The Unofficial ASUS P5N-E SLI 650i Board Thread

[im2good4u]

Derik75: at asus update select option then next, then put a check on Bios downgradable and you should be able to flash earlier versions

 

[Psistorm04]

first of all, hi!

Ive joined this forum, seeing this huge thread specifically about my mainboard - which I happen to have a problem with (at least I assume its the mainboard).
Ive done a board search, but couldnt find any helpful answers, so here goes my problem:

Whenever my network traffic surpasses a certain level, my entire system stutters. Im using the built-in LAN chip of the P5E, and the latest drivers. but whenever I, for example, have a lot of traffic in secondlife or download many things in opera, the system hangs for a fraction of a second every odd second or so, which is extremely annoying.

my setup is as follows:

P5N-E SLI
core duo E6420
2 gigs of ram
geforce 8800GTX
2x250 gig SATA HDD
creative X-FI extreme audio
windows xp x64 edition


any help is greatly appreciated, since Im at my wit´s end with this problem

 

[NineInchNick]

So I have this BIG problem...

Suddenly my mobo stopped working properly. It just shuts down the computer after like 3 seconds from starting. Beeps, than shuts down. I reset the bios multiple times, and finally it booted, but refused to start at anything other than "failsafe defaults" or such, with multiplier locked at x8 and CPU speed 1,60 ghz (the mobo actually reports CPU speed at 400mHz). Now, once in a while I'm able to boot into windows, but after some time, the computer shuts down - no BSOD, no nothing.

But usually it just shuts down right after the first beep. Once in a while it shuts itself down every 1 second, than comes back up again, than shuts down again - over and over.

First I thought it was the PSU, so I replaced (tried two different ones). No help there.

I reset the BIOS multiple times, removing the battery, unloading the capacitors and such...

I don't think it's a heat issue, since I let the computer cool down for couple of ours and it still keeps shutting down after a couple of seconds.

One time i managed to flash the bios to 0602 version - no help there either.

Please help... all ideas are welcome.

 

[kooda]

I can't get mine to post. I get lights on the keyboard for an instant, then nothing. Things I've tried: Took out battery with power disconnected, reset cmos at jumper.
Switched both sticks of ram, and tried all slots.
Used 2 different video cards.
Used 2 different power supplies (they both work on other setup)
Tried setting keyboard and mouse jumpers to other positions.
Tried with hd's connected and without.

At a loss here........

 

[im2good4u]

NineInchNick: check if the CPU HSF is firmly attached and makes contact with the cpu

kooda: try using 1 stick of mem first.

 

[AMelbye]

Psistorm04: sorry, I'm not sure what the problem is. Try the following: clear the cmos properly by taking out the battery and shorting the cmos for a bit. then install all the newest drivers. if that doesn't help, try doing a clean windows install.

NineInchNick:try memtest-86 to see if it's your RAM. also, make sure cpu thermal control is enabled in the bios. if it is, then over temperature won't make the computer unstable, and the cpu will automaticly reduce its own speed to make sure it doesn't get fried if it's getting too warm.

kooda: does your fans keep spinning? After trying with 1 stick of ram, try taking everything out of the case and see if it will boot without the case (see instructions on asus web page) It sounds like there might be a serious problem with your ram, motherboard or processor (though I think it should still boot even if the processor is broken. haven't tried it though)

 

[RetardicalSam]

Another person that just bought this motherboard here. I figured out most of the installation problems (needing to manually set the memory timings/command rate, and having to set the SATA access method to "Large" from "Auto"), but one last thing is plaguing me. I have two SATA Seagate Barracuda's, a 320GB and a 500GB. I have WinXP Pro installed on the 320 and it's booting just fine, but when I have the 500 connected as well, the 320 will bluescreen out halfway through launching XP.

If the second drive is unformatted, I don't get this error, or if the second drive is unplugged I don't get it either. It's only when I try to use the second drive that I just can't boot into WinXP. The blue screen error is "cannot access page in non-paged area" or somethign like that. I heard that's typically a memory error, but I've ran memtest86 and it comes back flawless with no errors. I've got the second drive partitioned with two logical partitions, a 150GB and a 350GB (approx). I'm using BIOS 0505.

Anyone have some ideas? I think I've tried a different SATA port on my motherboard, but I'll verify that when I get home. I really want to be able to use that second drive. =)

 

[AMelbye]

Have you updated to service back 2? I know that windows xp prior to sp2 may have issues with too large disks

 

[RetardicalSam]

Ok, so I'm a bit stupid: I refomatted the disk and it fixed the problem. I didn't think that was the issue because I had *just* formatted the disk before the problem occured, but I guess it was a bad format or something. Thanks for the reply though!

 

[SoulTaker]

Hello guys. I am going to replace the original silver NB heat sink which it says Asus on because it gets so hot that i cant get my fingers on for more then 2 seconds. I will replace it with Noctua NC-U6 heatsink and i wonder if i need to remove the motherboard from the chassis in order to get it done. Does anyone know?

 

[jdogzilla]

Hello all, I recently purchased my board from newegg. Some quick questions:

1) I have 2x 1GB Corsair memory modules. Which memory slots should I put them in for optimal performance - both black, both yellow, one each? Is there some Bios setting that I need to adjust for any of these setups?
2) What is an acceptable temp range for the CPU and bridges? Currently, my E6400 runs at about 45C, NB and SB around 35C. I am using stock fan that came with the CPU and no other cooling fans, though am thinking of adding something to the NB or SB
3) Anybody have the EVGA Nvidia 7600 graphics card? My card runs at 62C, which I think is very high. Anybody know of any fan that I can attach/replace on the graphics card that can bring down the temp?

