Asus A8N32-SLI initial impression....WOW!

[pablo]

ok guys i need some help how do i install windows on my 2 raptors that i raided. windows setup doesnt read them and i dont see a floppy for the drivers so what should i do

[Capt_Caveman]

ok guys i need some help how do i install windows on my 2 raptors that i raided. windows setup doesnt read them and i dont see a floppy for the drivers so what should i do
You need to create a RAID driver disk from your cd.

[pablo]

Now I Have A Usb Floppy And It Boots Up On Startup But Will It Work

[$JG Money$]

Aite here the deal i just got my a8n32-sli deluxe.. match with amd 3800+ x2 .. 1gb ram "amp" brand , 3 drivers, 1 36gb rapture| 300Gb WD SATA , Gigabyte Watercooling System, XFX 7800GT .. x-infity 600W | BIos is 1009 latest...

Ok installing windows , booting up no problems... then i start to overclock it .. i got some question..

1. How come my voltage wont go above 1.45 unless overvoltage is on?

2. How come my temperature is so high.. right now i have it clock at 2.5 at 1.44V .. it 40IDE ... 45 full load.. isnt watercooling suppose tolower temp really good? btw my cpu is a naked 3800 x2

3. How come my system wont boot up with overvoltage on.... meaning it just a black screen everytime i save in bios and restart pc...? The vdmi is at 1.45V and overvoltage is on giving me total of 1.6V clock at 2.8ghz.... Everytime i want to restart i must shut down pc.. then turn it bak on to restart... same goes in saving in bios..

If i have it on like 1.45V w/o overvolt and clock at 2.5 it restart and reboot fine.. please help T_T



Yea ^^ ive been haveing the same problems. Pretty weird cause its not like it cant boot up into windows wit that voltage or anything. You just have to shutdown first....Y!!?

[pablo]

yea i have it at 1.5 volts and its reading 1.4 still so i guess you have to enable the overvoltage then?

[aznboinghia]

we can't do nothing about it?! T_T this bug is rather very annoying ... dont want to return the best board on market lol

[physics_geek]

Where do you find the rev. no.?

[$JG Money$]

In between the cpu and ram slot beside ASUS A8N32-SLI......rev 1.01

[Marios]

There is a new Clockgen version 1.0.3.8 that supports the 5/4 divider.
Now the reported ram frequency when i set 250MHz limit is correct.
CPUz still reports the wrong frequency though.

[physics_geek]

In between the cpu and ram slot beside ASUS A8N32-SLI......rev 1.01
thanks dude.

[Webmonkey]

In between the cpu and ram slot beside ASUS A8N32-SLI......rev 1.01


What is the latest spotted revision? 1.02????

any problems with the 1.02????

[Marios]

There is no 1.02. Only 1.01.

[CODE 4]

Has anyone tried any old school OCZPC3700EB ram in the board? I have 2x512 and it all gets put together tomorrow. I am curious if the ram will run with the board. I also have some Centon PC3200 TCCD sticks as well. Any input it very much appreciated. TY

[Webmonkey]

There is no 1.02. Only 1.01.

:confused: huh? I am just pretty sure that in this now 41+ page long thread I saw a close up picture of the board where it said 1.02....

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[mackanz]

The board will only give a tiny bit over stock vcore without the overvoltage option. If you put in a San Diego 3700 for example, i'm pretty sure you got max 1.55. Just use the overvoltage option. It's virtually the same thing as the percentage overvolting on all other boards. 1.350 + overvoltage gives 1.52-155 (fluctuates slightly), in both bios and the Probe. That's the sweetspot for this cpu and ram. 10X270 with a X2 3800 and EB4000 2GB. 48 hour dual Prime, 5 hours of 3dmark and countless of hours with gaming.

If you use Rivatuner, disable PEG link in Jumperfree setting, especially with SLI.

[arctic-k20]

well i am happy with my opteron 170 now. it is the not so (in)famous 0541 RPMW and it needed quite a bit of vcore to get stable...basically needed 1.4v + overvolt = 1.6vcore roughly for 2750 and my temps on high end water were high:
idle = 36~37c
dual f@h = 43c
dual prime = 47~48c
dual cpuburn = 52~53c

i couldnt hack those temps so i popped the ihs this afternoon and things are SO much better!!

idle = 33~34c
dual f@h = 37~38c
dual prime = 38~39c
dual cpuburn = 39~40c

so just looking at my max load temps on cpuburn i dropped 12c !!! and my idle temps dropped 3~4c.

this cpu has been hot from day one and i mounted and remounted and remounted again before popping the ihs - but couldnt get a handle on the temps. my full load was so high that i thought there was something wrong with my water setup.

anyways - ihs removal may not be for everybody but it sure helped in my situation!!

also - i read in another thread people were noting a certain letter etched in the under side of the ihs and from what i read most people had an "H" underneath - on my cpu there was a "S" - not sure what it means....

:cheers:

[cronic]

anybody had any luck getting motherboard monitor 5 to work on the motherboard?

[Marios]

:confused: huh? I am just pretty sure that in this now 41+ page long thread I saw a close up picture of the board where it said 1.02....

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
Not yet.
Though I think ASUS might come out with a new version soon.
I saw a picture with a bit different heatpipes.
The one from the northbridge is going to the left group of mosfets while a second one started from the southbridge is going straight up to the mosfets over the CPU.

[Ashcrapper]

Is it ok to remove the backplate on these? It appears glued to the back of the board. Ive got a Zalman CNPS7700-CU so need to use the backplate that comes with that as it will just about fit on the board if I can get the backplate off. Obviously im looking to avoid damaging the board hehe, any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Ash

[gmod]

So If my 4000+ needs 3% more volts on my MSI NEO4 Plat to run at 218fsb at default multi what would set to on the Asus board to get the same volts...Being that I dont have the board yet and cant look at the bios...Just want to be ready thanks..

[dropadrop]

Is the "raid controllers" bios directly related to the motherboards bios? I'm worried of the idea that a corrupted bios / something else would break my raid 5 setup.

[stone_cold_Jimi]

Is it ok to remove the backplate on these? It appears glued to the back of the board. Ive got a Zalman CNPS7700-CU so need to use the backplate that comes with that as it will just about fit on the board if I can get the backplate off. Obviously im looking to avoid damaging the board hehe, any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Yeh, there's sticky gunk on it. I prised mine off very gently by sticking a flat-bladed screwdriver under each corner in turn and twisting it slightly. No damage at all.

[mackanz]

Easiest and safest way to remove the backplate is to push on the threaded bolts that goes through with your thumb or a with phillips driver in those holes.

[Cisco]

What program do you guys trust to give you the true memory frequency?

For example with FSB @ 250 and divider @ 166, BIOS reports 333 not 415. Almost like it wasn't really a dvider but instead a direct frequency input.

I must be doing something wrong, lol.

[Marios]

^^^ 1010 post

[Cisco]

^^^ 1010 post
Thanks man, I missed that.

[tHe_jOkeR]

i dont like the layout of the pci and pci-e slots....:slapass:

[gmod]

So If my 4000+ needs 3% more volts on my MSI NEO4 Plat to run at 218fsb at default multi what would set to on the Asus board to get the same volts...Being that I dont have the board yet and cant look at the bios...Just want to be ready thanks..

Thanks for the help per usual around here in this forum...I will figure the fuking thing out myself..

[situman]

You've just effectively killed any chances of anyone helping with that kind of attitude. Look no one knows how ur hardware will clock, you just gotta try it out urself. Don't get all pissy cause no one knows how good or bad your hardware is.

[gmod]

You've just effectively killed any chances of anyone helping with that kind of attitude. Look no one knows how ur hardware will clock, you just gotta try it out urself. Don't get all pissy cause no one knows how good or bad your hardware is.

I wasnt asking how my chip or hardware oc's cause I already know..I was asking since there is a couple more settings in the bios for cpu Vcore what I need to set it at to get the same voltage as my MSI....Doesnt matter anyway got my question answered at more helpful forum...

[pcdoc1]

Good for you, say goodbye........

[ReelMonza]

Thanks man, I missed that.
Everest will show correct values as well.

[Marios]

Everest will show correct values as well.Which version? The one I got gives wrong MHz for 250MHz DDR with 5/4 divider. And I think it is the latest.

[ReelMonza]

http://www.computerbase.de/downloads/software/systemueberwachung/everest_systemanalyse/

Overclock tab

[tommrussell]

i've have been reading this thread since its inception and have not come across this problem of vcore flutuation my board fluxs about .025 and is causing oc problems i'm hoping that you kind folks may or maynot have an answer or is this an rma thing
help is very very much appreciated
tom

[stone_cold_Jimi]

i've have been reading this thread since its inception and have not come across this problem of vcore flutuation my board fluxs about .025 and is causing oc problems i'm hoping that you kind folks may or maynot have an answer or is this an rma thing

Yeh, I've seen fluctuations of about that much between idle and load on the dmm, but not while idle or while loaded.

[tommrussell]

this is while im running occt and it really screws that up wonder if ther is a fix or just an rma

[Cisco]

FYI...OCZ techs have been busy with this MB. They have now posted very detailed recommended settings for the A8N32 for just about all the OCZ ram worth having. Some of it running at 280 1:1 :D

http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17410

[tommrussell]

FYI...OCZ techs have been busy with this MB. They have now posted very detailed recommended settings for the A8N32 for just about all the OCZ ram worth having. Some of it running at 280 1:1 :D

http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17410
are u the same cisco as the one over at the asus forum for this board?
just want to keep the players straight thats all
and thanks for the heads up looking to buy that very same ram after i get my opteron


tom

[Cisco]

are u the same cisco as the one over at the asus forum for this board?
Yeah that's me...work is slow and I'm obsessed with gathering real information about this MB :)

[$JG Money$]

Hey thx for that post cisco just one question tho srry if its stupid but i got the ocz platinum 3200 (not rev.2) so can i use the same settings ? or would my ram need different ones?

[Cybertronic]

My A8N32-SLI seems to hate being flashed to the latest BIOS :mad:

I flashed it last night using a bootable USB stick with the AFUDOS method. Unfortunately it doesn't want to read the A8N321009.ROM file name so I renamed it to A8N32SLI.ROM which fixed it and it flashed fine. Then I get the infamous Bad Bios checksum error that has happened to me before on the same mobo using the ALT + F2 method which I fixed it by flashing to the previous latest BIOS.

This time it didn't want to flash at all and refuses to display anything no matter how many times I reset the CMOS :slapass: :slapass:. This motherboard seems to have its own mind and spits out the 1009 BIOS :mad:.

I've applied for an RMA which hopefully I can get a new one since the motherboard I got had its packaging damaged and the Northbridge Asus cover had a dent and lots of scratches :slapass:. Hopefully a new motherboard will solve my X1800 XT which overclocks poorly :rolleyes:

[Cisco]

Hey thx for that post cisco just one question tho srry if its stupid but i got the ocz platinum 3200 (not rev.2) so can i use the same settings ? or would my ram need different ones?

