*** Official ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (nForce4) Thread ***

[byMaX]

They wouldn't reply... I wrote them an email, and i thought I'd drive their attention, because I know their PR's in person (Sean Chen, among others), I've talked with one of their programmers, and I'm friend with their PR for our region... but they haven't replied...

 

[user1234]

Originally posted by: ajmiles
I would be surprised if ASUS didn't come up with something that meant speeds over 240mhz were possible with 1T Command Rate, but at the same time I doubt it is a sure fire thing. A few more of us need to contact them and make fully sure the BIOS Dev Team know it is the thing we want most... along with our maxtors.

maybe it's "the thing you want most" but truthfully increasing the memory from 240 to even 300, while keeping the cpu constant and using different dividers, will have a ngligible effect on performance. I suggest you accept it and move on.

 

[DavidHull]

Blah blah blah. You've said it already. In perhaps several different posts, so please, next time include a link to your previous posts and maybe some benchmarks. I know that even if it is only a higher number in synthetic benchmarks (Sandra 7100 Mem vs. 6200), that I still want to be able to run my memory higher. People who overclock generally are not concerned with "it's good enough". We want to push everything to its limit. Everything.

 

[JMag]

TaZZeR: If you have tried multiple boards (in one post you said 3 and in another you say you are on your second, so I am confused but/... whatever) and all of them have the same problem with your setup it should be noted that it is HIGHLY unlikely that it is the motherboard giving you problems. I know that I attributed the prob to the motherboard when I was having issues, but I didn't RMA and stuck with it till I figured it out.
I might be getting back to the basics here but I want ot make sure you have covered everything
1. Did you try just one 6800GT?
2. Did you make absolutely sure that the 6pin PCI-E connector is secure to the card(s)?
3. If you are using a 2x molex to 6pin PCI-E adapter then be sure that both of the molex's are coming from seperate lines
4. Reseat the EZ-Selector ( I had some problems initially when I put it incorrectly )
5. Switch the EZ-Selector around? (maybe they printed the PCB incorrectly and it is reversed, highly doubtful that this is the case but just a suggestion)
6. The PCB Bridge That is connected between the two cards works only one way ( I have seen this posted elsewhere)
7. Reseate both Vid cards...
8. Try another PCI-E Vid Card ( if you have a local store in which you can purchase a vid card, like fry's just og buy a freaking 6600GT PCI-E and see if it works, and you can always return it within 30days for a refund)
9. If you can run one 6800GT at a time check to make sure that both have the same BIOS revision.
10. Are you running this setup inside a case? (If so make ABSOLUTELY sure there are no screws or anythign shorting the board out, you might want to just have the MB lying on some cardboard outside of a case just to be sure... DO NOT put it on an anti-static bag, you can put the antistatic bag under the cardboard if you wanna be safe)

Your Tagan Should easily handle one 6800gt... I know my crappy TT psu with 18amps on the 12v can handle one just fine so yours should be able to handle two... I havent played with two yet ( I just got my second 6800GT today so I will tonite)

 

[ajmiles]

?? I don't see the logic here at all. At present all we can do is run at 240x11 (barely stable) which is 2640mhz. Sure, this is about the limit of my 3500 90nm, but if I use a 10x multiplier, I could run the RAM at 264 x 10 = 2640. You still get the same, if not slightly higher CPU performance, and the RAM would get a proportionally higher performance hike.

At this moment I am running 230x11 and get 6700MB/s in the Sandra memory test. At 264 I would expect at least 7200MB/s if not more. As soon as you lower the command rate to 2T you lose any advantage you had by clocking the memory higher. So yes, we do want it, and we won't get over it.

 

[byMaX]

ajmiles - you're my man 😉 Nice done. I have top notch hw here, man... Want to go for some more. If I was some your ordinary advanced user, i'd stay out of this board (and I'm looking 5x a day for a bios update), and keep it on default... its just not good enough...

 

[user1234]

Originally posted by: ajmiles
?? I don't see the logic here at all. At present all we can do is run at 240x11 (barely stable) which is 2640mhz. Sure, this is about the limit of my 3500 90nm, but if I use a 10x multiplier, I could run the RAM at 264 x 10 = 2640. You still get the same, if not slightly higher CPU performance, and the RAM would get a proportionally higher performance hike.

