Giving up on the Athlon64 (*NOT*)

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: scollins1
Well, I just finished the WinXP Prof install. My preliminary observation is that this thing FLIES. From the initial "Welcome to WindowsXP Installation" blue screen through a quick format and install to the Windows desktop took 16 minutes. That is absolutely the fastest I've ever gotten through an install.

I think I'll open a new thread for my first impressions. Probably later tonight or tomorrow.

I know I already said it but thanks again for the help. I was about thirty minutes away from ordering a P4 (not that there's anything WRONG with that ) and sending this back. So far, I'm very glad I didn't do that.

Sweet! Yes, please post an impression thread with specs from your previous system. Talk about how everything "feels". Thanks and enjoy your awesome system.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Whew! Nice work guys. You saved someone from getting rid of a perfectly good system!

Ditto, Congrats Mech & Megatomic. :beer::beer:

Edit: Scollins you can Edit your original thread Title or just adding a - and saying fixed!!! Also could add that info to the original message area too.

Thanks. And congrats to you as well (I followed your story). :beer:

 

[RustyNale]

I saw the thread and had to post...

I got one of the cpu/mobo/ram promo's from AMD Area-64. So far I'm seeing a little over 9% improvement in zipping large folders ( benchmarked from other system that this replaced) and SisoftSandra is showing it to be just below a P4 3.0ghz in both their cpu benchmarks while I was running FaH at the same time. Definately "feels"faster, and yet has some strange pauses--, and it's takes at least 30secs more to boot...now for more heavy duty benches

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: scollins1
Well, I just finished the WinXP Prof install. My preliminary observation is that this thing FLIES. From the initial "Welcome to WindowsXP Installation" blue screen through a quick format and install to the Windows desktop took 16 minutes. That is absolutely the fastest I've ever gotten through an install.

I think I'll open a new thread for my first impressions. Probably later tonight or tomorrow.

I know I already said it but thanks again for the help. I was about thirty minutes away from ordering a P4 (not that there's anything WRONG with that ) and sending this back. So far, I'm very glad I didn't do that.

If you REALLY wanna see it fly, get a Raptor =) With my "XP3200" and the Raptor Windows XP installed in less than 10 minutes if I remember correctly.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: RustyNale
I saw the thread and had to post...

I got one of the cpu/mobo/ram promo's from AMD Area-64. So far I'm seeing a little over 9% improvement in zipping large folders ( benchmarked from other system that this replaced) and SisoftSandra is showing it to be just below a P4 3.0ghz in both their cpu benchmarks while I was running FaH at the same time. Definately "feels"faster, and yet has some strange pauses--, and it's takes at least 30secs more to boot...now for more heavy duty benches

When do you experience these hangs? Are they intermittent or do they occur in a repeatable manner? Thanks for the update RustyNale.

 

[eastvillager]

asus tech support made the classic mistake of assuming you know how to rtfm.

 

[0roo0roo]

lol and no tech support can help you if you don't supply them enough info, after all its not like they are there.

either you give em enough info to make it obvious what the problem is, or they list the exact steps on how to set it up completely, which is not unlike reading the manual over the phone

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
lol and no tech support can help you if you don't supply them enough info, after all its not like they are there.

either you give em enough info to make it obvious what the problem is, or they list the exact steps on how to set it up completely, which is not unlike reading the manual over the phone

Well, you would think with the extra power connector being a relatively new thing for AMD processors, that would be one of the first things that would be suggested... "does your power supply have the extra 12 volt 4 pin power connector?"

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Note to scollins1: "When something doesn't work, RTFM"

 

[NesuD]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
lol and no tech support can help you if you don't supply them enough info, after all its not like they are there.

either you give em enough info to make it obvious what the problem is, or they list the exact steps on how to set it up completely, which is not unlike reading the manual over the phone

Well, you would think with the extra power connector being a relatively new thing for AMD processors, that would be one of the first things that would be suggested... "does your power supply have the extra 12 volt 4 pin power connector?"

In their defense The 12 volt 4 pin connector has been standard on most Nforce2 Athlon XP boards for nearly a year now. I haven't noticed that error as being a overly common oops like the default bus speed (why does my 2000+ say it is only a 1500+) error that is so common. That connector has been standard on all new PS for couple of years now. Personally I make it a point to identify every connector on the board and check any ones i don't recognize in the manual just to make sure I don't miss something important. Since He's never had to deal with the 4 pin connector before It is understandable that it got overlooked. At the same time the support have to assume you at least took the time to read the connector portion of the manual. It is kind of important after all especially with that 4 pin connector staring at you with nothing plugged into it. Welcome to the forums scollins1 and welcome to the Doh! club

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
lol and no tech support can help you if you don't supply them enough info, after all its not like they are there.

either you give em enough info to make it obvious what the problem is, or they list the exact steps on how to set it up completely, which is not unlike reading the manual over the phone

Well, you would think with the extra power connector being a relatively new thing for AMD processors, that would be one of the first things that would be suggested... "does your power supply have the extra 12 volt 4 pin power connector?"

i dunno, i've had that little connector for quite a while on my psu even though i don't use it. building pc's really should require reading the manual.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Whew! Nice work guys. You saved someone from getting rid of a perfectly good system!

Ditto, Congrats Mech & Megatomic. :beer::beer:

Edit: Scollins you can Edit your original thread Title or just adding a - and saying fixed!!! Also could add that info to the original message area too.

Nice job on Editing your thread and thread Title Scollins, look forward to reading about your benchmarks and experience.