I'm not 100% sure where the 2X 1GB 3200 PT fits in there...I have a post over there asking them about that.

I do know I've had mine stable at 250 1:1 but with very loose timings for testing (from memory 3-4-4-7) but at 1T.

They tested those sticks with the A8N-SLI Premium but not the A8N32. On the premium they didn't fare very well and couldn't pass memtest any higher than 220. I tried their Premium settings on the A8N32 a couple of months ago and found that I didn't need to go to 2.5 like they did...the default lowest settings (once again from memory, 2-3-2-5) worked fine.

[tommrussell]

Yeah that's me...work is slow and I'm obsessed with gathering real information about this MB :)
i would be glad to help out just tell me how
got my opty148 today and found this board will do 310 fsb or more wow is this the type of inf your looking for

[mackanz]

I have been working with our EB 4000 2GB kit on this board for a while now and this kit did 277 24/7 3D stable on the DFI and they do 272 on this board, but with a different cpu so that could be a reason. 272 is pretty peachy at 3-2-3-5 though.

[Cisco]

I flashed it last night using a bootable USB stick with the AFUDOS method. Unfortunately it doesn't want to read the A8N321009.ROM file name so I renamed it to A8N32SLI.ROM which fixed it and it flashed fine. Then I get the infamous Bad Bios checksum error that has happened to me before on the same mobo using the ALT + F2 method which I fixed it by flashing to the previous latest BIOS.
That checksum error, I believe, is caused simply by the name change...file that one under "strange but true." ASUS has to get its act together and make sure the BIOS file has a DOS-friendly 8.3 format before it generates its internal checksum. Guess why A8N32903.ROM doesn't have the same problem? let's see...could it be it was released with an 8.3 name? :)

At any rate, if the bad checksum doesn't scare you off, going into the BIOS, loading the defaults and rebooting fixes it...fixed mine anyways.

[Cisco]

i would be glad to help out just tell me how
got my opty148 today and found this board will do 310 fsb or more wow is this the type of inf your looking for

That's pretty sweet!

Most of my real, honest-to-goodness, no BS or superstition, info about this board is coming right from this great thread...just keep on posting :)

[Cybertronic]

Cisco, it doesn't happen for me no matter how many times I load the defaults. Whenever I load the defaults this always comes up:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3530/pc310168large0nh.th.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pc310168large0nh.jpg)

As said previously I fixed it by flashing to an older BIOS which also had the same problem but loading the defaults fixed it unlike for the latest BIOS :(

[Cisco]

Cisco, it doesn't happen for me no matter how many times I load the defaults. Whenever I load the defaults this always comes up:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3530/pc310168large0nh.th.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pc310168large0nh.jpg)

As said previously I fixed it by flashing to an older BIOS which also had the same problem but loading the defaults fixed it unlike for the latest BIOS :(
Bummer...sounds like you're just getting a real bad flash then, not just the file name change bug.

[Cybertronic]

The screenshot was from a successful flash anyway :(

[Marios]

Did you try to download 1009 BIOS again and make a USB key bootable to flash this BIOS?

[Cybertronic]

I did a couple of times. The flash utility did not want to read the original ROM name unless it was A8N32SLI.ROM. The USB stick was made to be bootable with the neccessary files :(

It's too late now as I wrote here (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=86020) :(

[$JG Money$]

I'm not 100% sure where the 2X 1GB 3200 PT fits in there...I have a post over there asking them about that.

I do know I've had mine stable at 250 1:1 but with very loose timings for testing (from memory 3-4-4-7) but at 1T.

Thank you for posting that in there forums, pleasssseeee get back to me soon if you get any results or give me a link to the thread so i wont have to bother you :D. As for the ram, you have the same set as me???

[pablo]

just got my board the other day and it came with 0903. should i get 1009? is it better

[pablo]

anybody?

[Cisco]

Thank you for posting that in there forums, pleasssseeee get back to me soon if you get any results or give me a link to the thread so i wont have to bother you :D. As for the ram, you have the same set as me???
Yeah I have the very same ram. Over at the OCZ support forums there was a discusion just today about what this RAM can do. OCZ itself won't vouch for this RAM doing more than ~225.

Someone just did a review of these sticks on a lanparty ultra D and got it going stable @ 260 2.5-3-3-7 using 2.75v http://hardwarelogic.com/?a=1079&c=60&sp=1

Here's the discusion about that at the OCZ memory OC forum: http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17355

My quick & dirty 1:1 OC of it to 250 was with much looser timings 3-4-4-8 but it was stable enough to do 3DMark '05 (http://service.futuremark.com/servlet/Index?pageid=/orb/projectdetails&projectType=12&projectId=1677290)and run games all night.

I'll be checking it out more this coming weekend to see if I can get stable with the better timings.

[Lagwagon]

Just got the board up and running.Seems stable so far.Made a super pi run 32meg@26min38sec.


3700 san diego@2800
Swiftech watercooled
1gig xms 3200
6800gt

[ubern00b]

Ben805: I have just bought an A8N32-SLI and a Thermaltake Big Typhoon. Reading the installation instructions for the Heatsink it says that for Metal backplates not to take it off and to just use screws to mount the TTBT to the mobo. Looking at your pics it appears you took it off and used the TTBT mounting H bracket at the back and the longer bolts? Just want to make sure I install it properly so your guidance is greatly appreciated ;)

[thinkingbear]

Ben805: Looking at your pics it appears you took it off and used the TTBT mounting H bracket at the back and the longer bolts? Just want to make sure I install it properly so your guidance is greatly appreciated ;)
Don't want to speak for Ben805, but IIRC Ben's has removed his IHS so he chose to use thumbscrews so he could tighten each simultaneously and not put too much stress on one side of the naked core. I have a TTBT and with the A8N32 all I had to do was remove the retaining mechanism from the front of the motherboard (the black plastic square around the CPU socket), leave the standard Asus backplate in place, and using the two shorter mounting screws provided just put them through the H bracket and screw them into the threaded holes that will be sticking up through the mobo from the backplate. With the back plate Asus provides you could almost install the BT without removing the mobo from the case if you can get a screw driver in there at the angle it needs to be to clear the aluminum fins.

[Deus Excalibur]

I've had this mobo for almost 2 months now and after some instability I decided to run Prime/3dMark together again and after the 6th hour or so the system just shuts down. Happened twice so far. Temps are definitely fine. I'm lowering my CPU voltage and speed 50mhz and running this again.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

[Brave]

I Just bought a A8N32 SLI Deluxe, and i have a 2 x 512 Patriot XBLK , and a XFX 7800GT.

It's my first time with a bios like this one.... and i cant understand very well this settings.

Can anyone help me to say what settings do i need to change in Bios to overclock my AMD X2 3800+ ?

BTW...i cant boot with RAID 0....doesnt have the option in F10 (nvraid utility) to boot from RAID...its in grey.

I Have the 1009 Bios.

[CODE 4]

I've had this mobo for almost 2 months now and after some instability I decided to run Prime/3dMark together again and after the 6th hour or so the system just shuts down. Happened twice so far. Temps are definitely fine. I'm lowering my CPU voltage and speed 50mhz and running this again.

Anyone else have a similar problem?
What is you NB to SB/pclink frequencies? If you are OCing you need to turn them down to 3 or 2 depending on how high you go. Take you FSBxHTT and it needs to be around or less than 1000. I had the same problem when I was running it at 4X Auto 4X 16UP. My htt is at 268 so 4x gives me 1072 which will boot/run prime but fail 3dmarks. Dropped to 3x Auto 3x 16 and all is fine.

I like the board so dont give up. I an run as high as 370HTT if I want to and it is more stable than my Old A8V after I got it all tweaked. GL

[Brave]

I CANT SET THE OPTION "[B] SET BOOT" IN THE NVRAID BIOS !! ITS GRAYED !!! anyone know why ??..i already tested everthing with no sucess... dont know what to do now...

[CODE 4]

I CANT SET THE OPTION "[B] SET BOOT" IN THE NVRAID BIOS !! ITS GRAYED !!! anyone know why ??..i already tested everthing with no sucess... dont know what to do now...
Make sure you are plugged into the 1 and 2 Nvidia SATA ports that are the topmost and side by side. Under IDE Configuration set: Serial ATA 1 enabled. set nVidia Raid function to enabled and then enable SATA1 Controller. That should do it. Hit F10 when it detects the drives and set up your configuration. GL

[Brave]

Already did that.....

Im using RAID 0 for ages !!! in other Asus boards.

This one...doesnt enable the option SET BOOT. I cant boot from my RAID 0...

[CODE 4]

Already did that.....

Im using RAID 0 for ages !!! in other Asus boards.

This one...doesnt enable the option SET BOOT. I cant boot from my RAID 0...
Are your drives being seen in the main IDE config as the 4th, 5th or 6th drives? Make sure they are set to enabled as well. I had some trouble with powersupply to my drives at one point. Try just the drives being plugged in and DC anything else you can to rule that out.

Do you have the Nvidia raid driver installed? When you say boot you mean getting into the config utility right? You know you will not be able to boot windows off a raid that does not have the right controller driver in the INF's?

[Marios]

I CANT SET THE OPTION "[B] SET BOOT" IN THE NVRAID BIOS !! ITS GRAYED !!! anyone know why ??..i already tested everthing with no sucess... dont know what to do now...This is not a problem.
You should be able to boot from your RAID.
The bootable option is dissabled by default because it auto detects the BIOS setting, so you do not need to set it by pressing F10.
If you cannot boot then you should check your memory.
In my case with Ballistics DDR500 I had to increase the volts above 2.7.
This is because with the new BIOS' dividers my memory is at 250 MHz when I am not overclocked.
Check your BIOS settings and enable 32bit transfer rate on each hard disk on the RAID.
Did you also set the BIOS boot options to boot from your RAID?
Then you need a floppy disk or a usb key with the OEM RAID Nvidia drivers v6.82 and your original Windows XP SP2 CDROM.
You set to boot from CDROM with the RAID0 as second boot device and you should press F6 to load the drivers the first time you install Windows.

I have a bootable RAID0 with 1009 BIOS and it is OK.

[Ic3man]

Had my first real scare with this board last night.

After pushing the memory timings/fsb too far ( 2-2-2-5, 310x9) I got the 'bad bios checksum' error.
Usually the board would just give me the option to f1 - setup or f2 - restore defaults. This time however it searched for floppy and then when no floppy found, the CD and kept searching continuosly. Not panicing at this stage I thought I would just reset the cmos (battery method) - same error reported. Slightly concerned now I tried the jumper method, still no go. Tried flashing back to the original bios (703) that came on the mobo CD and it got so far as erasing the bios then started to program the bios but stalled halfway through!!!!!!!:eek:

In a serious state of panic now I had no option but to hard reset (even though the bios is now wiped and manual says this should not be done??). Rebooted ok (after a tense few seconds) but still got the checksum error.

