Horror story. Is my brand new A8N $2400 rig toast?

SkyBum

Senior member
Oct 16, 2004
844
7
81
I'm very worried about my new a8n Delux.....

I initially had very good luck with this new build. Installation of hardware went fine, windows install went fine, all seemed well. Then I started noticing that some programs would not launch, soon after I started getting various error messages (mini dump was the first what ever that means).

I went to control panel and tried to open system so I could check device manager (error message, system window wont even launch) at that point I did a reformat to reinstall windows. I kept getting error messages during install, mostly "can't read/open file" but I kept persisting. Each time it would be a different file that was the problem. After four or five reformat and reinstall attempts using 2 different optical drives and 2 different XP install discs I finally got windows to install. It booted to the desktop but there was only the default desktop screen but no toolbar or icons. I checked checked task manager and explorer was not even running. Nor would it launch from there. I was able to launch notepad but that was it. More reformatting and several more failed attempts with windows and I finally got windows back up and everything seemed fine again. I installed all drivers & utilities and every thing seemed perfect.

Damn, I was pretty stressed after 5 hours of that so I figure hey it's all set now, I should throw in a DVD and chill for a bit. Goddamned if at that moment my system just shut down cold. No warning no smoke no nothing. It was dead as a doornail. I let it sit for a bit and then hit the power button again, I got a quick flash from the power supply (LED's not sparks) and that was it. Power supply LED fan starts to light for a half second then nothing. Tried that twice more same result.

Man I'm freaking out so I pull my 2 optical drives and put them back in my old rig figuring to watch that DVD and CHILL. Guess what? They are no longer recognized in my old system. They dont even show up. Their not fried, the trays open up but there is no longer a DVD/CD drives listed in device manager. What gives here? It like they no longer exist. Despite my best efforts I could not get them to be seen from the moment they left my new system.

Where do I even start to trouble shoot this problem? WTF is going on with this system? Between the install weirdness and then what seems like a short and now my optical drives BOTH fubar in my old rig I don't even know WHAT to think.....

What a completely rotten evening, Im gonna upchuck if I even think about it much more.

ANy suggestions? Is this as bad as it sounds or could there be a simple explanation?

EDIT: I should mention that the first thing I did was check for any water leakage and it was dry as a bone, temps just before the time of failure were 30c CPU /31c MB.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Ok, I see one glaring issue here just right away: Ultra X-Connect power supply. That's a 20-pin unit, is it not? And not a particularly good one, from the reputation it's developed so far. I know I'm a PSU nazi, but I would be using this if I planned to set up full SLI someday. If you're just powering what's in your sig now, then they've got lower-end models with the 24-pin arrangement too.

Newegg's site seems to be down at the moment, guess I broke it :evil:

 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Hey, if you would like, you can fill this in too, it's a template type of thing I'm working on for collecting troubleshooting info. Hit Quote and off you go. Where it says "PCI slot," pretend it says PCI-E as needed ;)

  • CORE HARDWARE
    • Power supply Antec TruePower 430
    • Motherboard Asus K8N-E Deluxe
      • Revision 1.03
      • BIOS 1005
    • CPU Athlon64 3000+
      • Core 130nm Clawhammer
    • Memory (2) 512MB Corsair XMS 3200C2 modules
      • Voltage Manually set to 2.7 volts
      • Timings AUTO, results in 2-3-2-6 @ 200MHz
  • CARDS
    • Primary video card ATI Radeon 9800Pro AGP 8x
    • Secondary video card Heh, I wish :p
    • PCI slot #1 (top) empty
    • PCI slot #2 empty
    • PCI slot #3 LeadTek Winfast TV/FM tuner card
    • PCI slot #4 Creative Audigy 2 ZS
    • PCI slot #5 LSI Logic Ultra160 SCSI
    • PCI slot #6 (board only has five PCI slots)
  • DRIVES
    • Boot drive 160GB Seagate 7200.7
      • Interface Serial ATA
      • Controller hosting this drive nForce3 SATA controller
      • Jumper setting not applicable (SATA)
    • Additional hard drive 40GB Seagate 7200.7
      • Interface Parallel ATA
      • Controller hosting this drive nForce3 standard ATA controller, primary channel
      • Jumper setting Master
    • Additional hard drive 18GB Seagate Cheetah 15k.3
      • Interface SCSI
      • Controller hosting this drive LSI Logic U160 card
      • Jumper setting SCSI ID 01
    • Optical drive #1 NEC 3500A DVD burner
      • Interface Parallel ATA
      • Controller hosting this drive nForce3 standard ATA controller, secondary channel
      • Jumper setting Master
    • Optical drive #2 Lite-On combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW
      • Interface Parallel ATA
      • Controller hosting this drive nForce3 standard ATA controller, secondary channel
      • Jumper setting Slave
  • OS AND SECURITY
    • Operating System WindowsXP Professional
    • Service Pack SP2
    • Internet connection Cable
    • Hardware firewall Netgear RP614 router
    • Software firewall WindowsXP firewall
    • Antivirus Norton Antivirus 2004
 

