*** Official ASUS P5W DH Thread ***

[jhh979s]

I was thinking that too. Guess I'll go buy a floppy drive today.

 

[phile]

Actually, if you have a USB storage device, you can use that with the EZFlash method. Look in the manual for the page that explains how to Flash using EzFlash.

-phil

 

[Ziggy1111]

Hey,

I have got this really weird dvd problem. My dvds are working fine whenever theres data on it but when i put in a empty dvd it changes to cdrom and i cant burn to it. They are connected to the black port and recognised on startup. Both my writers have this problem if i connect them to blue port same thing. If the cable was broke then they shouldnt work at all right?? They are working fine except with empty dvds any ideas or people with a similar problem?? Is this a windows problem?

I find it hard to believe that both my writers are broke

 

[nrs251]

The only thing that worries me is that I have no control over what batch I get. Anyone know of a retailer that can accomodate a specialty request? Or maybe the stepping is mature enough that all the E6600s overclock well now.

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Ziggy1111
Hey,

I have got this really weird dvd problem. My dvds are working fine whenever theres data on it but when i put in a empty dvd it changes to cdrom and i cant burn to it. They are connected to the black port and recognised on startup. Both my writers have this problem if i connect them to blue port same thing. If the cable was broke then they shouldnt work at all right?? They are working fine except with empty dvds any ideas or people with a similar problem?? Is this a windows problem?

I find it hard to believe that both my writers are broke

The first thing to try is a new cable, and preferrably on the blue port. I recall having already suggested this to you, in addition to trying each drive separately. To find a solution, we must gather information, and that requires trying things that might not make any sense to you.

-phil

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: nrs251
The only thing that worries me is that I have no control over what batch I get. Anyone know of a retailer that can accomodate a specialty request? Or maybe the stepping is mature enough that all the E6600s overclock well now.

Assuming my power supply is not the culprit, my E6600 o/c's like crap. Can't move beyond FSB 333 (3GHz). But, I do think there's a very decent chance it's my PSU - OCZ Modstream 450. In any case, I fail to understand why you're not happy with a E6400 running at 3.2GHz. Is getting to 3.6GHz really worth $300? It's not like you're going to see the difference in anything but benchmarking applications.

-phil

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: nrs251
The only thing that worries me is that I have no control over what batch I get. Anyone know of a retailer that can accomodate a specialty request? Or maybe the stepping is mature enough that all the E6600s overclock well now.

The only people I have heard of that'll tell you in advance what processor stepping you are buying is Tank Guys. Not sure all the details. Never bought from them before. Just heard it mentioned before. Mainly back when AM was still king. Pretty much no one will do it unless you buy from a ebay seller.

 

[nrs251]

CPU-Z

My CPU-Z 3.44 Ghz E6400

Super-Pi 1M: 17s

E6400
Corsair 2GB
Nautilus 500 WC

Orthos: Stable 30 mins and counting.

I wish that that RAM could be clocked faster.

 

[mikepaul]

I have a question about memory ratios and stability.

Somebody can check my math, but the available ratios seem to be (FSB/1:RAM/2):
FSB 400, RAM 600 4:3
FSB 400, RAM 800 1:1
FSB 400, RAM 1000 4:5
FSB 400, RAM 1067 3:4
FSB 400, RAM 1200 2:3
FSB 400, RAM 1333 4:7
FSB 400, RAM 1600 1:2

Is there any guide to picking a ratio other than trial and error, like manufacturer's specs maybe?...

 

[phile]

It has always been my understanding that 1:1 is where you want to be, assuming that doing so doesn't result in running your memory well below spec. For example, if you were running PC2-6400 memory with stock FSB, you could run the mem at DDR2-533 to achieve a 1:1 ratio. However, running it at DDR2-800 with the 2:3 divider would probably yield better performance.

-phil

 

[mikepaul]

Originally posted by: phile
It has always been my understanding that 1:1 is where you want to be, assuming that doing so doesn't result in running your memory well below spec. For example, if you were running PC2-6400 memory with stock FSB, you could run the mem at DDR2-533 to achieve a 1:1 ratio. However, running it at DDR2-800 with the 2:3 divider would probably yield better performance.

Well, Orthos Blended ran for over 7 hours last night @ 400FSB/DDR2-800 so I guess it's stable-ish. I think it's still a little hot: 57C this morning but I saw 64C last night. I don't think I'll get to 3Ghz without more work on the MB and cooler, so today I'm calling ASUS again to get the CMOS question answered.

Everest already has my memory performing at or near the top of its benchmark results, but maybe I can play a bit and top all of them...