My last option was to attempt to re-instal the bios that I had when things originally went wrong(1009). Did this via floppy method, worked fine, rebooted - Bad checksum error...noooooooooo!!! I did however get 5 beep error codes...hmmmm - 5 short beeps on ami bios = Processor error The system CPU has failed :(

In dispair I rebooted three more times and on the last reboot I tried just booting with a single stick of ram...single beep...all ok:woot: :banana: Replaced the other stick of ram to see if that was causing the problem(not that it should as I wasn't getting any beep error codes now and again it booted fine.

Can't for the life of me figure out why removing one stick of memory should enable the thing to boot (especially if the beep codes were correct in saying a processor error) and why the bios recovery didn't work this time round but I thought I'd let everyone here know all is not lost if you end up in the same boat as I was last night, just try everything.

[Marios]

Well done Ic3man.

The easiest way to clear the RTC (real time clock) when the system hangs due to CPU OC (overclock) is to shut down (press the power button for a few seconds during start up) and reboot the system. Then we need to enter BIOS and load setup default values, reboot and set the desired settings.
This only works with CPU failures. In case of memory failures we need to clear the CMOS.
The right way to clear CMOS is to unplug the power cord, remove every extra USB cable and all PCI cards (this is optional in case a USB device or PCI card mulfunctions), remove the battery, change the position of the BIOS reset jumper to 2-3 pins for a few seconds, put it back to 1-2 pins, install the battery, plug the power cord, turn on the PC, press Alt F2, insert the original ASUS CD, enter BIOS, load setup defaults.
Then you may flash another BIOS from a floppy or USB key.

This resets the BIOS. But without the Alt F2 with the original ASUS CD, the old corrupted BIOS remains.

By removing one stick the BIOS was forced to reconfigure the memory.
What is a hard reset?

[Ic3man]

...Pressing the reset button (not really 'hard' is it:D ). A soft reset is by going into windows/rebooting, at least thats how I interpret it.

As stated I tried installing the orignal bios (703) over the corrupt bios (1009) but for some reason the system just hung on 'programming'. Installing the 1009 bios over the corrupt 1009 bios is what seemed to do the trick for me.

Wish I had another way to access the net last night so you could have helped me out with that post marios, you feel so alone when times are bad with no help except the wife asking 'is it plugged in' :slapass: .

[Brave]

This is not a problem.
You should be able to boot from your RAID.
The bootable option is dissabled by default because it auto detects the BIOS setting, so you do not need to set it by pressing F10.
If you cannot boot then you should check your memory.
In my case with Ballistics DDR500 I had to increase the volts above 2.7.
This is because with the new BIOS' dividers my memory is at 250 MHz when I am not overclocked.
Check your BIOS settings and enable 32bit transfer rate on each hard disk on the RAID.
Did you also set the BIOS boot options to boot from your RAID?
Then you need a floppy disk or a usb key with the OEM RAID Nvidia drivers v6.82 and your original Windows XP SP2 CDROM.
You set to boot from CDROM with the RAID0 as second boot device and you should press F6 to load the drivers the first time you install Windows.

I have a bootable RAID0 with 1009 BIOS and it is OK.


Well...im going to specify everthing that i have done.

With everthing in default in BIOS, i enabled the NVRAID, put the SATA 1 and SATA 2 as RAID ENABLE. I can see the HD Drives in the First Bios Menu. I Save and Exit. I go to the NVRAID BIOS (F10), configure the RAID0, F7 (Accept), and in the main menu of the NVRAID Bios...the option "[B] Set Boot" is grayed. ok... CTRL-X ...i exit. Im going to the Board Bios again, and put in the HARD DRIVES BOOT, i put NVIDIA STRIPE in first place. Save and Exit.

OK....everthing fine.

I put the WinXP SP2 CD, F8 to choose to boot from CD...F6 to install third part drivers. I put the Floppy.....i choose the 2 drivers, etc etc....when it copies all the files...reboot.....and.....and.....it shows a message saying, please insert a boot media...or something like that.

I already tried to put the jumpers in the Hard Drivers to Force it being in SATA1, i already put in SATA 3 and SATA 4, and SATA 1 and SATA 3...etc. I flashed the Bios with the 903 version.

And i find in Asus Forums another 2 people with the same problem.

http://vip.asus.com/forum/bbs_view.a...nt=29&recc=288

http://vip.asus.com/forum/bbs_view.a...nt=29&recc=288


I need to put this machine working as fast as possible.....i already didnt sleep nothing, trying everthing.....i need to sleep.....i need to rest... :(

Please help !!

[Marios]

Sure.
I cannnot even think right when something goes really wrong.
This is why we need someone else to help us in those cases.

Now I had another question about optimal BIOS configuration.
What happens when we use AiNOS 10% with auto SB to NB overclock, auto FID/VID Change (vcore and multiplier) and X5 K8 to NB?

AiNOS overclocks just the FSB on demand.
When there is no stress the CPU works at 200X11=2200MHz (FSB=200).
On demand (ie. SuperPi) the FSB overclocks up to 10% in a range from 200 to 200+10%=220.
This is 220X11=2420MHz for the CPU.
So the HTT should be 220X5=1100
The FSB label on AiBooster is actually the hypertransport in this case but it is all wrong.

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/HTT1000.png
AiBooster reads FSB 802.41 at 200.6X11.
The real HTT reported by Everest is 1000

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/HTT1100.png
Under stress AiBooster reads 879.96.41 at 219.99X11
The real HTT reported by Everest is 1100

AiBooster gives us false info about the HTT (marked as FSB).

In this case I have enabled both the CPU and the NB Vcore overvoltage just for testing purpposes. My PC works ok without those enabled.

[ManagHead]

Is this card, A8N32, compatible with OCZ Booster? 3,2V on the ram is not good enough for my Redlines :(

[CODE 4]

Well...im going to specify everthing that i have done.

With everthing in default in BIOS, i enabled the NVRAID, put the SATA 1 and SATA 2 as RAID ENABLE. I can see the HD Drives in the First Bios Menu. I Save and Exit. I go to the NVRAID BIOS (F10), configure the RAID0, F7 (Accept), and in the main menu of the NVRAID Bios...the option "[B] Set Boot" is grayed. ok... CTRL-X ...i exit. Im going to the Board Bios again, and put in the HARD DRIVES BOOT, i put NVIDIA STRIPE in first place. Save and Exit.

OK....everthing fine.

I put the WinXP SP2 CD, F8 to choose to boot from CD...F6 to install third part drivers. I put the Floppy.....i choose the 2 drivers, etc etc....when it copies all the files...reboot.....and.....and.....it shows a message saying, please insert a boot media...or something like that.

I already tried to put the jumpers in the Hard Drivers to Force it being in SATA1, i already put in SATA 3 and SATA 4, and SATA 1 and SATA 3...etc. I flashed the Bios with the 903 version.

And i find in Asus Forums another 2 people with the same problem.

http://vip.asus.com/forum/bbs_view.a...nt=29&recc=288

http://vip.asus.com/forum/bbs_view.a...nt=29&recc=288


I need to put this machine working as fast as possible.....i already didnt sleep nothing, trying everthing.....i need to sleep.....i need to rest... :(

Please help !!

Try setting your CDrom to boot before you RAID.

[Marios]

A few OC hints
Here I checked the SB HTT speed at 250X4=1000 and the NB HTT at 10%X5 which gives a range from 200x5=1000 to 220x5=1100 (2200Megatransfers/s)
I did not enable overvoltage on the Hypertransport.
This shows that AiBooster reports the wrong HTT and that NB and SB hypertransports can be set independently.
Though in case of an SLI rig both SB and NB Frequencies and HTTs should be the same for optimal scores.
This also helps Super Pi scores.
HTT values over 1000 are overclocked and need the overvoltage Hypertransport enabled.
A 250X4 setting for both SB and NB is the best setting.
We may use the proper "FSB multiplier" for our CPU by setting AI Overclocking and the FID/VID Change to manual.
I saw better results by setting the linkwidths to 16 compared to 8 with SuperPi. Did anyone else check this?

The "HT multiplier" for the HTT
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/chips.png

The SB to NB Frequency
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/AiNOS.png

A double SPI with clockgen FSB and everest HTT reports on stress.
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/HTT1100b.png

[Marios]

Well...im going to specify everthing that i have done.

With everthing in default in BIOS, i enabled the NVRAID, put the SATA 1 and SATA 2 as RAID ENABLE. I can see the HD Drives in the First Bios Menu. I Save and Exit. I go to the NVRAID BIOS (F10), configure the RAID0, F7 (Accept), and in the main menu of the NVRAID Bios...the option "[B] Set Boot" is grayed. ok... CTRL-X ...i exit. Im going to the Board Bios again, and put in the HARD DRIVES BOOT, i put NVIDIA STRIPE in first place. Save and Exit.

OK....everthing fine.

I put the WinXP SP2 CD, F8 to choose to boot from CD...F6 to install third part drivers. I put the Floppy.....i choose the 2 drivers, etc etc....when it copies all the files...reboot.....and.....and.....it shows a message saying, please insert a boot media...or something like that.

I already tried to put the jumpers in the Hard Drivers to Force it being in SATA1, i already put in SATA 3 and SATA 4, and SATA 1 and SATA 3...etc. I flashed the Bios with the 903 version.

And i find in Asus Forums another 2 people with the same problem.

http://vip.asus.com/forum/bbs_view.a...nt=29&recc=288

http://vip.asus.com/forum/bbs_view.a...nt=29&recc=288


I need to put this machine working as fast as possible.....i already didnt sleep nothing, trying everthing.....i need to sleep.....i need to rest... :(

Please help !!
Your discription on how to set a RAID was great.
I only write here the same things with pictures, so check them just in case you forgot something.
First of all remove any floppy disk, PCI cards and USB devices (ie. a USB key).
USB devices become first in boot order when the floppy is the first boot device and without a bootable operating system you get the error you said.
You may overcome this by pressing F8 at boot time to chose your boot device.

Enter BIOS MAIN - IDE configuration to enable SATA1 and SATA2, the nVidia RAID Function and SATA1 SATA2.
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00183.png

Select to open each hard disk at MAIN - IDE configuration
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00181.png

Set 32bit Data transfer to enabled
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00182.png

Check you memory clock. It should be 200MHz
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00186.png

Save restart press del and F10. You should see something like this
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00185.png

and this
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00184.png

Set your RAID as your first booting device.

Good luck.

[ben805]

Don't want to speak for Ben805, but IIRC Ben's has removed his IHS so he chose to use thumbscrews so he could tighten each simultaneously and not put too much stress on one side of the naked core. I have a TTBT and with the A8N32 all I had to do was remove the retaining mechanism from the front of the motherboard (the black plastic square around the CPU socket), leave the standard Asus backplate in place, and using the two shorter mounting screws provided just put them through the H bracket and screw them into the threaded holes that will be sticking up through the mobo from the backplate. With the back plate Asus provides you could almost install the BT without removing the mobo from the case if you can get a screw driver in there at the angle it needs to be to clear the aluminum fins.


ubern00b,

Thinkingbear is correct :D :D

I haven't touch any setting ever since I had this board up and running, basically use it as my file server and HTPC, I'm still using the older 703 BIOS and it has been rock solid so far ;)

[Brave]

Your discription on how to set a RAID was great.
I only write here the same things with pictures, so check them just in case you forgot something.
First of all remove any floppy disk, PCI cards and USB devices (ie. a USB key).
USB devices become first in boot order when the floppy is the first boot device and without a bootable operating system you get the error you said.
You may overcome this by pressing F8 at boot time to chose your boot device.