joelslaw

Senior member
Dec 9, 2004
466
0
0
... wow ... that ... sucks! I'd barf too.

I would check the power supply first !!!!BUT!!!! for the love of God don't do it by sticking it in another machine! (i know you're not an idiot, just covering my bases) They make special power supply testers. Also, I wouldn't try to test any of the parts in a rig of any value to you. Sometimes one component can screw up others, and then if you try to use them w/ working parts they'll screw those up too. Just be patient, and try to test the parts one by one.

Also, with those optical drives, do they show up in the bios on your old rig?

Sorry this had to happen on your first! I really hope everything turns out ok! Keep us up to date!!!

some power supply testers:
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-163-011&amp;depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-103-905&amp;depa=1
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
0
Originally posted by: SkyBum
YEs, 20 pin unit with 20-24 adapter.
Your adapter is only moving the bottleneck away from the mobo by one step. Can I suggest moving up in the PSU area for this reason, and also because I have a feeling the Ultra X-Connect is a bit more show than go. You can do a Search on it if you want to see why I think that might be so.

Once you get that addressed, also make sure your RAM is getting its rated voltage and not just AUTO voltage in the BIOS. I wouldn't blink at using 2.8 volts on that stuff.
 

SkyBum

Senior member
Oct 16, 2004
844
7
81
Opticals don't show in the backup system's BIOS (A7V-266e).


mechBgon, if it's the Ultra to blame, you can bet I won't be getting another. based on what I've described, are you supposing that my components have not been fried? (at least thats what im tryin to hear in what you said)

I can live with buying a new PSU, but I hate to think about what else might need to be replaced. (I know its a bit early to speculate but I can't help worrying...)
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
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Originally posted by: SkyBum
Opticals don't show in the backup system's BIOS (A7V-266e).


mechBgon, if it's the Ultra to blame, you can bet I won't be getting another. based on what I've described, are you supposing that my components have not been fried? (at least thats what im tryin to hear in what you said)

I can live with buying a new PSU, but I hate to think about what else might need to be replaced. (I know its a bit early to speculate but I can't help worrying...)
Your A7V266-E has four IDE plugs. The upper pair are controlled by the Promise ATA controller and it isn't capable of recognizing optical drives. In this diagram you can see which are which, the upper ones are Promise while the lower ones would work for opticals. So try your optical drives on one of the lower ones (if you didn't already).

My guess is that the PSU got overloaded and that's what brought on the shutdowns, but I could just be paranoid :confused: Anyway, it's 2AM and I need some sleep, but I wish you luck :moon:


edit: I originally said the lower ATA plugs belonged to the Promise... correct now :eek:
 

SkyBum

Senior member
Oct 16, 2004
844
7
81
Yeah they are on the lower ones (raid and a single on the promise).

Whats bothering me is what about both of those opticals having been in my new rig (only 1 was in at the time it went down) and now BOTH not recognized in the other one. What could have happened to them while installed on the new rig? They were both working earlier today on the old rig. Thats just too bizarre for me.....
 

1lossir1

Junior Member
Dec 15, 2004
3
0
0
Originally posted by: SkyBum
Yeah they are on the lower ones (raid and a single on the promise).

Whats bothering me is what about both of those opticals having been in my new rig (only 1 was in at the time it went down) and now BOTH not recognized in the other one. What could have happened to them while installed on the new rig? They were both working earlier today on the old rig. Thats just too bizarre for me.....

OK - I admit I don't know optical drive design - but isn't the motor/laser/drive door mechanics powered by one voltage rail (+12) and the electronics (controller, IDE interface) powered by the other (+5)

Since the PSU is suspected to be at fault, it's possible the +5 rail sent out a spike that killed the drive electronics. I know - it's a longshot - but it's certainly possible...

