ASUS P5N32-E SLI boards not working?

[Skrips]

Ok, I just ordered and recieved everything I needed for my new system, except the MoBo because, well, the 680i chipset apparently is having issues as we all know. Since this was the first choice in MoBos, I didn't actually have a second option. So I need some help with a couple things:

1) Considering the fact that the P5N32-E SLI is off the market right now, what should I get in the mean time until ASUS releases the revision (the "Plus" model if I am not mistaken)? I am thinking I should just get something that will run nicely, and be cheap, for the time being and I need suggestions.

2) Does anyone have the slightest idea when the revision to the P5N32-E SLI is going to come out? In the CES coverage AnandTech said they were going to get their hands on a review board "soon", and I was hoping for a bit more than "soon".

Specs for the parts I have:

Chip: Intel Core2Extreme X6800 2.93GHz
RAM: Kingston HyperX 1GB 800MHz: KHX6400D2LLK2/2GN (4x1GB sticks)
Graphics: BFG 8800GTX (Getting the second one in about a month)

Ok, so, I need a MoBo that can handle that, in single graphics card mode for the time being, until the 680i revision is released. Suggestions please! This project is already running late and overbudget, and I just want to get that darn thing up and running. Thanks in advance!

 

[Skrips]

Hmm...no help availalable? Come on, some one has to have a suggestion. I have cruised the forums, but so far nothing seems to be conclusive.

Just some one suggest somehing!

 

[Gary Key]

Our retail board arrived today, preview next week.

 

[Skrips]

Oh, now we are getting somewhere! So the retail examples are out for review, so that means we can expect them to hit shelves in maybe 2 weeks or so, no?

And thanks for the heads up!

 

[McArra]

Another P5N32-E SLI Plus board that just arrives and will be previewed next week (in spanish) here

 

[ghoti]

2) Does anyone have the slightest idea when the revision to the P5N32-E SLI is going to come out? In the CES coverage AnandTech said they were going to get their hands on a review board "soon", and I was hoping for a bit more than "soon".

Our retail board arrived today, preview next week.

I wonder just what board "arrived today" @ Anandtech (the E SLI, or the E SLI 'Plus') and as to which we'll see a preview next week?

I'm 'hanging fire' on a new system: I'd really like to include the 8800GTX and thus feel the 680i chip set is the way to go w/ mobo. What do people think? I guess 680i is the ONLY way to go (at least at present) if I ever want (in future) to move up to a PAIR of 8800GTX's?

 

[idiotekniQues]

i think some benchies i saw on anandtech showed that running those cards in sli on the 650i p5ne-sli with at x8 instead of x16 did virtually nothing to hinder performance.

 

[Skrips]

Well, since I was asking specifically about the "Plus" model, and since AnandTech already reviewed the normal board, I can only assume that he was referring to the "Plus" model.

The main question on my mind is WHEN the boards will be available to me, since I literally have everything else for my new system sitting in boxes in my house, and no board to use with them :/

 

[NormySan]

I searched a price comparison site today and some stores hade added it to their sites but doesn't have it in stock yet. One if the sites says they will have it in 1-2 days but that seams a bit early. Mailed them today and asked a few questions.

When looking at the specifications for the Plus version it doesn't day nForc 680i anywhere, it just says "Dual X16 SLI". I'm kinda confused about this mobo. I hope you guys can get the review up soon, waiting in anticipation

 

[ghoti]

Originally posted by: Skrips
Well, since I was asking specifically about the "Plus" model, and since AnandTech already reviewed the normal board, I can only assume that he was referring to the "Plus" model.

The main question on my mind is WHEN the boards will be available to me, since I literally have everything else for my new system sitting in boxes in my house, and no board to use with them :/

I cannot find any Anandtech review of the P5N32-E SLI (or so-called "normal board"); I'd love to read that. Where is it? What, if anything, do they say about problems with the board which some have said led to the early 'upgrade' to plus?

Thanks.

 

[McArra]

In my very first contact, the board works quite well except for something I hope it's a bug: Vcore won't pass 1,31V in any circustance. Have tried 0402 BETA Bios and it doesn't solve it. Hope the next one does.

The south and north bridges are really hot.

I have gotten the FSB to 450Mhz (1800) without problems, not more since 1,31V is not enough for mi CPU, at 6 Multi.

For now, this is all I can tell you, you can have a look at some photos I took with the mobile phone here:
http://www.mod-pc.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=17902

According to a red sticker in the box, it is a 680i, but I can't see it anywhere else, nor in the rest of the box nor in the manual.

 

[FireChicken]

So would anybody classify the p5n32-E sli as a lemon? My board seems to be running OK, no problems so far. But is it going to crap out in the near future? What is ASUS going to do for all those that have spent their hard earned money on this board?It seems this board is having issues, is this why there is absoutly no reviews? Why has there been no public statement as to why this board has been taken off the market? What the eff is going on...