At this moment I am running 230x11 and get 6700MB/s in the Sandra memory test. At 264 I would expect at least 7200MB/s if not more. As soon as you lower the command rate to 2T you lose any advantage you had by clocking the memory higher. So yes, we do want it, and we won't get over it.

So why don't you just run Sandra as your main app ? Seriously the real world difference is very very small, the reason is that the memory is rarely working at full bandwidth. And for the non-believers, here are some hard measurements, compare for yourself the performance at 12x200 to 9x266. Read it and weep.

 

[Thorsson]

Originally posted by: JMag
vision33r: I have used a Ati 9200SE 128mb PCI card as a test and it worked fine.

BTW, has anyone had the chance ot use the 1003 Final and check to see if the Maxtor NCQ drives work with it?

I got a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 with NCQ and it worked with the mobo straight out of the box with no problems. It has also worked with 1002, 1003.006 and 1003.007.

 

[Waylay00]

So do I need a floppy to install SATA drivers, or will it automatically detect the drive?

 

[govern1]

Thorsson, NCQ is not enabled by default in XP. Check to see if you even have NCQ enabled. If it's not, that could explain why you haven't had any issues with that drive and NCQ.

Shawn

 

[DavidHull]

So why don't you just run Sandra as your main app ? Seriously the real world difference is very very small, the reason is that the memory is rarely working at full bandwidth. And for the non-believers, here are some hard measurements, compare for yourself the performance at 12x200 to 9x266. Read it and weep.

All results with 1:1 settings. Thanks.

 

[ajmiles]

So why don't you just run Sandra as your main app ? Seriously the real world difference is very very small, the reason is that the memory is rarely working at full bandwidth. And for the non-believers, here are some hard measurements, compare for yourself the performance at 12x200 to 9x266. Read it and weep.

There is no proof on those two links at all user1234.

The sandra memory tests show a sizeable increase is what you expect, however there is no application other than sandra that uses a lot of RAM to it's full potential. Quake 3, RtCW at 1024x768?? Where is Half Life 2 and Doom 3 at 1600x1200 with 4xFSAA and AF? That is where the advantage will be seen.

As for their being no difference with the SuperPI tests.... of course not, the memory that program uses will probably fit in the L2 cache anyway.

 

[iscsidude]

Shaga,
Thanks for the details on the firmware.
Maybe I am the only one, but I find it interesting what they are fixing and when.
Helps me understand their priorities and how I fit in with the scheme of things.

For those of you trying to implement NCQ, you may want to check out the SerialATA.org web site. i.e. This won't be buying us anything until applications support NCQ. This is similar to what happened in the Fibre Channel Market. That is, Command queueing was a bit of an after thought and didn't really surface until 2002 when applications started realizing the performance potential.

So what if Windows supports NCQ. Performance will only be seen when Office or Doom3, etc. etc support it. Same with SLI as was pointed out earlier today in this thread. I'll just turn off NCQ on my Raptors (Raid1 which wouldn't be able to have much advantage anyway) until there are applications with support.

Also, there are different levels of command queueing.
Tagged Command Queueing
Simple Command Queueing
Native Command Queeing

Now if I could only understand what you guys are talking about with respect to memory timings, I think I could go to sleep!!!!!

So, I'll just read and listen.

 

[TaZZeR]

Originally posted by: Waylay00
So do I need a floppy to install SATA drivers, or will it automatically detect the drive?

It should automatically recognise them.......
However make sure you dont use the western digital secure cable and expect it to deliver power, cause it dont!! use the molex aswell

 

[olternat]

I've just spent several hours reading ALL 55 pages OF THIS THREAD. Now my head is spinning, my stomach hurts, and I think I need to throw up. 🙁

Ok, through the blur I think I recall seeing someone posting the latest bios (1003) as having a fix for the power fan reading to be seen in the bios under hardware monitor. Is this correct? Because the power fan doesnt seem to be read in my a8n-sli deluxe's bios or asus pc probe.
And isn't 1003 a beta not an official release? Because I can't find it under downloads at the official website as a official release.