Thanks

 

[AMelbye]

jdogzilla: put the ram in the black slots, and set the ram manually to the manufacturers spec. If it's 800MHz(or higher) memory you may have to boot with one stick to get it to boot.

I think your temps are fine. The CPU starts throtling at 80C (core temp), so in my opinion that's the limit, although I'm sure some will disagree.

If you think your temps are too high, clock it down or get better cooling. as long as it doesn't cause instability I don't really see the problem. by the time it breaks from that kind of heat, you're gonna want something new anyway.

 

[sc00terx]

can you help sort this

it gets power to the motherboard fans spin but nothing no beeps for cideo or mem

it did not start off like this but after a part where it did not see the floppy drive i did the clr trick and put the jumper over and its now not booting

like i put above

power on fans on no bios or video output

?? thanks you for eny help

sc00terx

 

[AMelbye]

sc00terx: try booting with only display adapter, processor and one stick of ram. If it doesn't work try it over in all the different slots, then try with the other stick.

 

[sc00terx]

did that just the motherboard

first with grafix 1 stick mem and cpu nothing elas

did the same in the diffrent slots nothing

fans but nothing booting

so its now on its way back will be going in morning and i got a new one on the way difrent board this time but same chipset 650i

we will see how that goes mite of been a bad batch as they where all from the same place

will let you know how it goes thanks for the info

sc00terx

 

[AMelbye]

Did you return the ram and cpu as well? I agree it's most likely the motherboard, but it might still be something else

 

[sc00terx]

no as the last board did boot if only for a few seconds and it did give the beep when ram was missing and video and then not when they where in

but that like the other 2 did not do a lot more it then did a strange few seconds where it did not see the floppy drive and would not boot then it did not boot at all

so i got to see the mem working also got a few makes of mem and 2 cpus

and 2 cards i made shure i did to test this new system when i new the board would be a problem

i like the board tbh pity they dont make it to last longer

sc00etrx

 

[AMelbye]

I'm sure it's just the case of a damaged batch or something. However, like i mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I'd rather go for the Gigabyte GA-N650SLI-DS4 these days.

Although my system is now stable, I haven't had this amount of trouble with a motherboard for years.

I think it's ridicules how many awards this board has recieved considering the problems it has.

 

[tellurye]

Guys,

I appreciate all your hard work figuring this out.

For my side, well, I just bought a whole setup and my memory is not even labeled, so have no idea how to set this up. I've tried all the settings you guys triend, all with inconsistent results.

Dumb question, but can I just set it to Standard instead of Auto or manual. I mean, I don't want to overclock anything. It would be fine if it just "worked". I bought the Pentium D 2.8 with 2 Gb DDR2 RAM 667, but has no lael - unsure of manufacturer.

Forgive my ignorance, I just miss the days where as long as the mem was the same speed as the MB, then it worked...you never had to set timing.

I tried every BIOS version, memest, and every mem config you guys mention here.
3 frustrating days and $600 later, I'm giving this back to Intrex and ask them to fix it. This was their setup they sold me. The guy even later said that this MB is very finicki when it comes to memory.

"Oh, cool. Thanks for selling it it me"

Anyway, is there any basic setting I can use, or do you HAVE to adjust the timing. Is there ANYTHING this board works with on Auto, Normal or Standard?

Thanks so much for your hard work providing this for us. Didn't work for me, but you guys have helped so many others. Wish I could hire you guys to fix this for me.

Tellurye

 

[AMelbye]

voltages and processor speed work on auto. memory speeds does not, and people tend to advice that you set memory voltage manually, though I don't think it's such a big deal unless your memory needs more voltage than standard, which 667RAM shouldn't. If you don't know about your memory timings, try 5-5-5-15-2t, then run memtest for a couple hours (or more) to check stability.

' I just miss the days where as long as the mem was the same speed as the MB, then it worked..' - So do I.

 

[AMelbye]

regarding 0604: After having the thing installed for ages with no problem, I checked to see if the multiplier issue was solved. It isn't- the v4 bios is probably still the most reliable one. I find it quite weird how asus has released 3 versions since, and still not managed to fix the multiplier issue. They don't seem to be putting in a lot of effort

 

[Rytr]

Still nothing has been done? Well, I'm getting ready to re-install my board and get 'er back up and running. It has been awhile, guess I will still be using the 202 bios if nothing much has been done as I do not see a need to update. I have been running MSI and EVGA 650i boards and exceeding the performance of much more expensive motherboards. Since I have a Vista OEM charged to this P5N-E I thought I might as well give this board another shot as it came very close back in January.

 

[NineInchNick]

Well...

Thurrrr goes my E4300... My advice: Watch out for ACPI issues, if your computer suddenly refuses to shut down properly...

http://i.frazpc.pl/pliki/2002/...p/1180898157977647.jpg

you may get this...

One core is overheating over 110 degrees Celsius. The system keeps throttling, and shutting down whenever CPU utilisation reaches over 15%.

CPU - trash. Oh... well maybe ill try to RMA it...

 

[etrader2050]

What's so good about the p5n-e that steps ahead of the competition?

 

[AMelbye]

Rytr: I'd say go with the 0401 (or is it 0402?) BIOS

NineInchNick: how'd that happen? maybe your heatsink has slid off the cpu slightly?

If it is actually broken, which voltages and speeds have you been running at, and for how long?

etrader2050: Are you considering to get one? Read the reviews (mainly overclockability, and features & performance vs price ratio). I wouldn't buy it again, though. Have a look through the last few posts. I've suggested a different board with the same chipset and features(pretty much), which I believe is slightly better, though I haven't tried it myself.