Asus SLI-Premium Ethernet not working

[Jader88]

I have an Asus SLI-Premium running with a 3500+ athlon 64. Im in California using Time warner cables Road Runner network.
The problem I'm having is with the ethernet portion of the motherboard, I cant seem to get a decent connection. It will work for a little bit then stop loading, then load again. I cant get a solid connection to the internet.

Its not the cable company because their tech support came to my house and he unplugged the ethernet wire from my motherboard and then plugged into his laptop and it worked fine.

So it must be the motherboard. Can anyone help me resolve this issue

 

[wanderer27]

Are you using the 6.65 NVidia Chipset Drivers ? The ones on the CD I've heard have some problems - get the 6.65's from the ASUS Site.

Did you install the NVidia Chipset Driver Firewall and Forceware (I think that's the other one) ? If so, that's probably your biggest problem. The Firewall and the other one it prompts for when installing the Ethernet portion of the Drivers cause all kinds of headaches. I'm not even sure if anyone has gotten things to work right with these installed.

I'm also hoping you didn't install the NVidia IDE Drivers. While this won't cause LAN problems, it will most likely cause you some Hard Drive issues before long.

Don't use the Marvel/Yukon port (upper LAN connector). Some people can get this port to work, but with different Drivers, and I'm not sure what they are. I'd disable this port in BIOS, and just use the bottom LAN (by the Sound jacks). Also disable the ROM LAN boots, unless you're actually planning on using them (not sure what they're even for really).

 

[orion23]

With this motherboard you have 2 different ethernet ports.
Just swith ports and see if you notice any difference in speed.

I don' even use the asus drivers. I just installed the ones from the nvidia webiste. XP's automated updates will also get you newer drivers for the ethernet controller

 

[Jader88]

I went to the Asus website and I found these----------(Marvell VCT package V2.1.3.3) (nVidia Chipset(CK804) driver version V6.65 for Windows XP(WHQL). <--------- Should I download both these things and should i erase the previous drivers or just install over them?


I thought that the top ethernet port was the one your supposed to use, I will try switching it to the bottom one.

 

[Jader88]

wanderer27 <------- to answer your question I only downloaded from the CD the AI Booster and Asus Probe. Also the bottom Ethernet port does not work.

I have 2 ports (1394 Connection) and (Local area Connection) which one should I use?

 

[wanderer27]

Are you sure the bottom port is dead ? I had to play with the cable/connector initially to get mine to work. It seems to be a bit finicky getting good contact on the connectors. You may want to try plugging/unplugging it a few times and watching to see if it lights up. Mine didn't like to be plugged in all the way (deep into socket), it would become active right at the "click". Make sure this port is enabled in BIOS too.

If you still have problems, can you RMA it ?

Other than that you can try to find the newest Drivers for the Marvel LAN. I'm not sure the ASUS site has the newest ones.

As for the 1394. I honestly don't know what it's for. I thought it was for hooking up external/front panel devices (like SoundBlaster Audigy), and/or USB device extension. That's a bit more esoteric than I go with Computers - mainly gaming/surfing/programming.

Edit:

Oh, if you installed your OS/Drivers with the cable in the top port, you may need to reload the Ethernet Drivers with the cable in the Bottom port to get it to activate.

Give this a try as well.

 

[Woofmeister]

The A8N-SLI boards all have ethernet problems. Download the latest driver from either Nvidia or ASUS. Uninstal the old driver using control panel (its under Nvidia drivers). Boot clean into windows and install the new driver. Repeat as necessary over the life of the board, lol.

 

[Jader88]

Which Driver?

 

[runestone]

If you are on XP, try running updates-custom. There is a new driver for the Marvell. I've had no probs running with the driver on the cd, so I've not updated it.
Have you tried the other ethernet port?

 

[Woofmeister]

Originally posted by: Jader88
Which Driver?

Sorry, Asus's support site is down now, so I can't give you the exact link for the Asus version. On the other hand, the last time, I just used the Nvdia Ethernet driver 4.82, which is likely identical. You can get that driver here.

Don't bother with the Marvell.

 

[Jader88]

I can barely get online as it is. THe link you gave me didnt work or it could be the motherboard acting up again, It took me 10 minutes to get here. I've tried the other ethernet port, and when i do that it completly disconects me from the internet.
I was finally able to access the Asus website and I downloaded the Ethernet driver from the Asus website v8.41.1.3 and the file is YK51X86.sys how do I access it? its a read only file.

 

[Woofmeister]

Hmmm, the link still works for me. If memory serves me, some of the ASUS driver files are compressed with WinAce--an obscure compression utility that is primarily used in Europe. You can get that utility to decompress the file at: http://www.winace.com/ (no links for you).

Still, since NVidia's version is at least one version ahead of ASUS's and the file is non-compressed, I would download off the NVidia website. The entire chipset driver (which includes the latest ethernet driver is here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_nf4_winxp32_amd_6.66.html. It's a 40MB download so you have my sympathy if you have to download it through a balky internet connection.

 

[Jader88]

Ok I downloaded the 6.66 Nforce chipset driver, and when i restart, the computer says Network cable unplugged but My cable is plugged in.
I look in the Network connection under (control Panel) and I see now 3 Network connections--- 1394 Net adapter, Marval yukon, and now Nvidia net connection I think its called.

Should I disable one of the other connections in the bios to get the Nvida connection working? and how do I do that?

 

[Woofmeister]

Right click on each network connection and choose "status". Which connection shows packets sent and received?

 

[mechBgon]

Jader88, the 1394 is your Firewire. Your owner's manual shows which port is the nVidia and which is the Marvel, page 2-19 (bottom one is native nVidia nF4 one, for the record). If both network jacks are now active, and you've got a cable plugged into just one of them, then of course you're going to get "Network cable unplugged."

You have your Windows Firewall enabled... right? because it sounds like you may need the protection at the moment

 

[Jader88]

The Marvel Yukon (local Area Connection) shows packets sent and recieved

 

[imported_ST]

nVidia lan works fine, AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT INSTALL THEIR FIREWALL program.

the Marvell / Yukon lan has intermittent issues with disconnects. Haven't had a driver fix this yet.

Just install 6.66 without the nVidia firewall. Make sure you also disable Windows firewall during this portion (you can re-enable later).

 

[Woofmeister]

What he said. Since you've already got the Nvidia driver installed, just uninstall the Marvel Yukon driver and reboot. Make sure you install the Nvidia drivers when prompted. Do not install Nvidia firewall or active armor.

 

[Jader88]

Ok I uninstalled the Marval Yukon driver and rebooted. When my system goes into windows it automatically detects the Marval yukon and installs it without any imput from me.

 

[Woofmeister]

OK. Uninstall the Yukon driver again and try disabling the Marvell Yukon in BIOS. You can do that by going to "Advanced menu" then "Onboard Device Configuaration" then "Onboard Marvell LAN" Click on the Marvell line and select "Disabled." Make sure that Onboard NV LAN is "Enabled." Hit F10 to save and exit.

That should do it.

 

[Jader88]

Ok Woofmeister I did exactly what you said and it didnt work at all. I went to the control panel in widows and network connections and it doesent show the NV LAN controller, but when i go into Device Manager it shows up there. It seems like the board will only recognize the Marvell lan and not the NV LAN.

How do I get it to recognize the NV LAN?

 

[Woofmeister]

Does it show the NV Lan controller as working properly in device manager? If so, you might want to try creating a new network connection in windows.