Can you please confirm this and repost the link?

Also, my cpu idle temp for my athlon 64 4000+ is 49c...50c actually without my 2 case fans goin full blast. Prime95 loads pump up the cpu temp at 64c. Are those numbers high? Maybe the latest bios can fix incorrect temp readings.

Now before I faint/throw up can someone help? 🙁

 

[ajmiles]

Originally posted by: olternat
I've just spent several hours reading ALL 55 pages OF THIS THREAD. Now my head is spinning, my stomach hurts, and I think I need to throw up. 🙁

Ok, throught the blur I think I recall seeing someone posting the latest bios (1003) as having a fix for the power fan reading to be seen in the bios under hardware monitor. Is this correct? Because the power fan doesnt seem to be read in my a8n-sli deluxe's bios or asus pc probe.
And isn't 1003 a beta not an official release? Because I can't find it under downloads at the official website as a official release.

Can you please confirm this and repost the link?

Also, my cpu idle temp for my athlon 64 4000+ is 49c...50c actually without my 2 case fans goin full blast. Prime95 loads pump up the cpu temp at 64c. Are those numbers high? Maybe the latest bios can fix incorrect temp readings.

Now before I faint/throw up can someone help? 🙁

Trust us all on the fact the 1003 BIOS that is flying around is absolutely final, it came from the taiwanese Asus FTP mirror.

Also 50C idling is a bit too high for a 4000+. As far as I know we've not seen any A8N SLIs reporting incorrect CPU temperatures. Are you using the stock heatsink and fan? Sure you applied the thermal paste to the CPU properly? Or did you use the preapplied stuff on the bottom of the CPU?

 

[olternat]

Ya I just used the preapplied stuff on the bottom of the stock heatsink and used the stock fan. I was hoping to find out if the mobo was reading the cpu temp incorrectly. Actually I have a brand new thermalright xp90 waiting to be installed.
You think I should replace it?

And does the new bios 1003 read the power supply fan in the bios or asus pc probe? Thanks for your kind help. 🙂

 

[byMaX]

We've tested dozens of them high end coolers, and Hyper 6 seemed like a best choice for A64... I can cool it passively if I don't do overclock (i can even lower the voltage to 1.275).

 

[iscsidude]

Based on this review:
http://www.overclockersclub.co...ster_hyper6_review.php

I went with the Zalman 7700 Cu as opposed to the Coolermaster Hyper 6.
It was a toss up between Zalman and Thermaltake. I wen't for quiet..

 

[byMaX]

Yeah, but I didn't know back then if it's gonna fit on this board... Great cooler, though...!

 

[evilmrroboto]

I got the TT silent boost k8. That thing kept my 3500+ at 30C and it is so freaking silent. The case fans and power fans were all louder then it, and not to mention that the chipset fan is amazingly LOUD at 8k RPMs.

 

[jlambvo]

I haven't been having many problems to speak of with my system, but my onboard firewire seems to be problematic.

I've had an external 1394 drive connected that now won't mount and I don't get any indication that a device is connected.

Something like this happened before when I had my ipod connected to the 1394 on my Audigy 2, which it didn't seem to like the; the iPod "froze" and my HD connected to the onboard 1394 stopped working. It eventually started mounting again but i have no idea why.

Anyone else have issues with 1394?

 

[evilmrroboto]

When i get my replacement mobo from asus (however long that'll take), should I get the 1003 bios on there as fast as I can to prevent any power related problems I could run into?? I heard people saying it solves a lot of problems and I don't want to have to deal with a second dead board like my first one was.

 

[jlambvo]

Dur hee hee... I just manually reset the firewire drive and it mounts now.

Still can't get the damn iPod to work though.

 

[iscsidude]

Originally posted by: byMaX
Yeah, but I didn't know back then if it's gonna fit on this board... Great cooler, though...!

I know what you mean. I waited until I found the A8N-SLI Deluxe on the Zalman web site before ordering.
http://www.zalmanusa.com/produ...-939-940MBlist_eng.htm

BTW, has anyone been successful in adding the Arctic Cooling NV Silencer 5 to a 6800 Ultra PCIe card? If so, does it keep you from using the SLI daughter card? Thx...