The Unofficial ASUS P5N-E SLI 650i Board Thread

[JustaGeek]

Do all the settings for the CPU and RAM manually first, and see if that helps:

CPU Voltage (~1.3V), RAM voltage (based on your RAM specs), timings (2T command rate VERY important!), manual overclocking (even without any OC), CPU/RAM frequencies.

Good luck!

And welcome to AnandTech!

EDIT: Read the last few pages of this thread for more info.

 

[JustaGeek]

BTW, did you "Exit and Save" your BIOS settings...?

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Endersun
whats a good program to see our CPU temps with this motherboard?

SpeedFan, CoreTemp.

The best (but not free!) is Everest. Try it for 30 days - you'll like it!

http://www.lavalys.com/product...load.php?ps=UE&lang=en

 

[Endersun]

O M G - i can not STAND these stupid little clips, as you can see I'm angry right now. Im trying to install my arctic 7 freezer pro... my head is covered in sweat, my fingers are worn, and my voice is a little scratched from yelling.

I push in 2 clips, 1 pops out, i get 3 in... 4th will not fit.

I have it setup to blow towards the top of the case because i have a hole/fan there on my case, so i didnt have to mess with adjusting the shroud.

I have taken the fan off the side of the arctic 7.... but the problem is the freaking clips!!! they will NOT stay in the holes. I can get 2 or 3 in but thats it, i cant get all four, im extremely frustrated, and i hate how long this is taking me....

sigh, i guess im gonna read more on installation tips to see if i can find something, but this is really upsetting me, i dont want to be too aggressive and end up breaking anything.

damnit!!!

 

[JustaGeek]

LOL.

First of all - calm down, or you WILL break something.

Just make sure that the case/MB is flat on the floor, clips are turned in the "closed" position.

Then place the HSF on the CPU, loosely over these holes in the MB, and lean over to see that the first one is directly over the hole, with both "halves" of the tip in. Gradually increase the pressure, just like installing the memory module, until you hear a "click".

Now go to the clip across and carefully do the same - gradually increasing the pressure until the "click". Aim properly!

Remember the sequence - 1-3-2-4, just like the car wheel lug nunts.

Good luck!

 

[Endersun]

finally its in, and my comp is booting (thankfully no problems so far) although I almost had a heart attack when i hit the power and nothing came on the screen.... time to download everest.

 

[JustaGeek]

Guess my instructions came little late... And the newly installed HSF is working fine.

 

[Tuvoc]

I detest the socket775 mounting mechanism as well. It took me 3 tries to mount my Freezer properly and even now I'm not 100% sure it is. But temps are relatively even between the cores, and overall the temps seem about right, so OK. But I intend to get something like the Thermalright Extreme which uses a backplate, to try and tame the furnace that is the QX6700

 

[jimithing78]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Do all the settings for the CPU and RAM manually first, and see if that helps:

CPU Voltage (~1.3V), RAM voltage (based on your RAM specs), timings (2T command rate VERY important!), manual overclocking (even without any OC), CPU/RAM frequencies.

Good luck!

And welcome to AnandTech!

EDIT: Read the last few pages of this thread for more info.

What will doing the CPU and RAM first do for SATA RAID? I don't understand.

Yes, I'm sure I used exit and save in the bios. And when the computer boots after the memory test and hard drive detection there's a screen that shows the raid array and it says it's healthy. Windows XP just doesn't like it. I tried using the "Make Disk" function from the motherboard CD and also downloaded the make disk utility from the asus website. Anyone ot any other ideas?

 

[JustaGeek]

Take it easy - you will understand what the manual settings do and how they help as you go along with this MB.

From what I remember, to get the RAID to work, people had to disable the JMicron controller on the board.

Try that next.

 

[jimithing78]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Take it easy - you will understand what the manual settings do and how they help as you go along with this MB.

From what I remember, to get the RAID to work, people had to disable the JMicron controller on the board.

