Official DO's and DON'T for ASUS A8N-SLI (PREMIUM)

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: welfarebum

DON'T BUY THIS MOTHERBOARD.

Hee hee hee! This thread is insane!... It indicates just how messed up the Asus A8N-SLI Premium motherboard is.

I've had my A8N-SLI Premium for almost 2 months. 2 freakin' months of trying to get this new system working. 2 months of crashing, blue screens, instability, and spontaneous reboots that come and go. I've made several trips back to the retailer to RMA parts. OCZ has RMA'd my memory. But, clearly, the motherboard design is the evil one here. Note that I swapped out the motherboard once already.

Sometimes, just when I think I've got all the problems beat and the system seems stable for a day or more, they return. This motherboard has provided me with 2 months of hell.

Here are some things I experienced and learned:

1. NVActiveArmore causes instability. Don't use it. I tried everything to get this feature to work - 6.65, 6.66, various settings, different cables, reinstall windows, etc.

2. NVFirewall corrupted my downloads. Firefox or IE would allow me to surf without any problems, but when I downloaded a file, it would be corrupted. You don't know it is corrupted until you try to run it. I finally gave up on NVFirewall and installed ZoneAlarm.

3. 4x512M OCZ Platinum Rev 2? Forget it. The system was ALWAYS unstable to varying degrees no matter if I overclocked, underclocked, threatened my PC, updated BIOS, updated drivers, etc. This motherboard only works with 2 memory sticks.

4. Overclocking in general... VERY picky motherboard. A lot of stuff didn't make sense. Certain cpu, htt, fsb, ddr frequencies would work and others wouldn't. I tried isolating overclocking parameters, but I got really weird results. I actually found that the most stable system I ever achieve was 2.4 GHz CPU and DDR333. Dropping the CPU clock while massaging settings so other clocks remained the same, would actually increase instability. It was weird.

5. BIOS. My A8N-SLI Premium is currently DEAD. While upgrading to the 009 beta BIOS today, it died. I don't get POST. It's dead dead dead. Nice, huh? I'm taking it back to the retailer tomorrow - for the 2nd time.

6. I had to install the X2 drivers from AMD. That helped with instability but didn't fix it.

7. When installing drivers and applications, I used Acronis True Image so I could easily restore to a previous good state. Otherwise, you're just one bad driver away from your whole system being unstable again and having no way out.

8. There are several other issues I've encountered and had to solve - but I forget them all. I know that I came across a thread where dual video cards were a problem. Also, the 2nd Raid controller is no good. Basically, this motherboard has been the most challenging system I've ever set up and - get this - I'm a computer hardware engineer with a 1st class honors B.A.Sc. degree and over a decade of hardware design experience! I'm supposed to be "an expert"! Ha hahahahaha...

Robert.

For me, it's been the easiest motherboard to use. Unfortunately, even with all of your experience you're still a noob b/c if you knew what you were doing, you wouldn't even try to get the NVActiveArmour and Firewall working. They have never worked since their inception.

1. NVActiveArmour doesn't work w/ any NForce4 Chipset motherboard, so it's not the motherboard
2. NVFirewall doesn't work w/ any NForce4 Chipset motherboards, so it's not the motherboard
3. Only 2 dimms? That's funny, b/c I've used 4x1gb Crucial Ballistix and have even used 4x1gb of a combination of Crucial Ballistix and Mushkin XP4000. No problems and I even have the screenshots which I've posted already in this thread to prove it. Did you adjust your memory timings, settings and even possible voltage for using four dimms? Have you tried running 2 sticks of memory in both channel A and B to see if one channel is causing the issue?
4. Overclocking. I'm currently at 2.6ghz 260x10 but have run stable at 2.75ghz 275x10.
5. I've flashed this motherboard with every Bios so far, no issues.
6. X2 driver has nothing to do with this motherboard. It's for Windows.
7. Instability is due to Windows and/or NForce4 Chipset if drivers are causing the instability.
8. Every motherboard has issues. The only issue I have with this board is that I wish it had more memory tweaks b/c I'd like to get my Ballistix's running over 280mhz.

As mentioned by myself and several others, the OP really needs to change the title of this thread b/c there's nothing official about it but user error.