Enter BIOS MAIN - IDE configuration to enable SATA1 and SATA2, the nVidia RAID Function and SATA1 SATA2.
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00183.png

Select to open each hard disk at MAIN - IDE configuration
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00181.png

Set 32bit Data transfer to enabled
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00182.png

Check you memory clock. It should be 200MHz
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00186.png

Save restart press del and F10. You should see something like this
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00185.png

and this
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00184.png

Set your RAID as your first booting device.

Good luck.


I already tried to take out every USB's, ..i notice that you dont have the SET BOOT enabled aswell.

The only thing that is diferent....its the 32Bits transfer mode in the HardDrives config...i think i have that option disabled.

Going to confirm :)

Brb :P

[Brave]

Ok...back.

I had everthing ok. 32 bits transfer enabled.

I keep problems install windows ....keeps freezing all the time...when is formating the HD or after copying the windows files...i got a bsod with error saying "unnmountable boot volume"

I disconnect my DVD-RW from ide cable and power, and use the dvd reader asus to install. Put all the jumpers of the IDE drives in Cable Select, i disconnected the other SATA HD that is not in raid, and i GOT IT !!

Windows installed with no probs, im in the machine now.

Now...i have to see what is the problem...if it is the jumpers in IDE drives or the other SATA HD, or if the my DVD writer have some problems.

:P

[CODE 4]

Ok...back.

I had everthing ok. 32 bits transfer enabled.

I keep problems install windows ....keeps freezing all the time...when is formating the HD or after copying the windows files...i got a bsod with error saying "unnmountable boot volume"

I disconnect my DVD-RW from ide cable and power, and use the dvd reader asus to install. Put all the jumpers of the IDE drives in Cable Select, i disconnected the other SATA HD that is not in raid, and i GOT IT !!

Windows installed with no probs, im in the machine now.

Now...i have to see what is the problem...if it is the jumpers in IDE drives or the other SATA HD, or if the my DVD writer have some problems.

:P
Good. I am glad you made so progress.

[Brave]

Still some problems at booting....sometimes....i have to force with F8 to boot from RAID...and sometimes freezes. Still dont know why.

But yes..some progress were made.

[Marios]

This sounds like a memory problem.
Check with memtest96+.
You may also try one dimm only.
Do you still have problems with one Dimm?
Is your memory clock set at 200MHz or 250MHz?

[Brave]

yeah...i though that option to.

I tested with 1 Dimm only (Patriot XBLK) , in Slot 1, 2 and 3.
I tested with a GEIL PC3200 ...same thing.

Memtest doesnt give me any errors.

Even with everthing in default in bios....the PC freezes at boot sometimes.

Really dont know whats going on here.....

I turned off the RAID and im using a diferente SATA HD ...no probs till now...i think.

Im at work...cant test more now. But im beggining to think that some HD of the raid have some problems......

I have to test another 2 SATA HD that i have in another PC in nVraid 0 ...to see if there is some problems.

:(

[Cisco]

I'm confused about memory dividers of this board (BIOS 1009)

I have OCZ ram that isn't supposed to go very high, 2 GB of PC3200 OCZ EL Platinum--not rev. 2. Even so, I've run on "Auto" with 10 X 250 CPU and it was reported in Everest at 250 3-4-4-8. I saw a review by someone who got it going on a DFI board at 2.5-3-3-7 @ 260 so I decided to try tighter timings yesterday @ 250. Here's the problem:

I set the FSB at 250--both FSB and SB>NB-- LDT and chipset multipliers at 4X and then set memory to limit and 200 for 1:1. I used the 2.5-3-3-7 timings and booted into memtest which ran tests 5 & 6 fine...however, the BIOS POST reported a DDR of 400.

Is the BIOS post misreporting the speed or is there something weird going on with the divider settings on this board? I've also noticed that if I set the mem divider to 166 with a FSB of 250 the BIOS will report the DDR at 333. It's like the dividers are not working like dividers...like they were direct frequency settings independent from the FSB setting.

Anyone else noticed this?

[arctic-k20]

i think the board steps in and changes settings even if you force it not to...

i have manually typed in timings and the board will over ride those timings and select its own based on fsb speed!!

[Cisco]

OK...I'm answering my own question here, I think :)

Used the same settings and this time I skipped memtest and went straight into windows and everest and CPUZ. It's reported as DDR500 by both although BIOS reports it as DDR400...must be BIOS Post misreporting...and my memory doing speeds that OCZ says it's not suppose to do...220 should be the max according to them...go figure.

http://www.pbase.com/j_trujillo/image/54930479/original.jpg

[Marios]

The BIOS reports the limit you set.
This actually is the CPU memory controller nominal speed.
So when you set the limit at 200 this is DDR400 for the CPU controller or a 1:1 state. Your memory runs at the same speed as the K8 to NB speed.
When you set a limit of 166 the CPU memory controller is programmed to accept and establish a conversation with DDR333 Dimms.
We say we use a divider of 400/333.
In this case there are programs to show the actual DIMM's speed depending on the FSB.
I have also posted a similar program on this thread.
Your memory actually works at 250 MHz and is not limited with this board.
Cheers !!!

EDIT
I checked 220 X3 X4 and x5 and Xauto K8 to NB hypertransport speeds (16up 16 down) with super pi and I got the same scores.
Does anyone know which benchmark might show different results according to the hypertransport speeds?
I know PCMark05 does this but it takes a long time to finish.

[Deus Excalibur]

Did anyone ever find a fix to the warm boot(restart) problem? It's really beginning to tick me off when my system doesn't POST 90% of the time I reboot. I've tried every single BIOS and bumping up the CPU voltage like HK Police suggested doesn't even increase the chances of it booting.

[stone_cold_Jimi]

Did anyone ever find a fix to the warm boot(restart) problem? It's really beginning to tick me off when my system doesn't POST 90% of the time I reboot. I've tried every single BIOS and bumping up the CPU voltage like HK Police suggested doesn't even increase the chances of it booting.

Blast, I was hoping a newer BIOS would fix this; I'm still on 703 because I've just started using the board again, and the warm boot failure is getting old. Do the newer BIOSes fix the voltage problem, as in the 0.2v overvolt not kicking in from the get go?

[Deus Excalibur]

Blast, I was hoping a newer BIOS would fix this; I'm still on 703 because I've just started using the board again, and the warm boot failure is getting old. Do the newer BIOSes fix the voltage problem, as in the 0.2v overvolt not kicking in from the get go?

I don't think it has to do with CPU voltages. I turned off the .2v overvolt w/ 1.275v and just cranked the main voltage control up to the max(1.5625 I think) and I still had the warm boot bug. The CPU is 24 hours dual prime + 3dmark 2k5 stable @ 1.47v so 1.5625v should be more than enough to get it to boot if that was the issue.

[Marios]

I think it is your CPU.
DO not enter Windows and check the BIOS everytime you increase the FSB.
Ie. You give 270X10=2700. Your BIOS reports 2700. This is OK
Now you give 276x10=2760 and your BIOS reports 2740 for your CPU.
Isn't it obvious that your CPU mulfunctions now?
In case you enter Windows you may be able to work but ...
on reboot the BIOS detects the problem and resets to defaults.
I think this might help a bit.

[$JG Money$]

Hey Cisco, you mind sharing what your settings were for the memory? As you know i have the same kit but dont know jack about how to make them run at optimal speeds/settings..whenever i try i cant bootup at anything above 133 divider. I have it running at 313x9 i have both my frequencies running at 3x. Any idea how i can get my memory at the same level as yours? Is there any harm/advantage from changing the SB to NB frequency to like 300x3=900 (the goal is to reach 1000 without going over rite)

[djneils98]

Hi all
i'm new to the forums (have been an FM'er for years) and could do with some advice on my new set-up:

A8N32 (shipped with 902 bios - now trying 702)
opteron 165
gf6600gt
seasonic s12 600
antec p180
seagate sata 80gb

have not bought any RAM as yet so am using crappy old PC3200 generic ram just for testing (2x512) using 133 divider

inititially couldn't get past 2.25ghz on stock volts without problems. Seemed a little too hot (56c load - 1 instance of prime on each core)
tried it with 1 stick of memory instead of 2 and now its prime stable at 2.4ghz (266x9) at 1.4v

Does this mean the memory controller on the CPU is crappy or just that the ram is ???

thanks in advance guys.
This thread is why I got the ASUS and you guys seem really knowledgable about your overclocking.
Particular thanks to Ben for such informed posts.

[stone_cold_Jimi]

I don't think it has to do with CPU voltages. I turned off the .2v overvolt w/ 1.275v and just cranked the main voltage control up to the max(1.5625 I think) and I still had the warm boot bug. The CPU is 24 hours dual prime + 3dmark 2k5 stable @ 1.47v so 1.5625v should be more than enough to get it to boot if that was the issue.

Ah, but the trouble is (at least with my Opty 146) that although the normal voltage range goes right up to 1.7v and beyond, in practice it limits to 1.5v without the overvolt. I have the same issue with a K8N-E and a s754 Venice, where despite a large theoretical range, 1.44v is the limit. To get the Opty over 2.8 GHz, I need the overvolt. This is where the warm boot problem kicks in. It seems to be an Asus thing.

[Marios]

Ah, but the trouble is (at least with my Opty 146) that although the normal voltage range goes right up to 1.7v and beyond, in practice it limits to 1.5v without the overvolt. I have the same issue with a K8N-E and a s754 Venice, where despite a large theoretical range, 1.44v is the limit. To get the Opty over 2.8 GHz, I need the overvolt. This is where the warm boot problem kicks in. It seems to be an Asus thing.
So what is your limit?
1.5v?

[Brave]

Hello Again

Marios...i think i found the problem. One of the HardDrives doesnt work very well.....i deleted the Array Stripe, and tested installing windows xp in each HD.

In one of the HD, the windows refuses to start installing....the first imagem when i boot with windows xp CD...doesnt show up at all.

I tested now with SeaTools and the program cant start reading the disk...it gives a error. So...this HD is going to RMA.

By luck i have one HD iqual. Going to try now with this one, to see if still there are problems. :P

[koSmiQ]

Ok, I was looking in the BIOS a little deeper today and felt completely lost as I have not been tampering with BIOS's that much since my Athlon XP was kinda new...

Was going to tighten the timings of the memory and test what my new A64 E4 3700+ could do. As I said I got completely lost...