 

[scollins1]

Note to scollins1: "When something doesn't work, RTFM"

I won't argue that. But given that this CPU and chipset are brand new I don't think it's unreasonable of me to think that I could be experiencing some "early adopter" syndrome. Make no mistake though, I realize that I should have gone back to the manual after I had trouble with the second one. I guess I just got too frustrated.

lol and no tech support can help you if you don't supply them enough info, after all its not like they are there.

I've got to diagree with you there. When I called ASUS tech support the only person I ever spoke with was the call screener. He took my name, phone, etc. and a description of the problem. He then gave me a case number and said someone would call me. I did get an email with the particulars of my case and the description was very accurate. It read: "Customer states that he is receiving a 'system failed CPU test' voice diagnostic when trying to boot. Motherboard contains only the CPU, HS and fan. Cannot get into the system BIOS". What else is there to say? And did you read the reply that I got back. That reply couldn't have come from someone who read that description and gave even a minute of thoughtful consideration to the problem as stated. Also, let me mention again that MechBgon's first suggestion was the correct one. Maybe he works for ASUS tech support.

In their defense The 12 volt 4 pin connector has been standard on most Nforce2 Athlon XP boards for nearly a year now

The motherboard I'm replacing is an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe which uses the NForce2 chipset. It does not have the 12V 4 pin connector.

That connector has been standard on all new PS for couple of years now.

You're right - and I've noticed this plug many times on the last few cases that I've used. I just thought it was for a P4 board.

 

[mechBgon]

Hehe, I don't work for Asus tech support, but that would probably be a good job for me





(Asus, if you're reading this, I think you guys owe me an nForce3 250Gb board by now )

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
lol and no tech support can help you if you don't supply them enough info, after all its not like they are there.

either you give em enough info to make it obvious what the problem is, or they list the exact steps on how to set it up completely, which is not unlike reading the manual over the phone

Well, you would think with the extra power connector being a relatively new thing for AMD processors, that would be one of the first things that would be suggested... "does your power supply have the extra 12 volt 4 pin power connector?"

i dunno, i've had that little connector for quite a while on my psu even though i don't use it. building pc's really should require reading the manual.

If only they could find a way to bury the CPU or motherboard in the manual, so that you had to at least open the manual to find the parts to put them together

 

[JoeFoster]

So what type of heatsinks are available for this socket? Am I able to use a bolt on heatsink like the SLK 900U?

 

[pspada]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Hehe, I don't work for Asus tech support, but that would probably be a good job for me

(Asus, if you're reading this, I think you guys owe me an nForce3 250Gb board by now )

You could not possibly work for Asus tech support - because 1) you exist; and 2) you don't suck.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: pspada

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Hehe, I don't work for Asus tech support, but that would probably be a good job for me

(Asus, if you're reading this, I think you guys owe me an nForce3 250Gb board by now )

You could not possibly work for Asus tech support - because 1) you exist; and 2) you don't suck.

 

[Creig]

I'm glad I saw this thread. I've read a number of A64 reviews and I don't ever recall them mentioning the four-pin ATX12V secondary power plug was needed. Not that I'll have an A64 system anytime soon, but I'll definitely file that nugget away for future use to avoid making the same mistake. Good info!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: pspada

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Hehe, I don't work for Asus tech support, but that would probably be a good job for me

(Asus, if you're reading this, I think you guys owe me an nForce3 250Gb board by now )

You could not possibly work for Asus tech support - because 1) you exist; and 2) you don't suck.

ROFL, and thanks, you don't either Yeah, I don't know why they bother listing their tech-support contact info if they're not going to man them with enough (trained) people to handle the load.

 

[scollins1]

So what type of heatsinks are available for this socket? Am I able to use a bolt on heatsink like the SLK 900U?

I just ordered the Zalman CNPS7000A-ALCU from Newegg yesterday. The HS/Fan that MWave includes with the A64 is *very* loud. Since I already had a Zalman CNPS6500A-CU on my Athlon2600 I was pretty accustomed to much lower db's. As far as I can tell so far, this processor runs a good bit cooler than my 2600+ did so I'm hopeful that I can set the fan at minimum voltage to keep things quiet.

 

[yodayoda]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: scollins1
Well, I just finished the WinXP Prof install. My preliminary observation is that this thing FLIES. From the initial "Welcome to WindowsXP Installation" blue screen through a quick format and install to the Windows desktop took 16 minutes. That is absolutely the fastest I've ever gotten through an install.

I think I'll open a new thread for my first impressions. Probably later tonight or tomorrow.

I know I already said it but thanks again for the help. I was about thirty minutes away from ordering a P4 (not that there's anything WRONG with that ) and sending this back. So far, I'm very glad I didn't do that.

If you REALLY wanna see it fly, get a Raptor =) With my "XP3200" and the Raptor Windows XP installed in less than 10 minutes if I remember correctly.

.. and if you want to see it zoom, RAID 0 a pair of raptors. my system has lightning fast bootups =)

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: scollins1

So what type of heatsinks are available for this socket? Am I able to use a bolt on heatsink like the SLK 900U?

I just ordered the Zalman CNPS7000A-ALCU from Newegg yesterday. The HS/Fan that MWave includes with the A64 is *very* loud. Since I already had a Zalman CNPS6500A-CU on my Athlon2600 I was pretty accustomed to much lower db's. As far as I can tell so far, this processor runs a good bit cooler than my 2600+ did so I'm hopeful that I can set the fan at minimum voltage to keep things quiet.

How does this Zalman fan work? Do you have control of the fan rpm???

I just changed out a failing fan (can only oil the bearings so much) and the replacement fans keep going higher & higher in rpm, this one is running at 5720, previous one was 5400 so I don't like the machine getting louder.