*** Official ASUS P5W DH Thread ***

[phile]

For the PSU there are TWO connectors that need to be hooked-up: the 20+4-pin (next to the RAM slots) AND the 4-pin (above the CPU socket).

-phil

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: phile

Originally posted by: smithy1185
Hopefully somebody can help me with this. I just finished assembling my computer today with this mobo and nothing happens when I push the power button. The green led flashes but nothing is happening. Could it be because the bios are outdated? This is my first build and my other computer is an older Dell so I have nothing to test these components with.

If you CPU is a Core 2 Duo, you need bios 0801 or greater in order to POST with this mobo. Some have had success with 0701. Assuming it's not a BIOS issue, did you make sure to connect BOTH the 20+4-pin and 4-pin power supply connectors? If that's not the issue, either, try booting with a single stick of mem.

-phil

It should post with 0701. It was the mobos with BIOS 0604 and earlier that wouldnt post from what I have heard.

 

[pschweig]

if I want to install windows onto a sata drive will I need the sata drivers?

If so, where can I get those drivers from?

thanks
paul

 

[dando]

Originally posted by: smithy1185
Hopefully somebody can help me with this. I just finished assembling my computer today with this mobo and nothing happens when I push the power button. The green led flashes but nothing is happening. Could it be because the bios are outdated? This is my first build and my other computer is an older Dell so I have nothing to test these components with.

It could be that you have a short somewhere involving the case.

If you're getting desperate, you might try pulling the mobo out of the case and powering it up while it is sitting on the antistatic bag or a piece of cardboard or something.

 

[dando]

Originally posted by: pschweig
if I want to install windows onto a sata drive will I need the sata drivers?

If so, where can I get those drivers from?

thanks
paul

You need drivers if you're using RAID. You don't need drivers if you're using the EZ-Backup pair of SATA connections. You can get the drivers from the CD that came with your mobo, or better yet, download them from the company website.

 

[smithy1185]

Thanks for the suggestions from those trying to help me. Today I tried Corsair's suggestion to test the psu using a paperclip and that worked so I called Asus and finally got my computer working. A few things that the tech rep reminded me on that I should have tried yesterday was to remove the soundcard(along with the dvd and sata hdd which I did yesterday) as well as to stick the one stick of ram in the B1 slot as opposed to the A1. I also removed the usb pluggins too just to be safe and it worked thankfully. After plugging back in each item(and the ram the way I originally had it), I found the culprit which was the 2 usb ports on top of the case. I can't believe those dumb things have caused the whole system not to work. I'm pretty sure I hooked them up properly as they plugged into the blue usb mount provided and then into the mobo. Oh well at least if something had to not work, I'd rather it be something like that rather than something more costly.

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: pschweig
if I want to install windows onto a sata drive will I need the sata drivers?

If so, where can I get those drivers from?

thanks
paul

To add to Dando's response: SATA drives will operate as Standard IDE by default, which requires no additional drivers. If you wish to run SATA drives in AHCI or RAID mode, you need to F6/load the Intel Matrix Storage drivers prior to install. Make sure to connect your SATA boot drive to the red connector (SATA1), and any additional SATA storage drives to the black connectors (SATA3 and SATA4). There is no SATA2 as that part of the controller was split into the two orange EzBackup/EzRaid ports.

-phil

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: smithy1185
Thanks for the suggestions from those trying to help me. Today I tried Corsair's suggestion to test the psu using a paperclip and that worked so I called Asus and finally got my computer working. A few things that the tech rep reminded me on that I should have tried yesterday was to remove the soundcard(along with the dvd and sata hdd which I did yesterday) as well as to stick the one stick of ram in the B1 slot as opposed to the A1. I also removed the usb pluggins too just to be safe and it worked thankfully. After plugging back in each item(and the ram the way I originally had it), I found the culprit which was the 2 usb ports on top of the case. I can't believe those dumb things have caused the whole system not to work. I'm pretty sure I hooked them up properly as they plugged into the blue usb mount provided and then into the mobo. Oh well at least if something had to not work, I'd rather it be something like that rather than something more costly.

Glad you're all up and running. I think you've learned the hard way to connect only what is needed on a new build, and then add the remaining components once you have the system up and running.

-phil

 

[Twitch22]

Hello Everyone!

Finally got my rig up and running and let me tell you, I have never enjoyed having built a computer more! I haven't oc'ed anything yet and am still waiting to get my ATI 1900XT, but still so happy I spent the extra cash for the E6600/P5W DH combo. What a set-up!

Anyway, got a question. Just updated my BIOS to new 1407 and used the AsusUpdate software to flash it while in Windows XP (Genius!! F**k floppies!!) After the flash, I entered BIOS and entered all my settings back to where I had them: memory type, memory voltage, etc.

What I noticed though is now my Gigabit connection light is orange (100 Mbps) instead of green (1Gbps). I could have sworn that it was green before the flash. I there anyway to "configure" the connection speed? Or does the Marvel port connect at the best possible speed? I am using Comcast Cable internet service so I should be way fast.