Try that next.

sorry, wasn't trying to come across harsh. that's not how i meant it.

yeah, i've tried disabling the JMicron controller in the bios. still the same thing

 

[JustaGeek]

Hmmm...

Maybe you should format the drives, and then load the RAID driver again...?

Maybe the driver that is already installed "remembers" the JMicron still enabled...?

And seriously, set the CPU and the RAM voltages and frequencies/timings manually, and perhaps try to use a single stick of RAM, and absolutely no other peripherals connected besides the floppy (if you have one), CD/DVD Drive and the 2 Hard Drives. No other HDs, Card Readers etc.

BTW, you are using the XP Pro CD with the Service Pack 2, right...?

If not, that might be your problem.

Other than that I personally don't have experience setting up RAID, so perhaps someone else can help you here.

Good luck!

EDIT: And you are using the ASUS/NVidia RAID driver, not the Microsoft, right? Use the NVidia one, if you don't already...

 

[Blade42]

I apologize if this has already been covered I was having trouble sorting though all the past threads..

anyways just picked up this board with a Dual Core 2.0 Allendale

2 G of Ballistix mem a Gigabye 8500GT

cpu temp is running 43c and mb temp is running 37 according to BIOS

will not boot into Windows XP will boot into safe mode

I get a Windows Machine Check BSOD on boot, however it will boot into safe mode fine.

I have researched and overheats or hardware exceptions are the common cause of this. I should note my XP disc is before SP2... Do i need to try to make a new one with SP2 slipstreamed in?

Or is something set up wrong on my board.. 43c seems high to me since I have not even gotten the CPU in windows to even load anything.

Considering a Cooler Master Eclipse cpu cooler and a Zalman NB cooler chip to drop on the SB...

anyways any suggestions?

 

[JustaGeek]

A guess: the current BIOS does not support your CPU.

How did you install the XP...? Or did you just replace the MB on the existing XP installation...? In this case, you have to perform the Repair Install.

You might need the SP2 for the Windows XP installation on a SATA drive.

That's all I can think of tonight. Hope it helps - will check how you are doing in the morning.

And welcome to AnandTech!

 

[Blade42]

Thanks
Yeah this after a repair install...

I am running 0703 will hit Asus and look at updates... see if I can figure out how to update the BIOS (may have to steal someones floppy drive.. )

Thanks for the welcome!

Also using stock cooling but I think the connections to secure the CPU Heatsink/fan are not securing properly so I am thinking of getting some more thermal paste and reseating it or adding a non-stock thermal

In a coolermaster stacker 830 case with Rosewill 120 fans in it should have plenty of airflow..

looks like E2180 has been supported since BIOS 0608 at least according to Asus... sigh well tired of messing with it tonight... thanks again

 

[Endersun]

if you update your bios use a USB flash drive, and when your in bios use the Ez flash tool, makes it a piece of cake.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Blade42
Thanks
Yeah this after a repair install...

I am running 0703 will hit Asus and look at updates... see if I can figure out how to update the BIOS (may have to steal someones floppy drive.. )

Thanks for the welcome!

Also using stock cooling but I think the connections to secure the CPU Heatsink/fan are not securing properly so I am thinking of getting some more thermal paste and reseating it or adding a non-stock thermal

In a coolermaster stacker 830 case with Rosewill 120 fans in it should have plenty of airflow..

looks like E2180 has been supported since BIOS 0608 at least according to Asus... sigh well tired of messing with it tonight... thanks again

Apparently 0608 is more stable than any later relase, so you might want to try 0608.

AWARD flash with the floppy/bootable CD is the best method by far, with all the switches clearing the "remnants" of the old BIOS, but as Endersun mentioned, you can use ASUS EZ Flash with the USB drive if you find the AWARD Flash to be too much hassle.