 

[welfarebum]

Actually, you're right because you know everything and I'm just a noob! This is the *best* motherboard on the planet b/c yours works! And, therefore, you'll happily buy mine! PLEASE BUY IT FROM ME!

Robert.

 

[Capt Caveman]

You're the self-proclaimed expert. I'm just pointing out that it's not the motherboard. You'll have just as many issues with any other motherboard.

 

[welfarebum]

Okay, seriously, I look at all the motherboards out there from various manufacturers, and many of them are using NF4. So if the NVFirewall and NVActiveArmor doesn't work on any other them, what's up with that? I keep reading all kinds of threads where it is understood that you just "turn those off".

Could you imagine if every car from every manufacturer included an Acme Car Stereo that didn't work? Wouldn't car manufacturers boot Acme's butt right out of their designs? Of course. So why do board designers include NF4?

Robert.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The NF4 Chipset is a good chipset and Nvidia's latest and greatest but it still has some issues and based on the motherboard, the issues may vary. But if you do a google search on Nvidia Chipset Drivers, for as long as I can remember, ActiveArmor and Firewall just don't work well. And yes, Nvidia and AMD market the heck out of those two features. In theory, those two features are supposed to offload some of the work that your CPU would perform using a software solution to those features. Too bad they don't work.

In the next few weeks, new motherboards will be coming out using the ATI Crossfire Chipset. The reviews so far give the chipset some good marks. If you're not happy with the premium, wait a couple of weeks til the reviews of these new motherboards come out before going out and getting a new one.

 

[welfarebum]

I wish I could wait... But I've got to get this thing up and running because I have work to do!

With regards to memory, I tried everything with 4 sticks. I tried DDR400, 333, 266, and by adjusting the FSB and multiplier, a variety of other DDR clock rates. I loosened up the timing parameters significantly from the 2-2-2-5 (which is really just qualified for 2 sticks). I adjusted the memory voltage to 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, etc volts. Although I had previously determined my CPU is capable of 2.4+ GHz, I played with my CPU core clock and HTT clock. I unlocked my PCI clock from the FSB. I also systematically changed the HTT and core voltages.

No matter what I did, 4 sticks were unstable. Sometimes the BSOD would occur after several minutes - but more commonly after several hours or 1/2 day. That's why this has taken me so long! Every time I try something, it takes me 12-24 hours of stress testing to determine whether my intermittent BSOD and hanging is still happening. A couple times I thought I had the problem beat and then, 2 days later, BLUE SCREEN or REBOOT! Yet Mem86 passes.

When I tried just two sticks, the system finally appeared to become stable. I could run Prime95 and OCCT concurrently for 24 hours. When I tried the other 2 sticks, the system was still stable, so memory was fine.

I called OCZ customer support and told them about my problems with the A8N-SLI Premium. The support tech said that they recommend only 2 sticks with that motherboard and that 4 sticks would be hard to get going. So he recommended an RMA of my 4 sticks for 2x1G DDR500 Platinum sticks. Nice.

I got the new memory yesterday and had to loosen up the 3-3-2-8 timing on the 2x1G memory to get the system to boot. When I did, things looked like they were running alright. I was about to do a big stress test to check for sure and decided to upgrade to the 009 BIOS. But while I was doing that, I turned my back. When I looked back, the screen was black. There was no way to reboot. No POST. I even tried a jumper reset after removing the battery and power cord, but nothing. It's dead.

What can I say? If you build up a system and it is unstable, that's your reality. You love the motherboard. I'd love to say that this is a great motherboard, but my reality is that it has been 2 months of hell when most systems I've built take a few hours until the user is up and running.

My experience as a hardware design engineer is that intermittent problems are the worst. This has been an intermittent nightmare for the last 2 months, and can take 1/2 to 1 day to BSOD, spontaneously reboot, hang, or produce application errors. It's different every time. There's no "silver bullet" yet, other than the endless threads of similar difficulties users have had with the A8N-SLI Premium.

So if anyone wants my mobo because they think it is good, please buy it!

Robert.