If you can - test the opticals on a friend's computer and see if they still fail.
 

stelleg151

Senior member
Sep 2, 2004
822
0
0
yipes, I just ordered one of these suckers, and I hope I dont have problems like some of these folks...
 

SkyBum

Senior member
Oct 16, 2004
844
7
81
"If you can - test the opticals on a friend's computer and see if they still fail."

Heh, I just moved to Las Vegas a few weeks ago, my nearest friend is 700 miles away.

My old rig needs a new PSU. I'll prolly buy one for it and put it in the new rig to see if it sorts this mess.
 

bap4201

Senior member
Oct 13, 2004
265
0
0
I swapped the rig in my signature from a neo2. I can tell you the voltage on the rails slightly dropped. Now having an ocz psu, I can adjust the rails which I did just a tiny bit over 12v, 5v, and 3.3v.

So, it could be your psu.

Why not try calling asus tech support, their support is the best!
 

seth13699

Junior Member
Dec 16, 2004
8
0
0
Hi all !!!
My first post on this excellent forum (long time reader).

@SkyBum

I've also ordered an A8N-SLI Deluxe from an eBay seller (in Hong Kong).
While we made the payment arrengements via email he told me that he was
notified from his local ASUS dealer that ASUS will call back the first wave of
the A8N-SLI Deluxe mobos due to a "power module chip" failure in the
"power supply to display bridge ".
His exact words where :

"Unfortunately to letting you delay of this. Since there are some problems according ASUS local dealer the first batch of ASUS A8N-SLI-D , the power supply to display bridge is not stable while you plug in any PCIE graphic card in when running a heavy loaded games. It is due to a power module chips with bad quality.

And ASUS are going to collect those from the market. But the new batch without problems is sending towards here and will be arrived on ~ 20th of this month. Would you please wait for the replacement arrvial and we will make your order as highest priority that moment and we will ship the same day when its arrival. And for sure that would have no any problem this time since they have made a more in deep Q.C. ...."

I really wish this is not the case with your problem but I thought I should let you know...

Cheers
 

frankierx

Senior member
Jun 16, 2003
831
0
0
Originally posted by: mechBgon
Ok, I see one glaring issue here just right away: Ultra X-Connect power supply. That's a 20-pin unit, is it not? And not a particularly good one, from the reputation it's developed so far. I know I'm a PSU nazi, but I would be using this if I planned to set up full SLI someday. If you're just powering what's in your sig now, then they've got lower-end models with the 24-pin arrangement too.

Newegg's site seems to be down at the moment, guess I broke it :evil:

Oh, I want that one too!!!!. I will wait until Epox nforce4 sli mobo comes out next year until I do the A64 upgrade. I want that psu to power my system. What is 20 pin vs 24 pin psu? Is 24 pin the new standard for sli mobos?
 

jdogg707

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2002
6,098
0
76
I had something like what you had happen to me once, it was the PSU. Go with the PowerStream 520 from OCZ or the Enermax mech suggested. Without a quality PSU. even the best systems are liable to fail.
 

bap4201

Senior member
Oct 13, 2004
265
0
0
this is a reply to seth 13699. I just contacted Asus America tech support @ 1-502-995-0883 and they have not received any of the information that you reported.
 

bap4201

Senior member
Oct 13, 2004
265
0
0
Originally posted by: jdogg707
Seth is probably just getting BS'ed by an eBay scammer...
Well to tell ya, the tech rep at Asus took this VERY seriously and wanted to know the forum this was posted in and the thread!
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
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Originally posted by: bap4201
Originally posted by: jdogg707
Seth is probably just getting BS'ed by an eBay scammer...
Well to tell ya, the tech rep at Asus took this VERY seriously and wanted to know the forum this was posted in and the thread!
Seriously? :Q

Hey Asus dude, you guys owe me a pizza. :p Oh, and also do everyone a favor, and make the default VDIMM 2.7 volts on the fancy mobos, it'll save me a lot of typing :p
 

seth13699

Junior Member
Dec 16, 2004
8
0
0
Originally posted by: jdogg707
Seth is probably just getting BS'ed by an eBay scammer...


Well actually this seller is in very good standing and I highly doubt he is b/s .


I wish I'm (and he is) wrong on this one...