Thanks for any info or thoughts...

Twitch

 

[phile]

Well, your internet connection is likely much less than 100Mbit, so it doesn't really matter now, does it?

Run a speedtest just to make sure your connection is as good as it's suppoed to be.
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

-phil

 

[Twitch22]

Originally posted by: phile
Well, your internet connection is likely much less than 100Mbit, so it doesn't really matter now, does it?

Run a speedtest just to make sure your connection is as good as it's suppoed to be.
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

-phil

Ooooohhhhh...did not realize that my cable connection didn't reach those speeds. Like I often say to my IT friends, "I'm an enthusiast, but I'm no expert."

Thanks!

Twitch

 

[Twitch22]

Phile,

Used the link you gave me to test my connection. Results are:

- 2877 kbps download
- 356 kbps upload

Sound right for cable speed, right? LOL...now you got me paranoid in making sure I'm getting all the bandwith that I'm paying for!! :roll:

Twitch

 

[The111]

Those are ok bandwidth numbers. For gaming, latency is much more important than bandwidth, and many people do not know that latency and bandwidth are independent. Back in the days of Quake 3 I got stuck with a provider with AMAZING bandwidths (>6Mbps) and ridiculously poor pings (>300). I went back to my 56k modem (like I said, back in the day) and got better pings!

 

[Gyromite]

I believe this is a motherboard related problem, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Background: New homebuilt rig, E6600, Asus P5W DH Deluxe (bios 1407), Windows XP Home SP2+All updates, chipset drivers installed from CD.

Problem: Duplicate drivers listed in the device manager for the this device: 32 individual listings for "Texas Instruments OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller" in IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers. It was there since I first booted to the desktop. Sometimes it will show up with the yellow exclamation mark and sometimes it doesn't. I have 0 plans to ever use Firewire so if I have to yank these drivers out by the root for good, I will. Right now they are all just disabled.

What I've tried:
~Numerous (4) reformats and reinstallations of Windows trying to resolve other possibly unrelated system stability issues. They appeared in each and every installation,
~Disabling the drivers from the device manager then deleting them. About 30% of the time, trying to do this with the TI driver causes Windows to crash. The drivers will mostly all come back after deletion (I haven't counted them every time)
~Flat out deleting the drivers from System32/Drivers folder. No help there
~Disabling the 1394 Controller in BIOS. I tried deleting the drivers 1st then disabling the controller as well as doing the reverse of this.
~Profanity. Again, no progress.

I appreciate any help with this. I can't think of anything else to do.

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Twitch22
Phile,

Used the link you gave me to test my connection. Results are:

- 2877 kbps download
- 356 kbps upload

Sound right for cable speed, right? LOL...now you got me paranoid in making sure I'm getting all the bandwith that I'm paying for!! :roll:

Twitch

Those results will be affected by any other use of your connection, during the test. Nake sure to test while doing no other downloading or uploading. Those numbers definitely fall into the expected range for a cable connection. Check with your provider to see exactly what your connection is supposed to be, and compare.

-phil

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Gyromite
I believe this is a motherboard related problem, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Background: New homebuilt rig, E6600, Asus P5W DH Deluxe (bios 1407), Windows XP Home SP2+All updates, chipset drivers installed from CD.

Problem: Duplicate drivers listed in the device manager for the this device: 32 individual listings for "Texas Instruments OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller" in IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers. It was there since I first booted to the desktop. Sometimes it will show up with the yellow exclamation mark and sometimes it doesn't. I have 0 plans to ever use Firewire so if I have to yank these drivers out by the root for good, I will. Right now they are all just disabled.

What I've tried:
~Numerous (4) reformats and reinstallations of Windows trying to resolve other possibly unrelated system stability issues. They appeared in each and every installation,
~Disabling the drivers from the device manager then deleting them. About 30% of the time, trying to do this with the TI driver causes Windows to crash. The drivers will mostly all come back after deletion (I haven't counted them every time)
~Flat out deleting the drivers from System32/Drivers folder. No help there
~Disabling the 1394 Controller in BIOS. I tried deleting the drivers 1st then disabling the controller as well as doing the reverse of this.
~Profanity. Again, no progress.

I appreciate any help with this. I can't think of anything else to do.

Someone else on this thread had the exact same problem and solved it by getting a new power supply. It's definitely worth a try. Weird things happen to a machine when it's starved for power.

-phil

 

[Gyromite]

I'm currently (no pun intended) using an Antec NeoHE 500w PSU. I know that the number of amps on the rails is somewhat underwhelming on that unit, but is it possible that a PSU could be the source of so much trouble, even once windows is loaded up?

I've been having issues with Windows crashing both at the desktop and at the loading screen. For example, yesterday I reformatted and reinstalled windows for the 4th time since last Sunday, and after I installed the updates and SP2, Windows locked up when I was installing the chipset drivers from the CD (happened on the other reformats too).