Ummm, unless Everest Home is out of date and I need to beat higher numbers now?...

 

[Ziggy1111]

Hi,

I solved the problem with my dvdwriters i uninstalled alcohol 120 and everything works fine now on the black port!!!

I have another question im a pc noob srry, still learning.

I want to build a system with 3 sata2 hd one is from western digital and two from maxtor. Is it possible to put two in raid and use one alone? Whats the best way to connect this? Connect single hd to sata 1 port and 2raid hds to the orange ez backup connectors? Would this work

Thanx
Ziggy

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Ziggy1111
Hi,

I solved the problem with my dvdwriters i uninstalled alcohol 120 and everything works fine now on the black port!!!

I have another question im a pc noob srry, still learning.

I want to build a system with 3 sata2 hd one is from western digital and two from maxtor. Is it possible to put two in raid and use one alone? Whats the best way to connect this? Connect single hd to sata 1 port and 2raid hds to the orange ez backup connectors? Would this work

Thanx
Ziggy

I haven't messed with RAID, but your proposed configuration sounds like it should work, in theory. The EzRaid ports will automatically operate as a RAID1 array. RAID0 requires some configuration, but I'm not sure how that is achieved.

-phil

 

[luckyinfil]

i just built my conroe system. The SATA2 drive is being detected as IDE 3 tho. How do i get it to detect as sata? also, how do i make use of the ncq technology? WHat drivers should i install on this mobo when i have a conroe system? I know the basic drivers, but what is AHCI and that kind thing? Also, do i need to change some jumper settings on my HD to have it at sata 2? its a seagate 320 barricuda

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: luckyinfil
i just built my conroe system. The SATA2 drive is being detected as IDE 3 tho. How do i get it to detect as sata? also, how do i make use of the ncq technology? WHat drivers should i install on this mobo when i have a conroe system? I know the basic drivers, but what is AHCI and that kind thing? Also, do i need to change some jumper settings on my HD to have it at sata 2? its a seagate 320 barricuda

By default, SATA drives will run in Standard IDE mode, unless you manually change the mode to AHCI or RAID. If in Standard IDE mode, the SATA drive connected to SATA1 (the red port) will be displayed as Third Master. All of this is normal, and your drive is not being crippled as a result. However, certain SATA features like NCQ and hot-plugging are not supported when running as Standard IDE. If you want to take advantage of these features, without building a RAID array, you need to switch the mode to AHCI.

Normally, if you want to run the drives in AHCI or SATA modes, you need to F6/load the Intel Matrix Storage driver, prior to windows install. However, it is possible to do this after windows install by carefullt following these instructions:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=457699

Once this has been done, download and install the latest Intel Matrix Storage driver:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts...ct_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101&lang=eng

-phil

 

[Ziggy1111]

I changed my bios to ahci and mine is still detected as third ide master, this isnt right then?? Did i mis something?

 

[Vikroda]

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I had/have a very similar problem. I installed WinXP with a Benq 1655; however, when Windows booted the DVD drive was not detected. The drive doesn't show up in device manager (though I can see it in bios setup). I added an old CD-ROM drive and that allowed both drives to show up but then the DVD drive was very very slow and refused to read anything. Also my mouse became stuttery, too (I thought it was RF interference as I moved the computer to a different part of lab). I took out the DVD drive and the performance improved (no jittery mouse, higher 3D mark scores). I put the DVD drive in an enclosure and connected via firewire, but there was no problems with that setup. This was all with 11.01. I haven't tried it with 12.01 or 13.01 yet. Hopefully Asus gets their act together.
kpamir, have you tried connecting only one DVD drive? If so, does that drive show up?

Heathbar, looks like you have the same problem I have. I solved it by using a very old CD-ROM drive and removing my DVD burner. I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear.

I redid the thermal paste on the N&S chips and noticed that the middle pin for the optical drives was bent out (I put the cable in upside down first ). I bent it back and now the DVD drive works fine. I believe phile mentioned the bent pin before.

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Ziggy1111
I changed my bios to ahci and mine is still detected as third ide master, this isnt right then?? Did i mis something?

Did you install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver? If so, in the start menu you will have a shortcut to open the Matrix Storage Manager console. That will list all the drives running in AHCI.

