime 95 stable for 24 hours
1.5875v
3x HT
ram at 2-2-2-5 1t ddr 333 setting in bios, running at 227 mhz.

have new ram and psu in the mail. hopefully cpu will do more

What voltage are you running your mem at? Also, what type is it?

Do you have Sandra installed? I would like to see some bandwidth results on that...

Also, don't half multipliers round something, so what you see in cpu-z or whatever isn't ture?

The ram is corsair xms pc3500 bh5 2225 1t 256mb stick @ 2.8v. I only have 1 stick in right now so the sandra mem benchmarks suck hard. they were alot higher with sticks in running at the same settings (was unstable because my other stick was generic pc3200 cas 2.5) so i took it out and only have one now.

my
new ram will be here mid week so ill post the mem bench's then. I think the cpu has alot left in it, but we'll see.

 

[Giranda]

I have just created a new system (my old was a Compaq Presario, where there were 2 or three choices in the BIOS). I am interested in starting to try to overclock and was hoping someone could point me to a good primer - it would be particularly useful if the primer was up to date and included PCI express.

Incidentally the system has been very stable. The only problem was the sound from the on-board Realtek system was not great. I solved that with an Audigy 2 Value card, installed without a hitch, and now sounds great.

Also, if anyone has a similar rig, I would be interested in your settings (I am running BIOS 1002). Thanks

 

[jelliott]

anyone use or know if Corsair TWINX1024-3200LL (2x512mb) will work ok in this board?

 

[pac1085]

Originally posted by: JMag

Originally posted by: pac1085
Winchester 3000+

2500MHz @ 294 x 8.5 doesnt go higher than 123 deg f under 100% load prime 95 stable for 24 hours
1.5875v
3x HT
ram at 2-2-2-5 1t ddr 333 setting in bios, running at 227 mhz.

have new ram and psu in the mail. hopefully cpu will do more

What voltage are you running your mem at? Also, what type is it?

Do you have Sandra installed? I would like to see some bandwidth results on that...

Also, don't half multipliers round something, so what you see in cpu-z or whatever isn't ture?

OK, put the second stick back in and dropped the timings to 2.5-3-3-8 and sandra got 5540/5542 .. nothin special

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: pac1085

Originally posted by: JMag

Originally posted by: pac1085
Winchester 3000+

2500MHz @ 294 x 8.5 doesnt go higher than 123 deg f under 100% load prime 95 stable for 24 hours
1.5875v
3x HT
ram at 2-2-2-5 1t ddr 333 setting in bios, running at 227 mhz.

have new ram and psu in the mail. hopefully cpu will do more

What voltage are you running your mem at? Also, what type is it?

Do you have Sandra installed? I would like to see some bandwidth results on that...

Also, don't half multipliers round something, so what you see in cpu-z or whatever isn't ture?

OK, put the second stick back in and dropped the timings to 2.5-3-3-8 and sandra got 5540/5542 .. nothin special

I can pull 7097/7022 at 239.6mhz 2.5-3-3-9 1t, CPU = 2636mhz

I have noticed that the Sandra Bandwidth is also CPU driven, so it really isn't a "just" memory bench

Also, I saw Shamino's review on voltage mods and such for the a8n-sli. I don't have the soldering skills to do any of it with out fear of damaging my MB, but I did find out which points you can measure true volts.

http://www.vr-zone.com.sg/?i=1624&s=1

Anyway, I noticed that my Board overvolts on the memory. I measured 3.08v when I have BIOS set to 2.9v, if i set it to 2.8v in BIOS it reads 3.04v on my multimeter. Anyone else have the chance to try this out? BTW, I switched to BIOS 1002 this morning because I wanted to use my DiamondMax 10 (it works fine with this BIOS)

I also checked my chipset voltage and i am reading 1.52 when Shamino is stating his was 1.55. Anyone else have any readings they took and info on their abilities to OC?

Anyway, my thoughts that the newer 1003.005 BIOS overclocks better are toatally false. I seem to get the same MAX OC with the shipping BIOS ( as long as the PCI lock is enabled by setting the FSB to 201 in the BIOS, then using clockgen to increase the speeds )

Also, a side not of my random shutdown issue. Well... I decided to rip my old TT PSU out of my p4 machine and it seems to have fixed the problem ( I am noticing way less coltage fluctuation on the rails in speedfan. Interestingly before I did this I had hooked my multi-meter up tot the 12v rail of the PC Power and Cooling and it didn't seem to fluctuate... )

Who would have though thtat replacing my PC Power and Cooling PSU with a ThermalTake would improve my computer performance!

I have already RMA'd this PSU once since I bought it form an individual off of Craig's List... Maybe it was more damaged than they thought...

 

[SMatson]

Im having trouble getting windows to load and had to reset the cmos.

Several questions:
1 How do I find out what BIOS im running?
2 How can i tell if sli is working? I got a message on one boot that sli was being disabled!

Thanks,

Scott

 

[DavidHull]

Hello,

I just purchased the A8N SLI Deluxe and was wondering if anyone has solved the following issues:

First, the board will not run my memory, which runs perfectly stable at 280mhz with 1T timings (very important on an A64 platform) on an MSI Neo2 Platinum. I find it strange that I'd get less performance on a newer platform. I know that there are numerous people who are having the same problem of not being able to go over about 240 mhz with capable ram at 1T timings, If there is anyone out there that can run 1T timings at significantly over 240 mhz, then please let me know.

Second. at a setting of 1.5625 volts for the CPU in BIOS, I get an actual setting setting of 1.47 volts.
at a setting of 1.575 volts, the next highest setting, I get an actual setting of 1.58 volts. There is no in between and this is a problem because my CPU needs nowhere near 1.58 volts to run at its top speeds, but does need slightly more than 1.47 volts. I don't want the added heat that 1.58 volts brings.

Third, there are reports that there is a 1005 bios for the A8N SLI Deluxe platform. I want to know, what planet is this found on and who do I have to know to get it?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[sreams]

Second. at a setting of 1.5625 volts for the CPU in BIOS, I get an actual setting setting of 1.47 volts.
at a setting of 1.575 volts, the next highest setting, I get an actual setting of 1.58 volts. There is no in between and this is a problem because my CPU needs nowhere near 1.58 volts to run at its top speeds, but does need slightly more than 1.47 volts. I don't want the added heat that 1.58 volts brings.

I don't believe any of the software applications are reporting core voltages correctly. I am seeing the same reported voltage issues as you... but there is definitely a stability difference for me going from 1.5V to 1.525V in the BIOS... even while software shows no change.

Third, there are reports that there is a 1005 bios for the A8N SLI Deluxe platform. I want to know, what planet is this found on and who do I have to know to get it?

I'm pretty sure that's a typo. People are probably referring to 1003.005. ASUS hasn't even started on 1004 as far as I am aware.

-S

 

[Shaga]

Yeah, 1003.005. http://www.asus.it/support/dow...e=1003-005.zip~zaqwedc