My Asus A8N-SLI ran great.... for a week

[IH8 Money]

Here is my equip.
Asus A8N-SLI- 3400+- Zalman 7000A-ALCU- Corsair Value RAM- EVGA 6600GT- WD 74GB Raptor- 200GB Seagate- NEC3520- Last of all my PSU Epower 450W, I have an OCZ powerstream 520 on the way. The 12V rail was dipping to 11.4V at sometimes.

Anyways,
I have had the system running stable for a week. I was happy with 130FPS on CTS. I got everything set the way I like it. Then I decided to try to OC just a little. Through the AI booster I started pushing up the HTT 5 at a time, and watching my temp. My temp never went above 41C, and I got all the way to 230 with an 11 multiplier. As soon as I bumpped it up to 235 I got a flash of the blue screen, and a reboot. My post told me to restore default config(I should have listened). Being the NOOB that I am I saw the Hyper transport under CPU config, and assumed that this was the same as the multiplier. So I set it at 5, now I don't even get a post. I have tried to erase the RTC RAM.

So yes I understand that I am a dumb@$$, and I shot myself in the foot.:shocked:
My question to you is did I blow off a toe, or my whole foot?

Shouldn't I still get a post?
So if you know what the problem is or what I should try(RMA?), and you can spare the time, please tell me. You can even tell me how dumb of a mistake I made. (if I did?)

 

[eva2000]

problem most likely like my A8N-E Deluxe SLI is that LDT multiplier is fixed at 5x regardless of what set in bios

i fixed my problem by updating to A8N-E Deluxe SLI 1004.01 beta bios but flashing with asusupdate in windows was only way awdflash didn't work for me

now my results are much better http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?t=301 but still need improvment

maybe pull the battery, clear CMOS and unplug power cord overnight and then try again ?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Try clearing the RTC again (remove the power, then the battery, then switch the jumper and leave it a full 10secs before switching back. Then plug some speakers into the green jack and see if you get any post messages

 

[Insomniak]

What's an A8N-E Deluxe SLI?

 

[imported_slippy]

Good luck with that. There is a reason OC-ing is a dark art.

 

[IH8 Money]

Thanks for the ideas, but yes I have tried clearing the RTC like 3 time. I do have a question on clearing it. Is it bad to leave the jumpers on clear for 5 min? It wouldn't post before this or after. The reason I ask is in the manual it says leave it for 5-10sec.
There is no POST or beep or POST reporter indicating anything.
Something else I noticed, but I'm not sure what it means. The light for my HD's do not light up. Is this of any significance?

Can anyone tell me if this was all my fault, or does it sound like a combo of me+bug.
If I completely screwed it myself I will just buy a new mobo instead of putting it on the Co. I bought it from, but if it is a bug Asus should take care of it.

Thanx

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I don't know if this has anything to do with it. But I believe 3400 is limited to 800fsb 4x HTT multi, I think its the only skt939 chip with this limitation. But I would think that if your CPU were damaged that you would be getting the "System Failed CPU test" boot message.

It's most likely that the bios is set at HTT 5x, and your chip wont post that way. The only fix may be to put another Skt939 chip in it just long enough to set the HTT multi back to 4x

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I don't know if this has anything to do with it. But I believe 3400 is limited to 800fsb 4x HTT multi, I think its the only skt939 chip with this limitation. But I would think that if your CPU were damaged that you would be getting the "System Failed CPU test" boot message.

Thats is what I thought, I should at least get a CPU warning of some sort if it was blown.
And yes this is the cheap 939 CPU, but I couldn't pass up $170 for it OEM.:shocked:

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Check my edited post above. You can most likely fix it if you can get your hands on another skt939 chip for a few minutes

 

[IH8 Money]

So if it is my CPU, and I remove it will it post? or maybe an error message?
Or should I not even try this?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

It won't post. you will get the "Sytem failed CPU test" post message.

I'm afraid you will have to have another skt939 chip (not 3400) to get it to boot long enough to set the multi back to 4x. Do you have a local computer shop near you?

 

[eva2000]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
What's an A8N-E Deluxe SLI?

hah never mind for some reason i have been calling it A8N-E all this time and then checked my pics at http://fileshosts.com/AMD/Asus/A8NE_Deluxe/web/ and see it's A8N hehe

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: eva2000

Originally posted by: Insomniak
What's an A8N-E Deluxe SLI?

hah never mind for some reason i have been calling it A8N-E all this time and then checked my pics at http://fileshosts.com/AMD/Asus/A8NE_Deluxe/web/ and see it's A8N hehe

Heh, I wondered! I was thinking "Did they come out with some altered version of the board already? Man that was quick!"

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
It won't post. you will get the "Sytem failed CPU test" post message.

I'm afraid you will have to have another skt939 chip (not 3400) to get it to boot long enough to set the multi back to 4x. Do you have a local computer shop near you?

Would clearing the RTC RAM change the settings back to default? Wouldn't this include the CPU multi?

So far I am leaning towards RMAing the board

 

[GuitarDaddy]

? Dont know ? Its worth a try if you've got a shop nearby

But RMA may be your only option.

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
? Dont know ? Its worth a try if you've got a shop nearby

But RMA may be your only option.

Maybe I can use this as justification to buy a whinny 3200
If I can determine that my 3400 is still good maybe I can sell it on ebay.
If it was my board would a normal shop take back a CPU that has been installed?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I was thinking of asking them to install a shop test chip long enough to reset the HTT multi(most shops keep a test CPU in each socket size on their bench). If that is the problem? Maybe not possible?

You could buy a winnie, and if the 3400 tests out to be good, you can likey RMA it for a 15-20% restocking fee (depending on the RMA policy of the retailer) most of the big ones like Newegg will allow none defective RMA's ie... changed your mind, incompatible configuration, etc.. if you pay the 15% fee.
Or sell it on Ebay as you said. If you go this route keep in mind, that there is always the possibility that it is the motherboard and you may end up needing to replace it anyway.

I really can't believe with what you've described that just changing the HTT multi (however inappropriately) could have fried anything on your motherboard, I may be wrong?. And I agree that clearing the RTC logically should reset to default settings, and with the 3400 installed you would think that would include a 4x HTT multi. But I've seen so many illogical actions from the bios on this board so far I don't trust that this is correct. And the absense of the "System failed CPU test" leads me to believe that your CPU's not bad either.

What happens when you power on? Do all the fans spin, hdd leds? dvd leds, anything on the monitor?
green lite on the mobo come on? If nothing comes on I would suspect the mobo or power suppy.

Double check the RTC jumper, it should be on pins 1 & 2 (closest to the battery) for normal operations. I'm sure you know this, but just trying to cover all the bases

 

[IH8 Money]

GuitarDaddy Thanks for your help.:beer:
In answer to your questions, All fans spin, and the dvd drive lits up. The HDD LED never blinks, and the monitor LED stays yellow.
If I wait until tues I will have my new PSU, but I don't think this will do the trick.

I didn't even think about shops using test chips. Good idea.

What bios version is the most stable right now?