 

[Skott]

From what I been hearing everyone has had problems trying to run four RAM modules with this board. And not just talking about the people that post here. Others elsewhere complain about it too. Short answer dont use four modules. Two is the way to go with this mobo. If you insist on running four modules then its better to choose a different mobo.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Skott
From what I been hearing everyone has had problems trying to run four RAM modules with this board. And not just talking about the people that post here. Others elsewhere complain about it too. Short answer dont use four modules. Two is the way to go with this mobo. If you insist on running four modules then its better to choose a different mobo.

Wrong. Not everybody -
A screenshot of running 4x1gb of mixed ram

 

[openwheelformula1]

I can run two pairs of Corsair Twinx1024cmx3200c2 at 2.5 2 2 6 1t and 400mhz without any problem. (512mbx4) I have a 3200 Venice, and it's running at 245x10 with 1.4V (stock).

Most people that run into problems with this board are usually encountering user errors. Let's face it, this board is SO popular, there bound to be tons of noobs with issues. Our forums are essentially where problems are reported. If you check out dfistreet, extremesystems and OC forums, you will see many problems on many other boards too.

welfarebum, if you call OCZ, then of course they tell you they only recommend 2 sticks with A8N SLI Premium. If you call Asus, they'll tell your OCZ are not on their recommended list. Don't write posts scaring potential buyers away from a great motherboard.

 

[welfarebum]

I'm just reporting the facts. The reader can draw his own conclusions.

Your logic is equivalent to saying, "*I* never saw my neighbor murder anyone. Therefore, he *must* be innocent and a great guy."

Just because you've had success, doesn't mean that this is a great motherboard. Remember that in logical self-defense, it only takes one exception to disprove something. And there are certainly a lot of users who are disproving your assersion that this is a great motherboard.

Robert.

 

[openwheelformula1]

lol, if I offended you in anyway in my previous post I didn't mean to. I just wanted to say the Premium has been a great mobo for me. (Also my future mother in law) If you don't like it the easiest solution is get rid of it and buy something else. Can I take it for $50 shipped? I am over paying cause it's such a piece of crap.

Of course it doesn't prove the Premium is a "great mobo" just cause I have success with it. Perhaps you could look at how popular this board is and count the number of people posting problems. Then carefully determin the cause of their problems. The causes are mostly: noobie inexperiences, Nforce Drivers, NV Firewall, Marvel Drivers, and hardware incompatibilities. All of these apply to Nforce4 chipsets based motherboards.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
lol, if I offended you in anyway in my previous post I didn't mean to. I just wanted to say the Premium has been a great mobo for me. (Also my future mother in law) If you don't like it the easiest solution is get rid of it and buy something else. Can I take it for $50 shipped? I am over paying cause it's such a piece of crap.

You're such a desirable customer from the manufacturers' point of view. How great is it for them that every time you have a problem with hardware or don't like it, you throw it away and buy a new one?

I'm not sure why you even had to bother to post here? (Unless you Dad works for ASUS, of course) Also think about what kind of contribution you're making in this thread. We don't need you here.

lop

 

[openwheelformula1]

wow what's with the hostility? I've discussed many problems/solutions about this mobo. Including with you Lopri. Are your hard drives still dissapearing on you? I've had no problems since cleaning out drivers. What were you "contributing" in the previous thread? You could pm buddy.

 

[Chacranajxy]

I see that a couple people are running the AN8-SLI Premium with OCZ's Platinum.... so I'd be correct in assuming that the mobo is completely stable with those, correct?

 

[m56acord]

My system is in my sig, and FWIW it seems to be running fine, without any problems, other than believing the manual in regards to mem module orientation. They show the mem sockets numbered a1, a2; b1,b2 ; and say that the modules should be placed in the letter pairs for dual channel, so that's what I did, one module in a black socket and the other right next to it in the blue socket; counter intuitively I might add.
The long and the short of it is I had similar problems with mem timing as others have posted here and elsewhere. Putting them in matching sockets fixed everything except the 2T timing which I changed manually. After that , I avoided the known trouble makers,(nv ide, nvarmor, etc.), and it's been smooth since, although I haven't tried setting up raid 0 yet. It's so nice and quiet and yet smokin' fast, it's amazing! Here's hoping no BSOD's.

 

[welfarebum]

WHAT THE HALIBUT IS WRONG WITH THIS FREAKIN MOTHERBOARD?!!!!!! I just got my 3rd replacement!!! 3rd!!!! Built up my system, plugged everything in, booted, and then pressed ALT-F2 to load BIOS 009. After it successfully loaded, the screen went blank. Now my system won't POST! It's freakin DEAD!!!!!

