*** Official ASUS P4C800/Deluxe (875P) Thread ***

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: senior guy

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Have you been able to get your RAM to 2-2-2-6 at all? Or haven't you tried? Mine seems perfectly stable at 2-3-3-7, but it breaks down at the lower settings.

I did try and it was NOT stable at those settings. Perhaps someday with a better BIOS (I hope)!

Hmm...so perhaps it's not just me. However, jhites seems to have been able to get his stable at those settings, the only difference between his setup and mine (other than the fact that he is overclocking) is that he is using Kingston PC3500.

Right now I'm attempting to run only one stick at those timings. I just went through the first one, and successfully ran 3dmark twice with no crashes. I pulled that stick and am currently testing the second one. I'll see what happens...if they both work separately, maybe this board has a problem doing those timings in dual-channel mode.

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: vetteguyHmm...so perhaps it's not just me. However, jhites seems to have been able to get his stable at those settings, the only difference between his setup and mine (other than the fact that he is overclocking) is that he is using Kingston PC3500.

Right now I'm attempting to run only one stick at those timings. I just went through the first one, and successfully ran 3dmark twice with no crashes. I pulled that stick and am currently testing the second one. I'll see what happens...if they both work separately, maybe this board has a problem doing those timings in dual-channel mode.

If you are running stable at 2-3-3-7 (at 400MHz), I wouldn't sweat it. IMHO you wouldn't see the difference in real world apps anyway!

Btw, Is your Perf Accel Mode set to Auto or Enabled?

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: senior guy

Originally posted by: vetteguyHmm...so perhaps it's not just me. However, jhites seems to have been able to get his stable at those settings, the only difference between his setup and mine (other than the fact that he is overclocking) is that he is using Kingston PC3500.

Right now I'm attempting to run only one stick at those timings. I just went through the first one, and successfully ran 3dmark twice with no crashes. I pulled that stick and am currently testing the second one. I'll see what happens...if they both work separately, maybe this board has a problem doing those timings in dual-channel mode.

If you are running stable at 2-3-3-7 (at 400MHz), I wouldn't sweat it. IMHO you wouldn't see the difference in real world apps anyway!

Btw, Is your Perf Accel Mode set to Auto or Enabled?

It's set to auto.

I just completed a few runs of 3dmark with the second stick...and no crashes. So, I'm beginning to believe it has to do with dual channel mode. I will probably run at 2-3-3-7 for now and hope for a BIOS fix.

 

[jhites]

Hmm...so perhaps it's not just me. However, jhites seems to have been able to get his stable at those settings, the only difference between his setup and mine (other than the fact that he is overclocking) is that he is using Kingston PC3500.

I am currently running this:
P4C800-Dlx with 2.6C @ 1.60vcore
Kingston HyperX-PC3500 2X512Mb sticks @ 2.85vdimm
ATI All in Wonder 9700 Pro 128Mb Video @ 1.7vagp with 19" LCD
+cdrw; zip750; floppy; usb (printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard)
Windows XP Pro with Netgear Gateway Router/4 port hub.

When I was tweaking and pumping the system, I did get the BIOS
corruption as you are getting now. The safe bios feature of the board
and the original factory cd got it back on track. One note on the ram is
that the HyperX series uses the Winbond BH5 memory chips as does the
Corsair XMS series. When I got the bios failure, it was due to just taking
the memory beyond its capabilities.

This ram is rated at DDR433 2-3-3-7-1T @ 2.6vdimm and I am running it
@ DDR418 (261.3fsb 5:4 ratio) with 2.85vdimm @ 2-2-2-5-2T. So actually,
you could say that I am running the ram at under its rated speed but above
its rated timings. This is only able to run stable at this speed with 2.85vdimm
and will not complete MemTest @ lower vdimm but is running rock solid at the
2.85vdimm.

I have this system set up as my Seti Server Queue and running 2 instances of
Seti CLC 24/7 while I still do anything and everything else. Except while gaming
Seti CLC is turned off. Two instances of Seti will use 100% of the resources of
the HT Processor.

Hope some of the long winded post helps.

 

[jdmesty]

Newbie Guy

I am in the same boat as you (see earlier entry above). After I tried to fix the BIOS from corruption after it crashed from the CD, I am also getting no post so that I can reset the BIOS

When I boot up the POST never shows since I get no video feed (tested card in another PC and it is fine)

So hitting ALT - F2 doesn't help me at all since I get no video or POST to fix the BIOS.

I put a request into ASUS for help but have not heard back from them yet.

Hopefully I will hear from them soon or somebody here will come up with a suggestion

Hoe the board isnt toast after only 2 weeks, and who knows if the RAM and CPU are now also toast.

