Successful A8N SLI Deluxe build here

[mofrack]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.

I just finished building and configuring my new A64 setup, to replace my venerable, but aging AXP setup. My specs are in my sig, but feel free to ask any questions about config if you like.

I am currently running stock, but do plan to overclock in the future, once I learn how. The HTT and divider thing is strange to me coming from an Athlon XP setup where there still was such a thing as an actual FSB and everything was running 1:1.

No problems running a 20-pin power supply, which was one of my only real concerns... although my PSU does have 36 amps on the 12v line, so...

Getting another 6600 GT (BFG, of course. Dual DVI and stock OC with a warranty? Yes, please.) soon, to do what the board was made to do, SLI.

This is probably my 10th successful build or so, went pretty easy. One niggle, though, was setting up the NVRAID array for Windows. Had 2 load TWO drivers using F6 method, and wasnt able to get the CK804 ADMA driver to load until I was done loading Windows... *shrug*

Anyhow, if anyone can give me some tips on how to achieve a mild overclock with this thing, I'd appreciate it. Props also go out to Guitardaddy and bap for all their contributions to the threads concerning the A8N, among others. Cheers.

 

[joelslaw]

good jorb hamstray! If you want to know how to o/c that thing, check out this sticky in the CPU/OC section:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...1072&enterthread=y

 

[Gelardi]

"This is probably my 10th successful build or so, went pretty easy. One niggle, though, was setting up the NVRAID array for Windows. Had 2 load TWO drivers using F6 method, and wasnt able to get the CK804 ADMA driver to load until I was done loading Windows... *shrug* "

WHICH DRIVERS DID YOU USED?
I want to build one too with a SATA harddrive.

 

[user1234]

to overclock - first update your bios using asus update utility in windows. Set the bios to manual overclocking, and set the memory to DDR400 to get 1:1 fsb:ram ratio, or DDR333 to get 2:3 divider. Also make sure pci bus is locked in bios to 33mhz. Then use ai-booster in windows to increase the fsb/htt in increments of 10-15. you should easily reach 250 fsb, so cpu would be at 9x250=2250 mhz, even without any voltage adjustments. Verify it using by running superpi, aquamark3 and prime95 for a few minutes. From there proceed slowly in increments of 5 and see how far you can get, and run a short test of super-pi every time. Watch the temps and voltages (you should also use cpu-z and clockgen to double check ai-booster readings). When super-pi starts giving errors, you need to increase the voltage to 1.6-1.65V, and possibly the meory voltage. See how far you can get with these voltages, and then run prime-95 on it overnight. Overclocking this thing has been much easier because you could do it almost entirely in windows. And also, even when you go overboard and the system becomes unstable and reboots, I was always able to get into the bios and change the settings - not once did I need to clear the cmos (which requires opening the box to move a jumper) !!! call it the first ever closed box overclocking ! Actually I closed the box after building it, even before turning it on, which is usually not smart because murphy's law states that something will go wrong exactly when you don't want it to. But nothing went wrong, and I never opened the box since then.

 

[bap4201]

user1234, what memory timings do you use when overclocking? my ocz is set to run 2-2-2-5 do you loosen the timings at all or do you leave timings set to "auto"?

 

[user1234]

I'm running my PC3200 Kingston HyperX at 178 mhz using 2/3 divider setting ("auto" in bios) at 2-3-3-7-1T timing which is the SPD rating for it. The reason is that this memory doesn't overclock too well, so it was causing problems with lower divider or 1:1.

 

[mofrack]

bap, where did you get the beta 1003.006 BIOS for this board? I went to Asus' site and went to beta section and the latest I see is 1003.005?

Oh, and also... how do you like your Powerstream PSU? The idea of adjustable rails is nice

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

I just put my build together last night. Very easy setup and it seems like a really solid board. If it weren't for that 240 MHz RAM quirk, it would almost be perfect.

That said, I haven't installed my Audigy 2 yet, so I haven't really tested the PCI bus stability. In all fairness though, I've had problems with Creative cards on other boards, especially on a 1st time Windows install. Best to install Windows without it first and then add it afterwards.

So far I've only o/c'ed to 2.3 GHz, but it passes Memtest 86+ and Prime95 for the 30 minutes or so I tested.

 

[user1234]

I fired up ut2k4 last night, and used the onboard audio, and it does crackle noticeably, at least when I use the headphones connected to the front panel of the case. I suspect that's just the quality of the onboard audio, but I will try to rear connector as well. I did not expect it to equal an audigy2 zs, especially in terms of hardware accelation, but I also did not expect constant crackling.

 

[bap4201]

Originally posted by: mofrack
bap, where did you get the beta 1003.006 BIOS for this board? I went to Asus' site and went to beta section and the latest I see is 1003.005?

Oh, and also... how do you like your Powerstream PSU? The idea of adjustable rails is nice

mofrack,

do a search here, I posted a link for it, I'll try to bump it. EDIT: I bumped it for you. I downloaded it from the German site which, by the way, is usually the first to get beta bioses.

I heart my ocz psu!

 

[Creideike]

Got this rig working very easily after one board RMA