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

[stickybytes]

Does anybdoy know if a antec smartpower 350watt ps will work with this mobo? it came with my antec 2650 case and i am only planning on running one 6600gt video card. has anybody had success with this ps?

 

[stickybytes]

also, does anyone know when revision 2 versions of this board will come out? i notice many of you have 1.02's, does the .02 represent second revision?

 

[imported_starfury6]

From what I understand the 1.02 boards are actually the 3rd revision already. Early December models (mainly to review sites) were version 1.00 and I know a few people who have 1.01 versions.

 

[vcooper1]

Hello to all.
I'm happy to find an official site for the Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe mobo.
In my effort to find as much info as you people, I want to share some very important findings.

Topic - Correct SLI setup!

ok, we start off with the correct placement of the Dongle on this mobo.
I'm sure you're going to use 2 PCIe GPU's. It doesn't make sence not to.

I used the 6693 driver listed under Nvidia 6600 GT. I'm using 2 XFX 6600 GT's,
128MB each.

Look carefully at the Bios settings for What type of GPU to use. There are 2 settings. One for PCI, & the other for PCIex. I set it for PCIex, not auto.
When you're done in the Bios, reboot & go into the Gforce Properties & click on SLI multi-GPU.
You will see 2 settings. Put a checkmark in "Enable SLI multi-GPU" in the window on the left.
Do not check "Show GPU load balancing". If you do, you will get a green line across your screen when any game uses Open GL.

Then click on performance & quality settings, & put a checkmark in "Show advanced settings" This will allow you to see a very important setting.
Use the scroll bar in the little window to get to the bottom of the list.
You will see a setting for "SLI rendering mode" By default, it is set to "Single GPU rendering. Click on the drop down arrow at the bottom of the box and click on "Multi-GPU rendering". click on apply & then OK.

Will will only use 1 GPU if this setting is not enabled. Then you will see a big difference in 3D Mark 3 Benchmark results.

I ran 3D Mark 3 before I knew about the above setting and only scored just over 5000 marks. Terrible! Once I enabled the Multi-GPU rendering mode as I explained, I ran the test again & scored 13182 3D marks. My score was higher then the top score for my config. Nothing overclocked!
My config.
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe. Bios version 1003 final. I had to Re-flash the bios. you will too. Don't think you don't have to, even if it's working. the new version fixes SLI & 64 Bit OS issues!
Athlon 64 3500+ 90nm Winchester core.
2 XFX 6600 GT's 128MB each.
2 Seagate Barracuda 120GB SATA HD's, non raid setup.
1 GB Ultra PC3200/DDR/400Mhz ram in duel channel mode. 2-512MB.
Antec 2.03 compliant PSU with 24pin main connector.
This PSU also has 2 SATA power plugs. You dont need the HD power plug
adators.
More important news. The Nforce chipset supports native SATA drivers.
That means you don't have to worry about loading in any drivers for your SATA HD's during Windows installation.

I hope this info is worth gold to you. I know it won't make me any richer, but I'm happy to find this website. Good luck on your new build.

 

[SenorBiggles]

Did anyone else notice that 1004 Final was available at the german download site? It says that it was released last Friday, but I swear I checked this weekend and it wasn't there. 1005.01 is also listed on Asus Update with a release date today, but nothing is there right at the moment. Checked the ftp site, not there either.

I updated to the 1004 final. No noticeable problems. Haven't tried overclocking past 240 yet though, and that's the only problem I've been having, so I can't tell anyone if it fixes some of those hard drive issues, etc..

 

[imported_sirshambling]

MaDMaRTiGaN - interesting. The lock-ups I get are almost always when I try to access a CD in my Plextor 116. Your experience without connecting the drive confirm my feelings.

Plextor has caused trouble with this board with their 716 DVD writer which have just been fixed by a firmware update.

Have you written to Plextor about this? They may be able to fix the problem with an update but need to be aware of the issue.

John.

 

[ajmiles]

I'm overclocking with the 1005.001 BIOS as I write this. I'm running prime95 while overclocking so any memory issues appear ASAP.

I've locked it to DDR400 and 1T command rate. Unfortunately I'm in XP64 atm so AIBooster doesn't work, but it's no great loss.

15:48: 225 x 10 = 2250 | Sandra Memory Bandwidth: 6435/6360 (int/float)

16:04: Bad News, at 240 x 9 = 2160 half way through a superpi calculation it BSODed with some Service Machine Exception (??) and rebooted. This was at 1T and 1:1 memory timings.

 

[JimKiler]

Originally posted by: ajmiles
I'm overclocking with the 1005.001 BIOS as I write this. I'm running prime95 while overclocking so any memory issues appear ASAP.

I've locked it to DDR400 and 1T command rate. Unfortunately I'm in XP64 atm so AIBooster doesn't work, but it's no great loss.

15:48: 225 x 10 = 2250 | Sandra Memory Bandwidth: 6435/6360 (int/float)

16:04: Bad News, at 240 x 9 = 2160 half way through a superpi calculation it BSODed with some Service Machine Exception (??) and rebooted. This was at 1T and 1:1 memory timings.