First of the memory timings.. If one goes to where the settings can be changed and sets it to manual they do not have names I am familiar with (of course CAS is simple but the others)... Or more like, what would I change to set my RAM to the specified timings without f*cking something up?

I have Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 memory pack, its specified for 2-3-3-6 (CAS, RTC, RAS PRE, TRC) according to Corsairs site. But in the memory config there is nothing named RTC or something close...

Please help me out here, I feel totally lost. Had been looking forward to get going again with overclocking.... :(

Then about FSB overclocking, I know as much as limiting the HTT so that it stays under 1000 (but aren't regular A64's made for 800 or am I thinking of something else? Would I need HT overvoltage if going above 800?).

I am not going to do any insane overclocks, but just get the feel of it to begin with and maybe later I will get going a little higher...

God I feel like some overclocking beginner here... Why must they change so much from SocketA to Socket939... :p:

If you can give me some tips to get started that would be great.... :toast:

[djneils98]

I have a question for anyone using the Zalman 9500 CPU cooler on this board. My CPU temps on my Opteron are around 40*C idle, up to 47*C under full load for hours. These temps are higher than on my previous Asus A8N SLi Premium using the same Zalman cooler.

Can anyone explain this? I've reseated the cooler thinking I didn't apply enough AS5, but I did. I am thinking that the black bracket around the CPU socket on this board is taller than on the A8N SLi Premium, so the downward pressure from the Zalman cooler is not enough. This is just a theory, however, as I can't measure it since I RMA'd my A8N SLi Premium.

Can someone else post their temps with a Zalman 9500 please and let me know what's going on.

i have the same cooler on an opty 165 on the A8N32 and am getting 43c idle, 55c load at 1.4v:(

[Marios]

Ok, I was looking in the BIOS a little deeper today and felt completely lost as I have not been tampering with BIOS's that much since my Athlon XP was kinda new...

Was going to tighten the timings of the memory and test what my new A64 E4 3700+ could do. As I said I got completely lost...

First of the memory timings.. If one goes to where the settings can be changed and sets it to manual they do not have names I am familiar with (of course CAS is simple but the others)... Or more like, what would I change to set my RAM to the specified timings without f*cking something up?

I have Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 memory pack, its specified for 2-3-3-6 (CAS, RTC, RAS PRE, TRC) according to Corsairs site. But in the memory config there is nothing named RTC or something close...

Please help me out here, I feel totally lost. Had been looking forward to get going again with overclocking.... :(

Then about FSB overclocking, I know as much as limiting the HTT so that it stays under 1000 (but aren't regular A64's made for 800 or am I thinking of something else? Would I need HT overvoltage if going above 800?).

I am not going to do any insane overclocks, but just get the feel of it to begin with and maybe later I will get going a little higher...

God I feel like some overclocking beginner here... Why must they change so much from SocketA to Socket939... :p:

If you can give me some tips to get started that would be great.... :toast:
HTT up to 1000 is ok without HT Overvolt (the limit is 1000, not 800).

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/DSC00186.png
Set them the way they appear when you have auto settings (actually this is your SPD readings).
This should look like this.

CAS (Tcl) =2
RTC (Trcd) =3
RAS (Tras) =6
TRP=3
Trc =10
Trfc=14

This is my latest OC

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/2658.png

[stone_cold_Jimi]

So what is your limit?
1.5v?

Yes Marios. After that, I go to 1.3x + 0.2, and that's when the trouble starts.

[Marios]

Yes Marios. After that, I go to 1.3x + 0.2, and that's when the trouble starts.1.3x + 0.2 is not good.
Start at 1.35v+ 0.2.
Overvolt everything and check your memory timings.
I have WC and no problems at all.
No warm boot, no cold boot, nothing.
Now I am at 2805MHz.

Give your system a good and cold airflow.
Overclock step by step.
Do not enter Windows.
Just enter BIOS and check your CPU clock.
Is it what you expected?
Then go on.

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/SPI mod 32mb 25_57_141 2805MHz.png

CPUz verified (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=64831)
PCMark05 6818 (http://service.futuremark.com/compare?pcm05=242406)

[Cisco]

i have the same cooler on an opty 165 on the A8N32 and am getting 43c idle, 55c load at 1.4v:(
I'm also disappointed with the 9500. My temps on an X2-4400 are not bad (38/49 at 1.4V) but they are worse than the stock x2-4400 AMD hs was...to top it off the Zalman also hurts the MB temps slightly - about 3 degrees hotter than before the Zalman...I wonder if I have the "convex" edition? :)

[Cisco]

Hey Cisco, you mind sharing what your settings were for the memory? As you know i have the same kit but dont know jack about how to make them run at optimal speeds/settings..whenever i try i cant bootup at anything above 133 divider. I have it running at 313x9 i have both my frequencies running at 3x. Any idea how i can get my memory at the same level as yours? Is there any harm/advantage from changing the SB to NB frequency to like 300x3=900 (the goal is to reach 1000 without going over rite)
I wouldn't mind at all except I'm backing off on thinking I was really stable--it oddly will do windows at 250 with no crashes... yet, but the 2.5-3-3-7 won't pass memtest test #5. I was rushed for time so I didn't try very much else other than to note that it doesn't seem to like 2.8V. It's fine at 2.75 and below, but at 2.8 I get freezes in the BIOS set-up screen even...and man, how I hate having to do a "clear CMOS" with this MB! The jumper is right under the retention clip for the bottom video card (which needs to come out anyway) you need ahnad with something to push the clip out of the way while moving the jumper with the other hand...good thing I had one of those 3-prong spring-loaded doohickeys around.
What the heck is memtest #5 that I can run windows despite the fact it fails within seconds of starting the test?

[lowdog]

I wouldn't mind at all except I'm backing off on thinking I was really stable--it oddly will do windows at 250 with no crashes... yet, but the 2.5-3-3-7 won't pass memtest test #5. I was rushed for time so I didn't try very much else other than to note that it doesn't seem to like 2.8V. It's fine at 2.75 and below, but at 2.8 I get freezes in the BIOS set-up screen even...and man, how I hate having to do a "clear CMOS" with this MB! The jumper is right under the retention clip for the bottom video card (which needs to come out anyway) you need ahnad with something to push the clip out of the way while moving the jumper with the other hand...good thing I had one of those 3-prong spring-loaded doohickeys around.
What the heck is memtest #5 that I can run windows despite the fact it fails within seconds of starting the test?


You DON'T need to clear cmos with this board if you have a failed oc. All you do is power off the comp and restart and keep pressing the "Insert" key, it'll then post and allow you into bios to change settings. :fact:

[stone_cold_Jimi]

You DON'T need to clear cmos with this board if you have a failed oc. All you do is power off the comp and restart and keep pressing the "Insert" key, it'll then post and allow you into bios to change settings. :fact:

Mostly. Once in a while, especially with failed memory settings, a CMOS clear is the only thing.

[Brave]

Ok...im done.

First step its done.

THIS PHUCKING RIG DOESNT WORK VERY WELL WITH SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.9 120GB !!!!

I tested everthing.

RAID 0 just doesnt work with this HardDrives. My last test it was putting other drives in this PC ...and everthing goes well. Installed windows in RAID 0, no probs at all..no boot problems.

And i discovery something really funny that i didnt know. When building a SATA RAID 0, the Master HD receives the Header that defines the Array. And if i use that Single HD in another computer...it simple doesnt work. Cant install windows, can do nothing at all. In the moment that i enabled Raid again, and putted only that drive...the NVRAID detects a RAID 0 but with error.....i got in Raid Bios, deleted the array, and now the HD can be used again with no probs at all.

Because of that i was almost sended a HD to RMA :P

Now, with 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 the RAID 0 works perfectly with no probs. The 7200.9 doesnt work....and i tried everthing.


Ok...my next step its overclock this CPU with this Motherboard.

Can anyone explain me some of the settings in the bios ?

I have a PATRIOT XBLK, with AMD X2 3800+, Zalman 9500, Lian-Li V1000 Plus (BTX...inverted board) and when i put 230 fsb it gives me BSOD in Windows....just like 220.....dont know what to do.

Starting with this settings:

AI Overclocking: Manual -> This is the FSB
SB to NB Frequency -> Dont have the slightest idea what it is
Adjust PCIE Frequency -> always 100 (this i know)
PEG Link Mode -> There is diference here between Auto and Fastest?
Overvoltage Settings: Should i enable something ?
DDR Vcore -> What is the maximum that i can put with my Mem's?
----------------------
1T/2T Memory Timings -> This board can support more than 245 fsb with 1T?
----------------------
Memory Configuration:

Memclock Mode: Dont know what it is...
All the Timings : dont know what to put there...since at 220 with forced 2.5,3,3,6 ...give me BSOD. Dont know if the problem is from mem. (memtest doesnt give any error)
---------------------
Chipset:

K8 to NB Frequency: Is this the HTT ?
K8 to NB Linkwidth: Auto ??? or 16!16! ?
SB to NB Frequenct: Doesnt know what it is...
SB to NB Linkwidth: 16!16! ...i think :P



Can anyone help me explain that please ?

[Cisco]

Mostly. Once in a while, especially with failed memory settings, a CMOS clear is the only thing.
Exactly...the MB does NOT behave the same way for a failed memory OC as it does for a failed CPU/Hypertransport OC. In the case of ram, one of removing/reinserting 1 or 2 sticks of ram into same/different slots and/or clearing CMOS with the jumoer and/or battery are your only options...just like in the good old days of Barton CPUs.

Read previous pages of this thread for other examples.

[eclypse]

Does this board work well with Crucials Ballistix 1GB sticks?

[lowdog]

Exactly...the MB does NOT behave the same way for a failed memory OC as it does for a failed CPU/Hypertransport OC. In the case of ram, one of removing/reinserting 1 or 2 sticks of ram into same/different slots and/or clearing CMOS with the jumoer and/or battery are your only options...just like in the good old days of Barton CPUs.

Read previous pages of this thread for other examples.


Sorry but your wrong. I've had many failed mem overclock attempts with the same ram as you OCZ PC3200 1024MB EL DC Platinum Edition. When it doesn't post I shut off the sys from the power button. Restart and keep pressing "Insert" key and it boots and prompt's you to enter setup by hitting F1. :fact:

[Marios]

@lowdog
Great tip. Thanks a lot.
In most cases after a lock all we need to do is to press the power button reboota and press F1 without the ins key trick.
Though there are certain cases (memory OC locks) we have to clear CMOS.
I hope "ins" will do the job.

@Brave
Oh that's too many questions ...
But you can find most of the answers yourself on this thread:

K8 to NB Frequency: Is this the HTT ?
K8 to NB Linkwidth: Auto ??? or 16!16! ?
SB to NB Frequenct: Doesnt know what it is...
SB to NB Linkwidth: 16!16! ...i think :P
sb to nb frequency
See post 1079.
Cisco also wrote a very good post about this at ASUS forums.

@eclypse
Yes. They are great. Check post No 1102.