 

[jhites]

Originally posted by: jdmesty

Newbie Guy
I am in the same boat as you (see earlier entry above). After I tried to fix the BIOS from corruption after it crashed from the CD, I am also getting no post so that I can reset the BIOS

Try holding down the INSERT key on your keyboard and then turn it on with the
insert key still depressed. If you don't get a post, turn it off again for 30-60 seconds
and do it again. May take 3-4 times but sometimes this works to reset boot.

edit: Do this with a copy of the bios file on a floppy with the floppy
in the drive. Make sure that the bios file is set to P4C800.rom

 

[NewbieGuy]

Thanks! I'll try that when I get home. Can I used the newest bios off of ASUS's site (and rename) or should I stick w/ the one on CD? Also do I hae to use a floppy and not the CD?

Thanks.

 

[NewbieGuy]

Also the reason I'm meddeling w/ the bios is because my 3200 winabond DC mem is running at 320 instead of 400. TO get it running at 400 all I have to do is change the ratio to 1:1 right?

Thanks.

 

[jhites]

Originally posted by: NewbieGuy
Also the reason I'm meddeling w/ the bios is because my 3200 winabond DC mem is running at 320 instead of 400. TO get it running at 400 all I have to do is change the ratio to 1:1 right?
Thanks.

The bios will not show 1:1 but will show 400; 320 and 266
when the set to manual. At 200fsb cpu you should set to 400 to get a
1:1 ratio. I would suggest that you use1004 Final

If you get it set up and running, then you can update to 1006 Final
but be sure to follow the instructions for the exe install for the 1006
update.

Let's just try to get the bloody thing to boot

edit: You can also try removing the battery for a couple of minutes
and then put it back in. Clear the cmos jumper and try booting if the insert
key does'nt work for you. If none of the above works for you, then take the
battery out overnight and put it back in the next day and try again.

 

[NewbieGuy]

jhites, thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

I did the jumper thing several times a few nights ago (switching it to pins 3+4 for 10 secs then putting it back to 1+2) and that didn?t work.
Where is this battery located and how hard is it to remove?

I'll try it out when I get home.

P.S. Looks like ASUS's site is down so I'll have to wait for the 1004final drivers.

 

[NewbieGuy]

Never mind I'm an idiot, you've got them linked. =)

 

[NewbieGuy]

lol, and yet anoter post:
I was wondering if there was a way to know if the agp is running at 8X? =)

 

[jhites]

Originally posted by: NewbieGuy
lol, and yet anoter post:
I rename the P4C81004.rom file to P4C800.ROM correct?

Also I was wondering if there was a way to know if the agp is running at 8X? =)

Yes you rename the bios rom to P4C800.rom. I believe the link to the 1004 bios gives instructions at the bottom of the download page. Your video card software should give you the agp multipier. Mine is in display properties/settings/advanced/smartgart for my ATI 9700 Pro.

 

[NewbieGuy]

Again thank you!

A final question (I hope):
Say all this works and I'm running w/ the 1004final Bios can I use the Asus bios update prgram in windows to upgrade the bios or should I create a 1006 (or higher?) floppy and flash it?

Thanks again.

 

[jhites]

Originally posted by: NewbieGuy
Again thank you!

A final question (I hope):
Say all this works and I'm running w/ the 1004final Bios can I use the Asus bios update prgram in windows to upgrade the bios or should I create a 1006 (or higher?) floppy and flash it?

Thanks again.

Do the flash exactly like the Description at the 1006 link describes:

1.Do not use Aflash.exe / EZflash /Afudos.exe to update BIOSV1006
2.Extract all the files into the floppy disk,and simply run P4C81006.exe under DOS mode,the BIOS update will execute automatically.Please refer to the readme file which is included in the zipfile to get the details of BIOS update procedure.

Fixed in this BIOS revision

1.Fixed the system can not boot when setting CPU FSB to be 166~199 MHz.
2.Fixed EZ flash fails if some VGA cards are used.(ATI 9700 pro,ASUS X4000, 3DLabs Wildcat II 5110...)
3.Fixed Win2000 server becomes unstable if ATI 9700 Pro VGA card is used
4.Fixed the FSB frequencies of Willamette CPUs are detected as 133MHz.
5.Add "CPU VCore Voltage" setup option to 1.9500V.

I use DrDos BIOS Flashing Basic to create a BootDisk and add the extracted files
for the rom to the DrDos boot disk. This is a very clean boot to DOS. You can
download DrDos Here - Linked

 

[MahjonggMastah]

I just noticed that the northbridge heatsink isn't sitting properly on mine. It's parallel with the cpu heatsink/fan, but I can tell that underneath it the northbridge chip is sitting diagonal. I've also checked all the pictures of other P4C800 Deluxes, and they all have diagonal heatsinks. Is this the case with anyone else here? My system isn't crashing or anything, and the motherboard temp idles around 105 F (with a foam-insulated case - Lian-Li PC6070), so I don't think it's causing any problems. Maybe I should see if I can rearrange this? I'd appreciate some help.

 

[jdmesty]

Thanks for the tips on trying to get my MB back up.

One last question before I try this all tonight.