Did you try ASUS Ai Booster Utility V2.00.48 for Windows 2000/XP/2003 and Windows 64bit XP/2003. right off the ASUS site?

BIOS 1004 is there now even though the main download asus page shows 1003.

 

[TMI]

I had a similar eproblem w/ my 716sa I rma'd it. Is the fix a Plextor firmaware update??

 

[RT2]

WTF is that?!
http://www.asus.com/support/download/it...odelName=A8N-SLI%20Premium&Type=Latest

A8N-SLI PREMIUM????

wow...that sux.

 

[imported_sirshambling]

Originally posted by: TMI
I had a similar eproblem w/ my 716sa I rma'd it. Is the fix a Plextor firmaware update??

Yes - 104a from their site. Works well on my setup.

John

 

[grapper]

Originally posted by: RT2
WTF is that?!
http://www.asus.com/support/download/it...odelName=A8N-SLI%20Premium&Type=Latest

A8N-SLI PREMIUM????

wow...that sux.

Hmm what is that...? Is it a reworked A8n SLI Deluxe? That would suck hehe...
Heard runors of a new revision on the A8n SLI boards coming out - could this be it? Do they just dont have the guts to "relaunch" the board?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Just got my A8N-SLI Deluxe in the mail today. After reading eveyone's problems I was planning on returning it for DFI NF4 Ultra. Possible Premium, might make me wait a little bit....

 

[Savagestorm]

I'm not sure if someone posted this already but reading through 85 pages of posts isn't my idea of fun so I'll post it anyways. For a very good FAQ to get your system stable and running as fast as possible (without OCing of course) read this ASUS A8N-SLI FAQ I'll just say after using this FAQ my system is great and I love it. I hope it helps you all out. Peace.

 

[SkyBum]

Why are BIOS 1004 and 1005b only up on the german site? Any idea when it will be available in english version?

Also, I don't have floppy so I will be using ASUS Update, any opinions on internet updates verses floppy?

 

[iscsidude]

Originally posted by: Savagestorm
I'm not sure if someone posted this already but reading through 85 pages of posts isn't my idea of fun so I'll post it anyways. For a very good FAQ to get your system stable and running as fast as possible (without OCing of course) read this ASUS A8N-SLI FAQ I'll just say after using this FAQ my system is great and I love it. I hope it helps you all out. Peace.

Interesting read.
They must have been following this thread for months to get this kind of input.

To their credit, HardwareAnalysis did compile the information and provide the data.
Found a couple of tips I missed. Thanks!

 

[iscsidude]

Originally posted by: SkyBum
Why are BIOS 1004 and 1005b only up on the german site? Any idea when it will be available in english version?

Also, I don't have floppy so I will be using ASUS Update, any opinions on internet updates verses floppy?

Skybum,
I've always been leary of internet BIOS updates.
Standalone updates always allow me to reboot and go back.
If I botch up an internet update, lose power, lose my DSL connection or any of another set of conditions, my BIOS can become unrecoverable.

On the other hand, with BIOS updated from DOS, I limit my exposures.

Just my two cents.

 

[JimKiler]

Originally posted by: SkyBum
Why are BIOS 1004 and 1005b only up on the german site? Any idea when it will be available in english version?

Also, I don't have floppy so I will be using ASUS Update, any opinions on internet updates verses floppy?

What do you mean been there since noon at least

 

[iscsidude]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Just got my A8N-SLI Deluxe in the mail today. After reading eveyone's problems I was planning on returning it for DFI NF4 Ultra. Possible Premium, might make me wait a little bit....

Yep. I might wait a year and get the next Mobo/CPU before my next acquisition as well! Then again, if I wait two years, I'll be assured there will be no future products. Funny concept!

 

[Shaga]

Here is everything what I was able to find about A8N Premium:
http://www.asus.it/news/2004/20041123.htm

I don't know anything about language of italy, but chart table helps a lot for getting a clue.

So it's like A8N without SLI plus Wifi-g I think.

 

[vcooper1]

The 1004 Bios version is now available today at the Asus usa site.

 

[Capt Caveman]

iscsidude, if you didn't know the A8N - Premium(non-sli) is coming out in two weeks. Maybe by then, the sli version will be announced.

 

[vcooper1]

Your cd rom drives should be connected to the secondary IDE channel!!
The primary IDE channel is for your standard IDE ATA Hard Drives.

 

[SkyBum]

Originally posted by: JimKiler

What do you mean been there since noon at least

Strange, using ASUS Update If I select ftp.asus.com or ftp.asus.com.tw I get a message that says "Sorry, there're no proper BIOS inage files on the server!". If I select ftp.asuscom.de, I'm offered a choice between 1004 final or 1005 Beta but they are in German (don't think das ist gunto verk for me). I guess they have not added the new ones to the FTP yet.....

 

[Hammerli]

Post lost in 86 pages, moved to seperate thread.