[Cisco]

Sorry but your wrong. I've had many failed mem overclock attempts with the same ram as you OCZ PC3200 1024MB EL DC Platinum Edition. When it doesn't post I shut off the sys from the power button. Restart and keep pressing "Insert" key and it boots and prompt's you to enter setup by hitting F1. :fact:
OK... will try the "mash on insert" next time...I'm sure there will be a next time, :)

[koSmiQ]

@Marios
thanks for the reply, really helped me out here... :)

Now I am going to do some experimenting and see what this baby can do... :D

[thinkingbear]

Does this board work well with Crucials Ballistix 1GB sticks?
I think when this thread started Ben085 was using Crucial Ballistix in the original screen shots and overclocks, only after they died did he switch to Mushkin Redlines. I see you already have your Ballistix, I just went by Crucial.com today to order and they have pulled all the 1GB DIMMs from stock. I contacted a rep and they said they are in disussion with the manufacturer on whether they will be back in stock again at some point or whether they are EOL. Just too many burnt out RMA's I suppose.

[Blacknach]

Hi, I have a problem when reset or change settings in bios, this not run, only black screeen, i have to turn off power and he go perfect, this is in opty 148@2900, with 1.475 stable at prime and the bios 1009, the problem apear above 2750, htt 290 divider 166, with adata tccd i don´t now what cause this, somebody can help me, tccd in this mother sucks, i can´t pass 250 estables
sorry for my english

thanks

[Jailer]

I've had really good luck with my new Gskil 2x1Gb GBHZ. 270 1:1 at 2.8 volts 3-4-4-7.

It will go higher but I haven't tried finding the limit yet. It will go 273 1:1 with no errors in memtest 12+ hours, but my 148 mem controller starts flaking out at that speed using the default multi. Still very good performance and speed for under $200.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021

[MrDisco]

Hi everyone. uber-newbie here (new to the forum, new owner of the a8n32, new pc builder!). I have a bunch of questions related to this board but i'll start with the first issue i noticed. hopefully someone smarter than me can explain this. I have:

A8N32
Seasonic S12-600W psu

I have the S12's fan plugged to the motherboard's pwr connector. When I launch PC Probe (the tool that comes with the Asus utilities) it starts an alarm saying my PSU fan is too slow. It has it rated at ~800 RPM. From what I understand the S12 is a quiet psu and doesn't speed up the fan unless things get really hot. Can I safely ignore this warning?

Thank you all for your help.

[muzz]

I don't know much about that board(or asus probe, haven't used that in 5 years), but usually you can set the alarm parameters to what you want, so I would try and set it to go into alarm when it is a bit lower than what the fan is spinning at.
Maybe I'm wrong here, but I know that when using most of these programs you can adjust what speed/temp the alarm triggers.

Hi everyone. uber-newbie here (new to the forum, new owner of the a8n32, new pc builder!). I have a bunch of questions related to this board but i'll start with the first issue i noticed. hopefully someone smarter than me can explain this. I have:

A8N32
Seasonic S12-600W psu

I have the S12's fan plugged to the motherboard's pwr connector. When I launch PC Probe (the tool that comes with the Asus utilities) it starts an alarm saying my PSU fan is too slow. It has it rated at ~800 RPM. From what I understand the S12 is a quiet psu and doesn't speed up the fan unless things get really hot. Can I safely ignore this warning?

Thank you all for your help.

[CODE 4]

Hi, I have a problem when reset or change settings in bios, this not run, only black screeen, i have to turn off power and he go perfect, this is in opty 148@2900, with 1.475 stable at prime and the bios 1009, the problem apear above 2750, htt 290 divider 166, with adata tccd i don´t now what cause this, somebody can help me, tccd in this mother sucks, i can´t pass 250 estables
sorry for my english

thanks
I just put a 148 in yesterday and i am having the same issue. No post, shut down and then she goes fine. It happens when I put more than 1.525 volts to the cpu with more than 2950mhz.

[Marios]

Hi everyone. uber-newbie here (new to the forum, new owner of the a8n32, new pc builder!). I have a bunch of questions related to this board but i'll start with the first issue i noticed. hopefully someone smarter than me can explain this. I have:

A8N32
Seasonic S12-600W psu

I have the S12's fan plugged to the motherboard's pwr connector. When I launch PC Probe (the tool that comes with the Asus utilities) it starts an alarm saying my PSU fan is too slow. It has it rated at ~800 RPM. From what I understand the S12 is a quiet psu and doesn't speed up the fan unless things get really hot. Can I safely ignore this warning?

Thank you all for your help.A fan with 800RPM default speed is inadequate for you CPU.
Unless you get 800RPM when you enable Quiet fan.
In this case just disable Quiet fan.
PCProbe II has a 800RPM lower limit and this is OK.
You need to monitor your CPU fan.
Change it.
You can allways quiet down a louder fan capable to work with recuced voltage by enabling Quiet fan.

[MrDisco]

A fan that has 800RPMis inadequate for you CPU. Change it. PCProbe II has a 800RPM lower limit and this is OK.
You cannot ignore your CPU fan. You need to change it.

sorry but just so i'm not confused, i'm not referring to the heatsink fan. I'm taking about the large 120mm fan on the power supply unit. it has a lead which i've connected to the PWR connector on the motherboard. It is this fan which PC Probe is giving me an alarm.

[Cisco]

sorry but just so i'm not confused, i'm not referring to the heatsink fan. I'm taking about the large 120mm fan on the power supply unit. it has a lead which i've connected to the PWR connector on the motherboard. It is this fan which PC Probe is giving me an alarm.

Don't worry about it. Disable monitoring the S12-600's fan in the BIOS. The S12-600 is a super-efficient PSU that generates very, very little heat. It's fan is designed to run at very low RPMs but it will go higher if it ever needs to--it has its own thermal sensor.

I've never seen mine go above ~800 either. Enjoy its quiet operation and unbelievably rock-steady (ALWAYS within 1% of nominal) power rails.

[stone_cold_Jimi]

sorry but just so i'm not confused, i'm not referring to the heatsink fan. I'm taking about the large 120mm fan on the power supply unit. it has a lead which i've connected to the PWR connector on the motherboard. It is this fan which PC Probe is giving me an alarm.

I know what you're saying. I have the same PSU and mobo but not your problem - but then, I haven't connected the lead to the PWR connector. Is it the blue/black one with the fan header connector? Why don't you just unplug it?

[MrDisco]

I know what you're saying. I have the same PSU and mobo but not your problem - but then, I haven't connected the lead to the PWR connector. Is it the blue/black one with the fan header connector? Why don't you just unplug it?

sorry i dont know the colour off the top of my head (i'm at work at the moment :) ). Looking at the diagram in the manual it is the connector labelled "PWR_FAN" and it is right beside the floppy connector, in front of the DIMM sockets.

yes i could unplug it. i take it you're using a 3pin to 4pin molex adapter? (or some sort of fan control device)? As to why i connected it to begin with - i was just following the directions in the asus manual (remeber: newbie pc builder here).

but if cisco agrees and this is normal then i will just disable that alert in pc probe. thank you all again.

[Veedo]

ok i have a question. asus's thinking on putting an external sata connecter on this board, and going from 8 usable sata ports down to 5 seemed stupid to me, i really liked how you had the external adapter like on the a8n sli deluxe. will i can live with it i thought, but when i went to plug in a sata hard drive and do some backups, to the external connecter, it dont fit! it doesnt say much in the manual about this either, so im off to do some reading. does any know what the deal is?

[Veedo]

guess i answered my own question, but if anyone is wondering, it is an eSata connector. i never heard of it, but doing some searching around and that is what it is. now the other question is, where the hell do i get a cable that will work. check it out: http://www.sata-io.org/esata.asp

[Blacknach]

I just put a 148 in yesterday and i am having the same issue. No post, shut down and then she goes fine. It happens when I put more than 1.525 volts to the cpu with more than 2950mhz.

What bios are you running?, i´m waiting a new bios to my tccd, can´t pass 250 stables

[Raver]

I've read all of this thread and I know that some programs dont report voltages and temps correclty but who do we trust?

BIOS Jumper Free Configuration
Over Volt
CPU Disabled
NB Disabled
SB Disabled
HT Disabled
FID/VID Manual
Proc Volt 1.4125v

Hardware Monitor reports the following

CPU Volt
varies between 1.456v to 1.472v
Temps
CPU 39Celcius/102Fahrenheit <----- higher temp here is normal, in BIOS cpu is running like under load.
Syst 32Celcius/89.5Fahrenheit


PROGRAMS

CPU-Z ver 1.31 November 2005
Core 1.400v

AiBooster ver 2.00.70
Core 1.4125v
System temp 32celcius

PCProbeII ver 1.00.43
Core 1.470v
CPU temp 35celcius Idle
MOBO temp 32celcius Idle

Everest Ultimate Edition ver 2.50.480
Core 1.470v
CPU temp 35celcius Idle
MOBO temp 32celcius Idle

SiSoftwear Sandra professional Unicode (Win32 x86) 2005.1.10.37
Core 1.46v
CPU temp 35Celcius/95Fahrenheit Idle
MOBO temp 32Celcius/89.6Fahrenheit Idle

@Marios.

I see that you have ClockGen running, I downloaded the one for nForce4 but it doesnt show like yours, can you tell me which you downloaded for this mobo?

[Deus Excalibur]

Those of you who don't have the warm boot problem while OCing, what kind of sytems are you using? Like do you have a IDE or SATA CD/DVD ROM, etc.

I cranked up all the voltages and all voltages at the max does nothing to cure the problem.

[Eluzion]

i have the same cooler on an opty 165 on the A8N32 and am getting 43c idle, 55c load at 1.4v:(

I have the same cooler, Zalman 9500. I removed my IHS but it made no difference to my temps. I idle around 35c idle, 44c under load. I use to hit about 47c under load but it's been about a month since I put the system together so I think the AS Ceramique has finally broken in?

Motherboard stays around 30-31c idle and load.

[Eluzion]

Anyone running mushkin eXtreme DDR500 (2GB, 1GBx2) RAM with this MB? This memory is advertised to run 250mhz, which it seems to for me but 60% of the time when I first boot the computer up, it just sits there with a blank screen (like the monitor is not getting any signal from the computer). I have to shut off the computer and restart it where I'll receive the overclock error, press F1 for setup.

If I just change the FSB/HTT by 1mhz, save and restart, it starts up fine. However, next day when I go to start it, if it hangs again, I just change the HTT back by 1mhz, save and restart, and it starts up fine... Well, I threw on a memory divider this time around and for the past 3 days it's been booting up fine. The whole reason I bought this RAM though was to run a 1:1 with the CPU. I'm running 250x10 right now so I'm not quite sure why the RAM is having problems (passes memtest86+ fine, running it at the stock 2.8 volts).

