Fishy Asus A7N8X missing HSF... Also how to tell from DX version?

[gaidensensei]

I had bought an Asus A7N8X DLX from someone here on the boards, for quite a steal I might add ($45 shipped), and from someone else, an A7V8X.

All was good and the board arrived. I haven't tested it yet, but I notice that it doesn't have a northbridge Heatsink. Looking at my A7V8X it has one.

Now I don't know what to do. Should I look for a replacement heatsink? Or could I swap the heatsink over from A7V8X and look for another heatsink to go on there?

He said it was a rev2.0, but looking at the board it's only a rev 1.06. I'm alright with this for now, as I don't plan on adding a 200fsb cpu, just a 2500+ barton. I've heard that these prior to rev 2.0 have problems with the barton 3000+ 400fsb and up.

actually, now i'm not even sure if its the Deluxe version.
Looking at the board, I see a sticker that says it's a Deluxe on the parallel port, but on the board identifier imprint, it doesnt say A7N8X-E rev 1.06 but it says A7N8X Rev 1.06

Looking at the pics on Asus's website shows me that the front panel connectors should be colored for the deluxe version.. and the onboard 1394 connectors should be red.. but I'm not sure if that is only for rev 2.0's

I took a few pictures for those of you who can identify it for me.
Both pics are over 700KB, just as a fair warning.

A7n8x 1
A7n8x 2

 

[boyRacer]

Looks like a Deluxe board but a rev 1.06 one.

I have two Deluxe boards and both of them say A7N8X rev 2.00 on the board itself.

The A7V8X does use the same nb heatsink so you can swap it if you want or buy something else.

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

There are two different boards:
A7N8X-E Deluxe
A7N8X Deluxe
and the other, non-Deluxe models.

Yours is a rev1.06 ASUS A7N8X Deluxe. Only the Deluxe versions use the MCP-T southbridge (the A7N8X uses the MCP).

 

[gaidensensei]

thanks,
so I take it that I need to download bioses on asus's site for the A7N8X instead of the AN78X-E? They don't list any other Deluxe versions except for the -E

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

The A7N8X Deluxe is discontinued in favor of the A7N8X-E Deluxe, but if you do a search on the website you will find the correct download page.

http://www.asus.it/support/download/ite...x?ModelName=A7N8X%20Deluxe&Type=Latest

EDIT: btw, you do need a northbridge heatsink... you will burn the motherboard if you boot without one.

 

[gaidensensei]

thanks for the help guys..

By the way, I had just got a PM from the seller.. he said this:

"AFAIK, the board never had a NB heatsink, at least not while I've owned it (9 months or so, but I did buy it used off the forums). Rest assured it will not fry, the board works perfectly. As you can see from the picture you took, it never had thermal paste or anything. Some revisions of the board had active heatsinks, some had passive, and some didn't have any at all. That is my understanding. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you"

is this possible?? can it be true??

 

[NotquiteanooB]

My A7N8X-DX Rev 2.0 has a honkin' big passive aluminum heatsink on the Northbridge. and it is slightly warm to the touch. It is attached with thermal adhesive I believe. I believe you need the heatsink or you will probably damage the board or at least that chip.
If I could figure out how to attach a photo to this message; you could see for yourself.