I will add though that I've run Memtest 86+ for one test cycle and Ortho Prime for an hour with no difficulty. At this point, I don't know if I have a hardware problems or a software problem.

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: Gyromite
I'm currently (no pun intended) using an Antec NeoHE 500w PSU. I know that the number of amps on the rails is somewhat underwhelming on that unit, but is it possible that a PSU could be the source of so much trouble, even once windows is loaded up?

I've been having issues with Windows crashing both at the desktop and at the loading screen. For example, yesterday I reformatted and reinstalled windows for the 4th time since last Sunday, and after I installed the updates and SP2, Windows locked up when I was installing the chipset drivers from the CD (happened on the other reformats too).

I will add though that I've run Memtest 86+ for one test cycle and Ortho Prime for an hour with no difficulty. At this point, I don't know if I have a hardware problems or a software problem.

Yes, a bad PSU can cause all sorts of problems, like the ones you're having. I have also read about problems with earlier versions of the NeoHE power supplies. Not sure if any of that affects you. I would suggest trying another PSU, preferrably a different model. And make sure to disconnect any unneeded hardware (USB storage devices, slave HDs, etc.) while troubleshooting.

-phil

 

[SavageThrash]

I am currently running stock speeds on my e6400 adn my ram is running at 800 mhz, this is a divider of 2:3

is it better to scale the ram down for a 1:1 divider or kepe it as it is?

 

[phile]

I would keep it as you have it.

-phil

 

[brock01]

question for ya guys kinda confused
i got 2 WD 250gb sata2 that i wanna put into raid 0 and have as my boot drive(s) (goes with the orange cord and matching orange sata connector i believe right?)
so i have to change the jumper and change a setting in the bios right?
then i also have 2 other hd's, this time just Sata ones not sata2, and would like to hook them up? where do i hook those up into? (red cord?)
I have read mixed answers if i need to use F6 during windows installation for the raid 0?

thanks for all the help in advance
phile is ftw on this mobo
(my problem with it turning on was i shorted the mobo from posts ago)

and the nubbiest question ever is how do i install the mobo in the case with the brass deals (mobo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133154 )
how many do i use, really confused bout that part

 

[mikepaul]

OK, I downloaded 1407 from ASUS' site, and after doing the ALT-F2 BIOS load the computer displayed a success message, beeped 4 times, turned off with no help from me, and never came back up. Period. No Crash-Free message, no nothing. While the HD light comes on, there's no puttering sound like anything told it to hand over any data. Good thing I have two computers so I can ask for help.

Anyone seen this before? Did I miss a note that some p5w DH motherboards can't hack using 1407? IF I reset the CMOS will I just be wasting my time?...

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: brock01
question for ya guys kinda confused
i got 2 WD 250gb sata2 that i wanna put into raid 0 and have as my boot drive(s) (goes with the orange cord and matching orange sata connector i believe right?)
so i have to change the jumper and change a setting in the bios right?
then i also have 2 other hd's, this time just Sata ones not sata2, and would like to hook them up? where do i hook those up into? (red cord?)
I have read mixed answers if i need to use F6 during windows installation for the raid 0?

thanks for all the help in advance
phile is ftw on this mobo
(my problem with it turning on was i shorted the mobo from posts ago)

and the nubbiest question ever is how do i install the mobo in the case with the brass deals (mobo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133154 )
how many do i use, really confused bout that part

I can't help with anything RAID related, as I have never taken the time to build an array, myself. However, I have read that the EzRaid (orange ports) setup will not perform as well as setting-up the array on the ICH7R ports (The red and black ones). Using the ICH7R ports will require loading a driver prior to XP install, though.

As for the mobo standoffs: you install one for each of the screw-holes on the mobo. The case mobo tray will have several more holes, to make sure it can support various layouts. You just have to visually figure-out where to place each standoff.

-phil

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: mikepaul
OK, I downloaded 1407 from ASUS' site, and after doing the ALT-F2 BIOS load the computer displayed a success message, beeped 4 times, turned off with no help from me, and never came back up. Period. No Crash-Free message, no nothing. While the HD light comes on, there's no puttering sound like anything told it to hand over any data. Good thing I have two computers so I can ask for help.

Anyone seen this before? Did I miss a note that some p5w DH motherboards can't hack using 1407? IF I reset the CMOS will I just be wasting my time?...

Boy, so many people have this problem after using the EzFlash method for BIOS flashing. So many that I won't even consider ever trying it, myself. I use the AFUDOS method, which requires a floppy drive. You can also use the windows app - ASUS Update. It's always worked fine for me, but has caused others some trouble.

As for your problem, if your machine won't even POST, I'm afraid the only thing you can try is to reset the CMOS. If after that it still will not POST, your BIOS is probably fubar. ASUS will express ship you a new one for $15, so I hear.

-phil

 

[brock01]

so in our case there will be 9 standoffs?
so the standoffs go into the case and come through the mobo where the 9 screw holes are? and the screws goes into to the standoff correct?