[dinges]

anyone having problems running high HTT?

i have an opty 144 so high HTT is my only option but i have a hard time hitting anything higher then 315. i think i pretty much tried everything (tried HTT multi 2x, sb to nb 2x, mem on 133 divider, etc..) but i wont be stable at anything above 315 and to reach that i had to burn in for a few days (could only reach 310 before), now i have seen ppl running 350+ HTT so i think im missing something.

i got all chipset overvolting options enabled and temps are fine too (cpu is 38 under load, mobo 33ish).

just noticed i forgot to mention the bios version, im running 903 that came with the board. dunno if there's a specific bios capable of running high HTT's ?

[Marios]

@Veedo
Thanks for the eSata externat connector info.
Didn't notice that part.
Simple SATA cables do not fit to this external sata port.

@Raver
Download ClockGen from here (http://www.cpuid.com/download/ClockGen.zip).

@ Eluzion
Are you memetest96+ error free at 250x9 3-4-4-8 1T 2.8v with both HTTs at 250X3?

@dinges
Try with K8 to NB HTT multiplier at 350x2 and NB to SB auto or 200X4(BIOS chipset settings) without CPU overvolting.
Raise the FSB gradually, in steps.
At 355 I get errors with Super Pi 32Mb.
At 350 I didn't check for stability with Prime or HL2.
At 340 I am rock stable.
Though I saw a CPUz verified post at 400MHz.
All mobos are not the same.
Some can do better than others ...

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/350.png

[Blacknach]

bug of don´t run after reset, or change bios continue :(

[dinges]

@Veedo
@dinges
Try with K8 to NB HTT multiplier at 350x2 and NB to SB auto or 200X4(BIOS chipset settings) without CPU overvolting.
Raise the FSB gradually, in steps.
At 355 I get errors with Super Pi 32Mb.
At 350 I didn't check for stability with Prime or HL2.
At 340 I am rock stable.
Though I saw a CPUz verified post at 400MHz.
All mobos are not the same.
Some can do better than others ...

[IMG]


well first off thnx for ure advice,i tried both approaces (auto and manual NB to SB settings) but it did not help. so i went ahead and flashed to 1009, but still the same problems occur.. so i desperation i tried everything i remember reading (enableing parallel port, disableing usb 2.0), but still no go.
315 is rock stable 320 results in either no post or a freeze at the first windows loading screen, weird stuff in my book..

i know oc is a gamble, but 330/340 HTT should not be that hard for these mobo's id think, ah well guess i better get myself a 10 or 11 multi cpu.

[Deus Excalibur]

I'm afraid to say that I'm throwing in the towel, I ordered the MSI K8N Diamond Plus. The better layout, overclocking potential, and no warm boot problem just won me over.

[djneils98]

I'm also disappointed with the 9500. My temps on an X2-4400 are not bad (38/49 at 1.4V) but they are worse than the stock x2-4400 AMD hs was...to top it off the Zalman also hurts the MB temps slightly - about 3 degrees hotter than before the Zalman...I wonder if I have the "convex" edition? :)
I reseated my 9500 and used AS5 and temps have dropped by about 10c - now 41c idle and 51c load - and thats in a P180 with the side on with the 165 @ 2.6ghz (290x9) and 1.44v reported in AIbooster

[Mr_Gl@ss]

Anyone running mushkin eXtreme DDR500 (2GB, 1GBx2) RAM with this MB? This memory is advertised to run 250mhz, which it seems to for me but 60% of the time when I first boot the computer up, it just sits there with a blank screen (like the monitor is not getting any signal from the computer). I have to shut off the computer and restart it where I'll receive the overclock error, press F1 for setup.

If I just change the FSB/HTT by 1mhz, save and restart, it starts up fine. However, next day when I go to start it, if it hangs again, I just change the HTT back by 1mhz, save and restart, and it starts up fine... Well, I threw on a memory divider this time around and for the past 3 days it's been booting up fine. The whole reason I bought this RAM though was to run a 1:1 with the CPU. I'm running 250x10 right now so I'm not quite sure why the RAM is having problems (passes memtest86+ fine, running it at the stock 2.8 volts).

Is it this RAM?
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=73013

http://forums.mushkin.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2456&sid=ed5d59783741e593b9ee78c2ea026677

I'm using the same stuff (991483's) if so and it's running at DDR 500 stable. The BIOS settings for this board are confusing to me (and my other 2 boards are DFI's!). I pieced together some of Marios post and others from the net, I'll post how it's setup when I get home. The only issue's I've had with this board were the ACPI non-compliant Blue screen message (which was fixed by turning the parallel port back on in the BIOS) and a reboot loop issue (which was fixed by plugging the PCI-Express power cable in for my vid card, DOH!). So far so good.

[Eluzion]

That would be the memory. Would be awesome if you could post up all the BIOS settings for the memory! I just set the speed back to 200mhz (1:1) and entered all the values I could based off that post so I'll see how it runs. There are quite a few settings that just have me lost though, so any help would be appreciated. ;)

[Mr_Gl@ss]

I'll do that when I get home, however I'm pretty sure I left the memory settings at auto. Check this thread for some starters:

http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17410

I know it's OCZ memory but it should give you some general idea.

[cronic]

ok, i have been running this board since november and i absolutly love it. The only issue i have had is a warm boot issue. i am still running the 703 bios and was wondering if the 1009 bios eliminated the warm boot issue? I really haven't wanted to switch becuase the warm boot isn't that big of a deal to me, but just wondering if it was fixed? i also just measured a cpu voltage of 1.63v measured on the board with dmm with the bios set to 1.400 with overvolt enabled. i thought it wouldn't go past 1.61 with a dual core.

[arctic-k20]

no the warm boot is still there in 1009 bios

[gmod]

I'm afraid to say that I'm throwing in the towel, I ordered the MSI K8N Diamond Plus. The better layout, overclocking potential, and no warm boot problem just won me over.


About time someone in this thread came to their senses..

[HKPolice]

I made a thread for this, but no one reads it: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=83206

This board is NOT for newbies. If you want to squeeze every ounce out of your CPU, then you'll HAVE to whip out a multimeter, and take off the heatpipe assembly to apply AS5 on everything.

Just because you can Prime95 for 24hrs does NOT mean it's warm boot stable. Turn the FSB down 1Mhz at a time until you can get it warm boot stable.

My setup has been ROCK SOLID for the last 2 months now. Not a single cold boot or warm boot issue, not a single BSOD.

[Ic3man]

Managed to prime(small fft) for 20 hrs (both cores) with 1.3(+.2)vcore @289x9. HTTx3, everything overvolted. Replaced the Aluminium HS 'tape' with AS5 which made no noticible difference to stability.

Core 0 craps out with any more fsb even if i increase the vcore. Tried most settings on the board to get it stable but core 0 is just not playing. Lowered the memory timings to 3-4-4-8 with a 133 divider - still no luck. Memtest dosn't show any problems.

Anyone know what settings to set in the 'other' memory timings...drive strength/data strength, async etc or is there anything else I can try?

[Marios]

Managed to prime(small fft) for 20 hrs (both cores) with 1.3(+.2)vcore @289x9. HTTx3, everything overvolted. Replaced the Aluminium HS 'tape' with AS5 which made no noticible difference to stability.

Core 0 craps out with any more fsb even if i increase the vcore. Tried most settings on the board to get it stable but core 0 is just not playing. Lowered the memory timings to 3-4-4-8 with a 133 divider - still no luck. Memtest dosn't show any problems.

Anyone know what settings to set in the 'other' memory timings...drive strength/data strength, async etc or is there anything else I can try?
What I am going to write here is only good in case of extreme overclocking.
I suggest an AINos 10% overclocking for those who want to have a cool, stable and very fast PC easily and without problems.
I cannot write everything here, so I am just going to remind you a few OCing rules and give a few more hints (based on Ic3man's settings) about overclocking the A8N32-SLI deluxe. Of course these general hints are not good for all the different CPUs and Dimms ...
There are many other great posts on this forum that will help (like the one mentioned from HKPolice).

I hope this one helps too.

You need to find your limits for each component.
So I suggest a 133 limit (divider) and a X2 chipset setting for both hypertransports with a X7 multiplier 300x7=2100MHz to find your mobo limits.
Enable both L2 Cache BG Scrub and Data Cache BG Scrub at 1.31ms
(any better suggestions here?)
Give your mobo a good cold airflow.
You need to install the fan that came with your mobo.
It works fine, no noise and cools your chipset heatpipes (NB - SB)
I did get better results by replacing the thermal pad with Ceramigue on the mosfets.

I think it is better to set both hypertranspot's frequencies at the same value.
So set them at 300x2=600 16up 16 down.
Are you stable there?
Then you mobo is OK at 300.

Then try to find your memory limits.
Set DDR clock skew to auto.
It should change to a value other than Normal when your DDR is OCed.
If not then do it yourself (you need to set a delay and check).
Set your timing at (in BIOS order):
166 limit -3-4-10-4-4-14-20-4-5.5-7
Use 2T
See if this is stable at FSB300 with you CPU at 2X300.
If not then you need to get better DIMMs or set a 133 limit.
Then try to change at 3-3-8-3-3-12-16-4-5.5-7.
Finally try to set the Trwt at 3 or even 2 (TcL and Trwt are very important)
Then do the same with 1T (the most importand speed factor).

Finaly try to find you CPU limit. You know how.

Since your CPU is stable at 289x9=2601MHz, 1.3v + 0.2v I would suggest you try 1.5v instead without CPU overvoltage.
Stay at this frequency for a few days, run benchmarks and play games.
Then try to increase your speed by fine tuning your memory.
After a while you may try to increase your FSB at 290 and see what is your CPU speed at BIOS. Is it 2610 or 2609 this time? Then enter Windows.
Do it this way.
Do not start from 289. Start from 250X9=2250MHz with 1.55v.
Increase the FSB in steps of 10 up to 280 and restart to enter the BIOS.
Then select 285, 288, 290. Enter Windows now.
Then you may try to go at 292, 294 ...
In case that you have problems you might need to do the whole same thing again but with CPU overvoltage enabled.

At a previous post I have posted a program where you set your limits and it gives you all the possible combinations with the best three suggestions.

Ic3man
It looks like you did check your CPU limits by setting CPU overvoltage at 1.375 (or even 1.4v) +0.2 with a 133 divider and a X2 HTT setting.
So just get yourself a better CPU or stay at 2600MHz.
(This is my hint for you. Do not set 1.3 plus overvoltage. It is wrong. Start from 1.35v at least. Your basic voltage is 1.35 in this case. Though your CPU may have a 1.4v nominal vcore (there is a program that gives you this number). Then you should start from 1.4 + overvoltage.)

[Ic3man]

I'll give them a go...thx m8.

What is 'nominal core' and what program do I use to find it. Also if I dont use 1.35 + overvolt I cannot get higher than 1.42 (bios reading). Starting from 1.4 (+0.2 overvolt) will be giving me 1.6, 1.6 is really as high as I would like to go as heard quite alot of chips fry with anything higher.

I can't install the fan that came with the motherboard as I am back on aircooling (big typhoon) and it simply wont fit. I had the fan on with my basic watercooling kit and hit the same wall of 2.6 so hopefully the settings you have suggested will help. I'll report back.