 

[Skrips]

Originally posted by: ghoti
I cannot find any Anandtech review of the P5N32-E SLI (or so-called "normal board"); I'd love to read that. Where is it? What, if anything, do they say about the widely-encountered problems with the board which some have said led to the early 'upgrade' to plus?

Thanks.

Ok, I am drawing a blank....I KNOW I read a comparison review of the P5N32-E SLI versus other 680i solutions, but I cannot seem to find it at the moment. As soon as I figure out WHICH site it was on, I will post it and let you know.

Originally posted by: McArra
In my very first contact, the board works quite well except for something I hope it's a bug: Vcore won't pass 1,31V in any circustance. Have tried 0402 BETA Bios and it doesn't solve it. Hope the next one does.

Well, very interesting. I am very interested to hear why they decided to go with a different North and South Bridge than all the rest of the 680i chipsets (the C55 / MPC55 versus the C55XE / MCP55PXE normally found in the 680i boards). It seems to me there might be something more going on here that we don't know about, and I would VERY much like to see some kind of explanation for this. Hopefully the AnandTech review of the Plus will shed some light on these questions.

 

[FireChicken]

There are NO reviews..anywhere

 

[Skrips]

Originally posted by: FireChicken
So would anybody classify the p5n32-E sli as a lemon? My board seems to be running OK, no problems so far. But is it going to crap out in the near future? What is ASUS going to do for all those that have spent their hard earned money on this board?It seems this board is having issues, is this why there is absoutly no reviews? What the eff is going on...

Ok, it is not a lemon, exactly. Its a new chipset, with a tendancy to exibit some abberant behaviors when running in SLI mode or using certain sound cards. It is not only an ASUS problem, but from what I have been reading it seems to be systemic of all the gen 1 680i boards. Nvidia had a press release appologizing for the mistake in the referrence design, and they said they are working hard on a fix for all of the problems. This is what originally led me to wait on getting my P5N32-E SLI board, and likewise ASUS announced a Plus model to be released shortly. Also ASUS doesnt actually feature the P5N32-E SLI on their N. American website anymore, which seems indicative of a pulled product.

All in all, I cannot say more until I either get one, or SOME review and testing site posts the final word on the revised model. Hopefully it will answer out questions!

The Nvidia interview, regarding the 680i issues, can be found HERE, thanks to HardOCP for that interview.

 

[FireChicken]

This article only seems to refer to the seta problem and data corruption issues that the reference board was having. It does not explain why the asus boards were pulled. in fact it says that the asus boards have no problems at all. or at least not the same problems as the reference baords.

Q: Are there ?bad? 680i MCPs/chipsets out there?

A: No. This is not a MCP issue. It's really a board issue, and in this case, only with the motherboards that were designed and manufactured by NVIDIA. In fact, boards built by other manufacturers that use the same MCPs, including the ASUS Striker Extreme, ASUS P5N32-E SLI, and the ASUS P5N-E SLI motherboards, are not affected. When you hear of customer issues, your first thought is "how widespread is this," but it was pretty clear early on that it related only to the boards that we designed and manufactured. Talk about embarrassing!

 

[dajeepster]

It does not explain why the asus boards were pulled.

omg... and I just saw this on thier websight last night... and now it's gone

 

[Whirlwind]

Is anybody here running SLI with this board ?

If so is everything been OK?

this thing better SLI when i'm ready for it, or I'll be pi$$ed :|

 

[FireChicken]

Now I am worried about the stability of my board. All this hoo ha has got me all concerned that my board is going to die sometime soon. I am frankly a little irked that ASUS fixes problems by putting out a new version of a board rather than saying "oops we screwed up." It makes me think that is thier way of absolving their responsibility to those that have alreay purchased the board.

 

[Skrips]

Well, like they said, Anandtech should have a review out next week for the new board, so that should answer our questions.

 

[Skrips]

Gary, P5N32-E Plus review, go go go!

 

[NormySan]

My plus board is on it's way, just got a shipping confirmation. Lets just hope it's a solid board this time around.

 

[vlad4]

Here's a little info from ASUStek's website. Pay attention to the Northbridge specs.

 

[Skrips]

Originally posted by: NormySan
My plus board is on it's way, just got a shipping confirmation. Lets just hope it's a solid board this time around.

For my own info, where did you order your board from? I have been doing a bit of digging and I have found only one online vendor with pre-orders up on their order forms.

Originally posted by: vlad4
Here's a little info from ASUStek's website. Pay attention to the Northbridge specs.

Yes, im aware of it. However, according to some who have the new beta version of CPU-Z, they say that it actually DOES show up as a 680i northbridge, even though that should be a 650i northbridge. Very confusing. I cannot wait for some one to do an actual review of this board, and maybe the non-plus as a side by side sort of thing. I am itching to find out just what the deal is with this whole mess. :/

 

[FireChicken]

ITs friday and no preview/review on the plus yet