And try XP SP2 for your Repair Install - I don't think the SP1 and/or earlier supported SATA, and especially the Hard Drives larger than 137GB. If your HD is larger than 137GB, this might be your problem.

Good luck!

 

[Toejam1974]

Hey guys-

I have been a proud owner of the P5N-E SLI since August and the board has been a great board...until now.

Here's a rundown of what I have (just to try and paint a full picture)

P5N-E SLI with 0801 bio
Intel 6420 Core2 Duo
4 x 1G sticks of A-DATA DDR2 800 Dual Channel Memory
BFG 8800GT video card

Here's the problem: When I had just 2 sticks of memory (in the yellow slots) the board ran just great. One thing I do remember, is that the board was unstable with the sticks in the black slots when I first built the PC in August. I thought it was no big deal because it was stable in the yellow slots.

Last week, I had some spare funds and picked up another 2 gigs of the same RAM from Newegg. Installed the sticks and the board would barely boot. Pulled the sticks and upgraded to the latest bios. The board APPEARED to boot better...but was extrememly unstable.

So I tried the memory in just the black slots...Still unstable. Hopped online, found this thread and then started reading and found a suggestion to set RAM timings manually...which I did...and it did NOT help. I tried upping the voltage...and nothing.

The board is totally stable as long as I am just using the yellow memory slots.

I am really at wits-end with this issue.

I am starting to think my motherboard is bad. Is there anything else you guys can think of that might get me over this hurdle or should I just order a new board and RMA this one?

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have!

Mike
aka
Toejam

 

[JustaGeek]

First - reduce the memory frequency to 667MHz, and see if you are stable.

Second - increase the Northbridge voltage to 1.56V, but add a fan to help cooling.

Good luck!

And welcome to the AnandTech forums!

 

[Toejam1974]

Hmmm...starting to wonder if Northbridge Heat is the culprit of the instability. After I read your message and tried the settings the first time...no dice. But then I added the 2nd 120mm fan to the top spot in my side panel of my CM690 case (which blows now almost directly on the northbridge) and everything appears to be solid.

Would the next step be to try and take the memory back up to 800?

Should I get some sort of dedicated cooling for the northbridge?

 

[JustaGeek]

Yes, try to bring it back to 800MHz.

And add a small fan to the Northbridge Heatsink - it can be attached with a drywall screw, just enough to bite in between the fins.

Try the one below - I use the larger silver heatsink on the Southbridge (attached with included thermal tape), and the fan alone on the Northbridge.

http://www.compusa.com/product...ll&product_code=291975

 

[imported_Perseus]

Can someone tell me if the 650i is a solid motherboard for a system with 4 gigs of ram, a Geforce 8800 GT and a Core 2 2.4 quad? Thanks much.

 

[Endersun]

My Vcore is at 1.41 at the moment, everything is stable and cool, but I geek I heard you say that 1.35 is the rating maximum.... why is my motherboard even going this high on the vcore voltage if i have not adjusted anything?

 

[JustaGeek]

I would recommend changing the VCore manually to the lowest stable voltage.

I am running mine at 1.3V - there is no reason why you should not be able to do the same. Much cooler and "healthier" for the CPU.

Change it manually to 1.3V. If you can't boot, reset the CMOS, and try 1.3125V and so on.

But you should be fine at 1.3V.

BTW, my motherboard did the same when I left the VCore on Auto. The temps shot up by as much as 10C under Orthos load, to ~70C with the stock HSF. Must be some weird BIOS setting...

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: jimithing78

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Take it easy - you will understand what the manual settings do and how they help as you go along with this MB.

From what I remember, to get the RAID to work, people had to disable the JMicron controller on the board.

Try that next.

sorry, wasn't trying to come across harsh. that's not how i meant it.

yeah, i've tried disabling the JMicron controller in the bios. still the same thing

Hope you've solved your RAID problem. If you have, please share it with us, so we know how to proceed next time, in case someone else faces the same issues.

Thanks.