My MB was upgraded to the 1006 BIOS when it crashed. Am I going to have trouble if I use the 1004 BIOS file to try and bring her back up. Since I do not see a 1006 file other than the one that has the exe attached.

So I should be able to get her hopefully fixed using the 1004 P4C800.ROM file and then patch her back up to 1006 after she is actually felling like working again.

Thanks, I hope the INSERT key or leaving the battray out overnight can help me out

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: MahjonggMastah
I just noticed that the northbridge heatsink isn't sitting properly on mine. It's parallel with the cpu heatsink/fan, but I can tell that underneath it the northbridge chip is sitting diagonal. I've also checked all the pictures of other P4C800 Deluxes, and they all have diagonal heatsinks. Is this the case with anyone else here? My system isn't crashing or anything, and the motherboard temp idles around 105 F (with a foam-insulated case - Lian-Li PC6070), so I don't think it's causing any problems. Maybe I should see if I can rearrange this? I'd appreciate some help.

That's exactly how mine is too...I think they just changed the orientation of the heatsink from the original design...if you notice, the retention clips are meant to hold it on that way. I have no idea why the specs call for the northbridge to be orientated that way, but thankfully Asus moved the heatsink, otherwise I might have had trouble getting my non-Intel heatsink on there.

 

[exec000]

Help! This mobo was review to have some bugg problems, I'm here to tell you yes it does. I can't get the bios to read my CD-Rom drives at all. I have put them on Pri & Secord adapters, I have tried running as master and slaves.
I have setup 2 maxtor on the Pri-ATA ScSi. it will boot in Win98 just fine but will not show any CD's. I have tried everything possible I can think of.
For right now I would stay away from this one until these issues are taken care of.

Exec

 

[jdmesty]

I got a reply from the ASUS help desk concerning my no post question.

All it has is a listing for pricing to have them send me a new FLASH BIOS Chip either overnight or by ground.

No suggestions or steps to try to correct the problem. Just a formal sheet giving pricing.

Going to try the ALT key and battery out overnight before I send them money. They want $40 for a new chip sent overnight. I might as well just buya new motherboard.

I'm not home right now but I hope the chip is removable cause otherwise I have to ship the board to them.

Love customer service like this

 

[jdmesty]

UPDATE

Just got off the phone with a Tech at ASUS and we discussed the NO POST issue.

He pretty much admitted there is an issue with the CORSAIR low latency memory and the earlier BIOS which he did say was fixed in the 1007 beta and they have been having good results.

Even though it is a CRASH-FREE BIOS, I did crash it and now I am buying a new BIOS chip to be overnighted to me at $40, so I can replace it myself.

So after I replace it, we will see if my board is OK or else I'm out $40. But he did say replacing the chip should correct the problem

Crossing my fingers

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: jdmesty
UPDATE

Just got off the phone with a Tech at ASUS and we discussed the NO POST issue.

He pretty much admitted there is an issue with the CORSAIR low latency memory and the earlier BIOS which he did say was fixed in the 1007 beta and they have been having good results.

Even though it is a CRASH-FREE BIOS, I did crash it and now I am buying a new BIOS chip to be overnighted to me at $40, so I can replace it myself.

So after I replace it, we will see if my board is OK or else I'm out $40. But he did say replacing the chip should correct the problem

Crossing my fingers

You weren't overclocking or anything, were you? I thought you were just trying to get the memory to run stable at its rated speed. If that's the case, there's no way I'd pay for a replacement BIOS chip. It's their board that broke. Send it to them and make them replace it for you. Or, if they won't, return it to the place you bought it from, tell them it broke through no fault of your own, and the manufacturer won't honor the warranty.

 

[NewbieGuy]

Well I tried everything last night:

1) Using the INSERT key during boot (and F2)
2) Using the CMOS jumper
3) removing the battery (CMOS) for 7 1/2 hours then putting it back and using the jumper (CMOS)
I didn't make the bios floppy bootable but since it doesn't even get to POST it's not going to boot anyways.

None of this worked, the computer still won't go to post and I've got a blank screen.
I don't have CORSAIR mem but I think it is low lat. so there is that connection. Let me know if the new chip works. I may just bite the bullet and but it too.
I did have this problem when I first built the system and booted up but I managed to fix it just trying random things (but I don't remember what fixed it).

 

[senior guy]

Couldn't agree more... Why should anyone pay for warranty repairs/replacements?

 

[jose]

Asus's site lists Kingston value ram as recommended for this mobo.

Why ?? Are all the problems w/ the 875p chipset associated w/ high speed ram.

A friend of mine wants to upgrade soon, but I'm afraid to recomend a 875p mobo (Abit or Asus).

He upgrades about every 3-4yrs., and wants the most for his money.

Is it safe to go w/ a p2.6c + p4c800 + 2 sticks of Kingston value ram (KVR400X64C25/512).

He would like to OC to 3ghz+ levels w/ this setup, or is this just not possible.

Regards,
Jose