[Marios]

I'll give them a go...thx m8.

What is 'nominal core' and what program do I use to find it. Also if I dont use 1.35 + overvolt I cannot get higher than 1.42 (bios reading). Starting from 1.4 (+0.2 overvolt) will be giving me 1.6, 1.6 is really as high as I would like to go as heard quite alot of chips fry with anything higher.

I can't install the fan that came with the motherboard as I am back on aircooling (big typhoon) and it simply wont fit. I had the fan on with my basic watercooling kit and hit the same wall of 2.6 so hopefully the settings you have suggested will help. I'll report back.Get this program (http://www.thecoolest.zerobrains.com/Hidden_Stuff/A64MaxTemp.zip) to find your CPU vcore.
Do not depend on your vcore BIOS readings. Chech your CPU temp instead.
And remember that your BIOS CPU temp reading is on idle. On load this temp is going really high. So this might prevent you from OCing more.
You don't have to worry about the overvoltage setting of 1.4+0.2 as long as your CPU temp is OK. Do not go over that though. You do not need it and I cannot verify that you won't get any problems. (I didn't try to give more volts than 1.4+0.2).
This mobo protects your CPU from overvoltage.

[Raffen]

Is there any known bug which prevents me from going past 239htt. I'm a little bit confused with all this different Vcore readings, but I'm pretty sure I've tested about everything to get around this problem.

Tested 133 divider, different Vcore, NB-CPU and SB-NB at 3, cpu multi at 8 and 9, and no difference. I have btw tested 240*10 in windows with clockgen, and it was stable as a rock.

asus a8n32
X2 3800+
hiper 580
Thermalright XP-120
Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 2.5-3-2-6-1T

[quantum]

Thermalright XP-120

Are you OK with this cooler? Your dimms are in slots 1-3 or in 2-4?

[Raffen]

They are in dimm 1-3, and the cooler is mounted the other way with the heatpipes at the back of the case. Btw I have the nonpro memory modules.

[Marios]

I would like now to share my big secret with you. :toast:

Most of the time I do not stress my CPU, since I write Internet posts and documents.
So, I do not want to be overclocked all the time.
I like my CPU to be COOL n' QUIET.

This is how I did it to cool down my system been OCed at the same time.

I found my stable OC settings using the limits technique combined with my program I mentioned before.
You may find your OC settings any way you want though.
The only restriction is that you need to use the default CPU multiplier.
A stable setting in my case is at 2800MHz.
I decided to oc just a bit less. 2700 is great for me.
Though at this OC my CPU needs 1.50v and generates a lot of heat.

The default CPU multiplier for 4400+ is X11.
So to get 2706 MHz I need an FSB of 246MHz (246X11=2706 MHz).
In BIOS I used: manual overclocking, FSB=245, K8 to NB = x4 (245x4=980 which is a bit under 1000)
The other HT was set at 200X5=1000.
Finally I enabled CPU overvolting and set the proper memory timings for FSB=246 at 1T 1:1 (200MHz limit).
(Depending on your dimms you may use 2T and / or a divider like the 166MHz limit).

Next, I entered Windows, removed AiBooster and installed AMD CPU driver and the WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe update.
I made two .reg files.

One to dissable throttle Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Throttle]
"PerfEnablePackageIdle"=dword:00000000


And one to enable throttle. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager\Throttle]
"PerfEnablePackageIdle"=dword:00000001Then, I enabled throttle (copy - paste the quoted text on a .txt file, rename it to throttle.reg and double click it)
and chose the "Minimal Power Managment" power scheme (control panel - power options - Power schemes).

And the trick is ...

I ENABLED COOL n' Quiet in BIOS

Now my CPU works at 246x5=1230MHz, 1.25v, 32oC.
When I run a program that needs more power the CPU multiplier changes instantly to x6, x7, ... or x11, to give the needed power and the same is true for the vcore.
So when I play games like HL2 I get all the power I need at 246x11=2706MHz. :banana:
Check this validated CPUz (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=65769) at 245x5.

Try this trick and give us your feedback. Enjoy... :cool:

[Zeus...]

I would like now to share my big secret with you. :toast:

Most of the time I do not stress my CPU, since I write Internet posts and documents.
So, I do not want to be overclocked all the time.
I like my CPU to be COOL n' QUIET.

This is how I did it to cool down my system been OCed at the same time.

I found my stable OC settings using the limits technique combined with my program I mentioned before.
You may find your OC settings any way you want though.
The only restriction is that you need to use the default CPU multiplier.
A stable setting in my case is at 2800MHz.
I decided to oc just a bit less. 2700 is great for me.
Though at this OC my CPU needs 1.50v and generates a lot of heat.

The default CPU multiplier for 4400+ is X11.
So to get 2706 MHz I need an FSB of 246MHz (246X11=2706 MHz).
In BIOS I used: manual overclocking, FSB=245, K8 to NB = x4 (245x4=980 which is a bit under 1000)
The other HT was set at 200X5=1000.
Finally I enabled CPU overvolting and set the proper memory timings for FSB=246 at 1T 1:1 (200MHz limit).
(Depending on your dimms you may use 2T and / or a divider like the 166MHz limit).

Next, I entered Windows, removed AiBooster and installed AMD CPU driver and the WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe update.
I made two .reg files.

One to dissable throttle

And one to enable throttle. Then, I enabled throttle (copy - paste the quoted text on a .txt file, rename it to throttle.reg and double click it)
and chose the "Minimal Power Managment" power scheme (control panel - power options - Power schemes).

And the trick is ...

I ENABLED COOL n' Quiet in BIOS

Now my CPU works at 246x5=1230MHz, 1.25v, 32oC.
When I run a program that needs more power the CPU multiplier changes instantly to x6, x7, ... or x11, to give the needed power and the same is true for the vcore.
So when I play games like HL2 I get all the power I need at 246x11=2706MHz. :banana:
Check this validated CPUz (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=65769) at 245x5.

Try this trick and give us your feedback. Enjoy... :cool:

Thanks for that Marios - Works a treat - looked strange when it was booting and the CPU was only 2200Mhz but Widows sorted it out fine

The default Vcore on my CPU +Overvoltage CPU gives 1.55Volts and it was running fine at 1.5Volts with my overclock - any thoughts how to get it down 0.05Volts

[Marios]

Thanks for that Marios - Works a treat - looked strange when it was booting and the CPU was only 2200Mhz but Widows sorted it out fine

The default Vcore on my CPU +Overvoltage CPU gives 1.55Volts and it was running fine at 1.5Volts with my overclock - any thoughts how to get it down 0.05Volts
You mean that you had set the vcore at 1.30v+0.2 (the CPU overvoltage) before enabling Cool n' Quiet?
Because in my case I did set 1.3v vcore plus overvoltage, rebooted, entered BIOS, enabled Cool n Quiet, saved the BIOS and exit. Then I did not save BIOS again. Never. This way I did get a lower vcore. I had 1.55 and now with this trick I get 1.5v.
And you know something?
You gave me the idea.
Anyway, in case your CPU need more power than 1.50 on load (with or without Cool n Quiet) you are not going to get 1.50v.
You must reduce your FSB a bit to get lower vcore on load.

[Zeus...]

You mean that you had set the vcore at 1.30v+0.2 (the CPU overvoltage) before enabling Cool n' Quiet?
Because in my case I did set 1.3v vcore plus overvoltage, rebooted, entered BIOS, enabled Cool n Quiet, saved the BIOS and exit. Then I did not save BIOS again. Never. This way I did get a lower vcore. I had 1.55 and now with this trick I get 1.5v.
And you know something?
You gave me the idea.
Anyway, in case your CPU need more power than 1.50 on load (with or without Cool n Quiet) you are not going to get 1.50v.
You must reduce your FSB a bit to get lower vcore on load.

was running 1.3v vcore plus overvoltage b4 so nothing to change b4 changing to CnQ enable and getting 1.3 to 1.55V depending on load ATM with your CnQ trick

but nice to see the temps drop when not under load

[Marios]

What voltage do you get without CnQ?
I think this worked for me but I am not sure.
Anyway try it. You have nothing to lose.
Dissable CnQ, reboot
Set the vcore maually at 1.3, plus Overvoltage
Reboot.
Check you vcore in BIOS
Enable CnQ
Reboot
(Do not enter BIOS, or if you do, don't save and exit.)
Enter Windows.
Now check again your vcore with PCProbeII

[Brave]

Marios....THX !!! :P

Finally...with your little "guide" , i could overclock my cpu, mem and mobo.

I was doing some things bad. heheh

Im testing right now this rig...im here now at 350 FSB x 2 HTL and x7 Multi, with my X2 3800+, that would give a 2450mhz just for testing. I Still have my timings most relaxed.

Im going to test the rest :)

THX !!! :)

[Brave]

Ok...now im impressed with this board...FINALLY!!!

http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=66005

370 FSB ....and runs SuperPI , SisoftSandra with no probs at all.... going to try 3dmark...

UPDATE:

3Dmark 2005 runs smoothly...i beat my record of my A8N SLI Deluxe....and im just testing :P

[Marios]

370 stable is awsome.
Well done Brave. :toast:

[Brave]

I didnt test more than 370 .....but probably goes more :P


But...im having problems finding the mem limits.... cant find it.

Marios...what is the memlimit that you have ? and at what fsb ?

[Marios]

The BIOS DDR limit is the dividers you can use.
I said that just in case.

Don't even bother to find your memory limits.
Unless you need to get top Benchmark scores.
You can use a divider without any noticable performance loss.
Anyway this is what I got.
2x1GB Crucial Ballistix Z503 - Micron -5B D | 3-3-3-8 1T @ 280 MHz | 2.8v | CPUz verified (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=58501)! - SPi 1M Stable: Yes (http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/280mem.png)

Click the picture to open a bigger one.

http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/280mems.png (http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/mloupos/280mem.png)

Though I do not need to go so high.

[Brave]

Hmmm....i cant do 1T even at 280fsb with MemLimit at 166.

Cant really find the mem limits :P

Im testing more now :)

Update:

Ok...now im at 240fsb , MemLimit at 200, with 1T , Cas 3-4-4-10, and still give me error at SuperPI.

Damn :(

Update2:

At 240fsb, Memlimit at 200, With 2T, Cas 3-4-4-10 , SuperPI went fine.

So...i suppose this Patriot XBLK kit doesnt like 1T with this board....

Update3:

At 250fsb, Memlimit at 200mhz, 2T, Cas 3-4-4-10, Memtest went fine, but cant boot into winxp

At 245fsb...everthing ok.

So....whats the problem here ? ....weird :(

[Ic3man]

Thanks for the help marios.

Managed to get upto 2.7 p95 stable (well 4hrs stable before I tried something else!) so things are looking up. I may have well hit 'the wall' with this chip but I still have other things to try. Cpu temp loadx2 is 51c. Couple of questions...

The memory settings you posted were not in the right order for the 1009 bios, which bios are you using?

What are the drive strength/data strength settings. 32bit granularity and how do they affect the system/overclockability?