After installing a BIOS update for my K8N SLI Platinum (3.30) using MSI's own Live Update software, my MOBO died! My PC rebooted OK once, but after a complete shutdown it refused to turn back on.
I tried several things, including resetting the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery and removing all unnecessary devices, etc - but no luck. After a visit the the MSI forum, I found several others had encountered this problem.
Hoping it was just the MOBO and not the CPU, I ordered an Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, which arrived today. I have now installed it and everything is up and running again.
I'm astonished that MSI could release such a flakey BIOS, I have a pretty standard system config and don't do any overclocking... so I really don't understand the failure!
In addition, the Creative on-board sound had never worked on my MOBO, as my PSU (Antec Neopower 480) doesn't support -5v. This compatibility fact was only added to the MSI website after the board's release. So I was never really happy with MSI.
Why did I get the ASUS and not the Gigabyte or DFI? Esentially it came down to 2 simple factors...
1: Extra space between the PCI-E slots (I use a Zalman VF700 cooler, which takes up 2 slots)
2: I need 3x PCI slots. WiFI, Sound Card, TV Tuner. I could have got a USB TV Tuner, but it would be an extra expense...
Aditionally, I am currently not overclocking at all, so the board's preformance in this area is not a concern for me.
Overall I'm very happy with the A8N so far, although the version I was shipped has the original Chipset cooler, which is quite noisy running at 8000 RPM! Is the new diagonal one any better? Also, has anyone got hold of one from ASUS in the UK?
I tried several things, including resetting the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery and removing all unnecessary devices, etc - but no luck. After a visit the the MSI forum, I found several others had encountered this problem.
Hoping it was just the MOBO and not the CPU, I ordered an Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, which arrived today. I have now installed it and everything is up and running again.
I'm astonished that MSI could release such a flakey BIOS, I have a pretty standard system config and don't do any overclocking... so I really don't understand the failure!
In addition, the Creative on-board sound had never worked on my MOBO, as my PSU (Antec Neopower 480) doesn't support -5v. This compatibility fact was only added to the MSI website after the board's release. So I was never really happy with MSI.
Why did I get the ASUS and not the Gigabyte or DFI? Esentially it came down to 2 simple factors...
1: Extra space between the PCI-E slots (I use a Zalman VF700 cooler, which takes up 2 slots)
2: I need 3x PCI slots. WiFI, Sound Card, TV Tuner. I could have got a USB TV Tuner, but it would be an extra expense...
Aditionally, I am currently not overclocking at all, so the board's preformance in this area is not a concern for me.
Overall I'm very happy with the A8N so far, although the version I was shipped has the original Chipset cooler, which is quite noisy running at 8000 RPM! Is the new diagonal one any better? Also, has anyone got hold of one from ASUS in the UK?