-phil

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Vikroda

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I had/have a very similar problem. I installed WinXP with a Benq 1655; however, when Windows booted the DVD drive was not detected. The drive doesn't show up in device manager (though I can see it in bios setup). I added an old CD-ROM drive and that allowed both drives to show up but then the DVD drive was very very slow and refused to read anything. Also my mouse became stuttery, too (I thought it was RF interference as I moved the computer to a different part of lab). I took out the DVD drive and the performance improved (no jittery mouse, higher 3D mark scores). I put the DVD drive in an enclosure and connected via firewire, but there was no problems with that setup. This was all with 11.01. I haven't tried it with 12.01 or 13.01 yet. Hopefully Asus gets their act together.
kpamir, have you tried connecting only one DVD drive? If so, does that drive show up?

Heathbar, looks like you have the same problem I have. I solved it by using a very old CD-ROM drive and removing my DVD burner. I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear.

I redid the thermal paste on the N&S chips and noticed that the middle pin for the optical drives was bent out (I put the cable in upside down first ). I bent it back and now the DVD drive works fine. I believe phile mentioned the bent pin before.

Yeah, a bent or pushed-in pin will certainly create problems.

-phil

 

[The111]

Has anyone figured out how to fix the auto-detection of USB HDD's in BIOS, on a cold bootup? I have 3 external HDD's, and it takes forever when I turn the computer on, because BIOS detects all of them and waits for them to warm up. On old motherboards, I never had this problem, and I had the exact same setup (3 externals).

Thanks.

 

[luckyinfil]

I'm going to do a reformat. Would i need tos ave the drivers on some usb drive in order to isntall it during bootup? or is it on the cd

Originally posted by: phile

Originally posted by: luckyinfil
i just built my conroe system. The SATA2 drive is being detected as IDE 3 tho. How do i get it to detect as sata? also, how do i make use of the ncq technology? WHat drivers should i install on this mobo when i have a conroe system? I know the basic drivers, but what is AHCI and that kind thing? Also, do i need to change some jumper settings on my HD to have it at sata 2? its a seagate 320 barricuda

By default, SATA drives will run in Standard IDE mode, unless you manually change the mode to AHCI or RAID. If in Standard IDE mode, the SATA drive connected to SATA1 (the red port) will be displayed as Third Master. All of this is normal, and your drive is not being crippled as a result. However, certain SATA features like NCQ and hot-plugging are not supported when running as Standard IDE. If you want to take advantage of these features, without building a RAID array, you need to switch the mode to AHCI.

Normally, if you want to run the drives in AHCI or SATA modes, you need to F6/load the Intel Matrix Storage driver, prior to windows install. However, it is possible to do this after windows install by carefullt following these instructions:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=457699

Once this has been done, download and install the latest Intel Matrix Storage driver:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts...ct_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101&lang=eng

-phil

 

[phile]

I'm really not sure what other formats can be used, other than a floppy.

Intel Matrix Storage driver:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts...ct_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101&lang=eng

Scroll down to the utilities. The first item is what you need to download in order to prepare a floppy. This floppy will contain drivers for many chipsets, so when loading the driver, make sure you choose the driver for the ICH7R southbridge. If you install the wrong driver, get ready for a BSoD.

-phil

 

[Ziggy1111]

Hello,

I installed this matrix storgae driver and if i open it, it says my sata 2 drive is on port 0
and sata modus is generation 2. Is this a good thing?

And is it normal for my sata hd still showing up as third ide master on boot?

Thnx
Ziggy

 

[mikepaul]

Well, despite other ASUS techs telling me that my problem with 1407 might need to be investigated, the guy I just talked to said Do Not Update The BIOS Unless You Have A Problem Specifically Fixed By The New Version.

All of the blame for 1407 locking up is on my setup, not their code. Sure, my machine never shows signs of life until I reset the CMOS, but I shouldn't have installed 1407 because the one fix that was included wasn't for MY graphics card.

I asked about someone who bought 1407 off the shelf and ran into this. I didn't get what I considered a consistant answer, because the board would be considered dead and they wouldn't blame the user's hardware. However, since I can use 1305, any failure of 1407 to work is put on whatever I plugged into their board.

Oh, and that message I left for a higher-level tech to look into this? According to this guy, nobody in the US is suitable to discuss an issue like mine. Maybe that explains the lack of callback, but a callback to tell me that the issue isn't being looked into would have been nice.

I was OK with ASUS support until this call. Why all other techs were wrong and only this guy is right is hard to swallow.

So if I see 1410 or whatever soon, and it doesn't fix any issue I actually have, ASUS doesn't want to know about any troubles I had with it. Sheesh...

 

[The111]

I think I'm running like 1205 or something. Was going to update to something newer just for good measure, but all these problems make me hesitate. If I don't O/C, is there any compelling reason for me to update?