I've been struggling with this system since Sept 6th. This motherboard is from hell. My nightmware never ends. Do I go back to the strore and request my 4th replacement motherboard?

What am I doing wrong? Each time, there is a different symptom.

Robert.

 

[openwheelformula1]

Could you list your entire hardware specs? That might help.

 

[welfarebum]

I added my system components to my profile.

This is the WORST experience in setting up a PC in my life. 2 months and counting. My previous record is 3 days to get a relative's system running stable. Everyday brings new hope followed by more disappointment. It's crazy. The problems I've had to solve (listed in previous posts) is getting longer and longer.

My wife says we should throw the entire new computer out our condo window and start over.

Here's one question relating to this motherboard. (But I didn't do this in this case.) Let's say you set your memory timing to be too agrressive (maybe 2-2-2-5) in your BIOS. When you rebooted your system, would you get past POST? Could you get into the BIOS? If not, how would you reset the memory parameters to be more relaxed?

Robert.

 

[Capt Caveman]

If you made an extreme change of your memory timings, it probably wouldn't post. But not all cases, sometimes it could crash after windows has been up for a while. To get your bios settings back so that you'll at least be able to boot-up, you want to flip your CMOS jumper(the manual will explain how to do it) and that'll reset your bios settings to default.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
wow what's with the hostility? I've discussed many problems/solutions about this mobo. Including with you Lopri. Are your hard drives still dissapearing on you? I've had no problems since cleaning out drivers. What were you "contributing" in the previous thread? You could pm buddy.

My apologies for harsh words. I still believe it's irrelevant to say to get something else when someone has a problem to fix with his/her hardware, however.

lop

 

[welfarebum]

After pressing ALT-F2 and loading BIOS 009, it flashed successfully. It had that "flash successful, restart your computer" message for about 3 seconds and then suddenly rebooted by itself. But there is now no POST, nothing on the screen, just the hum of the fans.

So I *did* unplug the machine, remove the battery, and short out the reset terminal - but nothing changed. Still dead. I did this just in case this new motherboard had some weird timing settings.

Robert.

 

[lopri]

WRT the other thread, I somehow settled at VCore 1.4625 with beta BIOS 1009.003. It still fluctuates but mostly between 1.455 and 1.472. As long as it doesn't drop below 1.45 it's dual Prime95 stable. (Currently at 2750MHz, 11x250)

It sometimes drops to 1.444, but very rarely. One of the cores fails around 4~5 hours into dual Priming, exactly when the VCore drops below 1.45. But since I'm not running a server or anything I guess I can deal with it. Both cores are perfectly stable if I set the VCore at 1.475 in the BIOS but then the VCore fluctuates between 1.454 and 1.522(!), the temp rises nearly 10C+.

I guess I'm gonna have to leave with it for now.

lop

 

[welfarebum]

BYE BYE FOREVER, A8N-SLI Premium. And BYE BYE, Asus.

I've had my fill. After 2 months of ENDLESS crashing, blue screens, spontaneous reboots, BIOS flash failures, overclocking weirdness, exchanging the motherboard *3* times, swapping out practically all the other hardware, RMAing memory with OCZ, reinstalling windows, trying varieties of every driver, etc, etc, etc... I'VE HAD ENOUGH. I wouldn't even trust this board if I DID get it running.

Today, I went to the Asus web site and, in the forums there, there are dozens of people with the EXACT same problems that I've had. There are users who have tried EVERYTHING to get their systems stable. Have a look at the "RAM/crashing problems - A8N-SLI Premium" thread. Those guys have exerienced what I experienced. They, like me, did everything right but ended up with a nightmare that, as one guy said, is "DRIVING ME CRAZY".

My credit card insurance will refund my A8N-SLI Premium cost. Now the big question is what to buy in its place. I'm looking at the DFI LanParty nF4 SLI-DR.

Any suggestions?

Robert.

 

[lopri]

I would definitely go with DFI, but don't expect nothing less in terms of headache.
Good luck.

 

[openwheelformula1]

welfairebum: just curious, did you find out the source of your problems after all? O