Just ordered SLI-DR eXpert. Any last minute tips before I sarting installing?

[GungSeng]

Hi guys! It's been a while since I last posted. :p:

So far the A8N SLI-Deluxe has turned out to be a non-existent overclocker. I just ordered a DFI UT SLI-DR eXpert so all my cooling power wouldn't go to waste.

All I want to is that before I install windows should I update the BIOS to any particular version using my floppy drive?

Also, since I am Corsair 3200XLPRO (Yes, I'm a traitor. Please stab me in the face :( ), which is prolly TCCD so what kinda clocks should I be expecting? I was thinking about anything between 2.6 - 3.0 Ghz.

BTW, since this is my first DFI board ever so are there any rules of thumb I should remember when handling the board? :confused:

I appreciate all the help I can get :) Thanks

[4Qman]

The Latset Bios is the 12/7 http://www.dfi.com.tw/Support/Download/bios_download_us.jsp?PRODUCT_ID=3872&STATUS_FLAG=A&SITE=US Offical that is and id probably flash that first. As your using TCCD id set the timmings then give Memtest a run. I had a bugger setting up TCCD on this board. I had 3 sets to play with and all were a pain.

The Drive Strength is the key from what i read but i still had a epic. Just set stock then get windows up and then go from there mate. Its the best board ive used mate and is Solid once you get it setup correct.

[[timko]]

The DFI Expert was honed more for vDimm loving ram (see this thread http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=94391 ) so you'll have a tough time (as mentioned above) in getting TCCD going.

One thing to remember is to use the orange slots. If at first boot nothing happens then try only have one stick of ram in - the one nearest the CPU is the best bet. If you can get it to boot first time round with two orange slots filled then you can continue tweaking from there :)

[greatscott68]

Hi guys! It's been a while since I last posted. :p:

So far the A8N SLI-Deluxe has turned out to be a non-existent overclocker. I just ordered a DFI UT SLI-DR eXpert so all my cooling power wouldn't go to waste.

All I want to is that before I install windows should I update the BIOS to any particular version using my floppy drive?

Also, since I am Corsair 3200XLPRO (Yes, I'm a traitor. Please stab me in the face :( ), which is prolly TCCD so what kinda clocks should I be expecting? I was thinking about anything between 2.6 - 3.0 Ghz.

BTW, since this is my first DFI board ever so are there any rules of thumb I should remember when handling the board? :confused:

I appreciate all the help I can get :) Thanks

Shame on that Deluxe board, cuz I had great results with mine (2.9 with an Opty 146), though I can run a nice stable 3.0 on an SLI-D. I have the Expert, but haven't installed the OS yet. Still tinkering with the WC setup. Don't feel too bad about that Corsair - it's great stuff. I swore by that kit until I stepped up to 2GBs. Now I'm selling it - great 1 gig kit, though.

If I would suggest one rule of thumb on a DFI board, it would be to do everything "one thing at a time". Flash bios; fire it up with one stick of RAM; wait on the sound card; wait on the SLI - just take it one step at a time. that way if things get tweaky, you'll have an easier time rooting out the problem. Also - no skimping on the PSU. No 2024 pin adaptors, either. They will bring you trouble with this board (I heeded the advice of everyone in the forum - by buddy had a brain dead/cheapskate moment - and learned the hard way)

[GungSeng]

Thanks for all the help :)

The board should be here by tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.

Since I'm using a sound card with optical out, I won't be needing the karajan audio unit. Should I completely leave it out or won't it boot without it?

[ben805]

Last minute tips? as soon as you received the mobo.... packed it right up and shipped it back for a refund or exchange, get yourself an Ultra-D AD0, if you need SLi then get the Sli-DR, NOT the Expert ;)

[biohead]

Last minute tips? as soon as you received the mobo.... packed it right up and shipped it back for a refund or exchange, get yourself an Ultra-D AD0, if you need SLi then get the Sli-DR, NOT the Expert ;)
can't u mod the chipset on the ultra-d to enable SLI?

[pcdoc1]

Last minute tips? as soon as you received the mobo.... packed it right up and shipped it back for a refund or exchange, get yourself an Ultra-D AD0, if you need SLi then get the Sli-DR, NOT the Expert ;)Good advice.... :D

[knob]

This is a great board. You wont regret making that switch

[greatscott68]

Thanks for all the help :)

The board should be here by tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.

Since I'm using a sound card with optical out, I won't be needing the karajan audio unit. Should I completely leave it out or won't it boot without it?

No it will boot just fine. It's just one more device that the mobo has to deal with before you have it really up and running.

[GungSeng]

Hi guys! I have some good news and some bad news! :(

Installing the DFI board went very well and so far there has been no problems with my memory. I ran Memtest86 (Integrated to the BIOS btw :p: ) a coupla times and it gave no errors what so ever.

However, the bad news are that one of my 6800 GT's is busted :mad: . I decided to buy a coupla Arctic Cooling NV5 Rev.3's for my SLI so I could direct all my water power in to the CPU to get max OC. I removed the thermal paste that came with the cards and applied some Arctic Silver 5 to both of them. As I went to windows to check out the temps I was horrified. One of them was running at 55c-ish idle (perhaps too much paste or not tight enough) and the other was at 80c-ish. I immediately shut down and disconnected both of them. I looked at the the card that ran at 80c and as soon as I turned it upside down a capacitor fell off. I have no idea why, because I attached the nV Silencer with extreme care as always so no harm would come to it. Here is a pic below of the capacitor that fell off (not the actual card, but you get the point):

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3517/mypoorbaby0os.jpg

It looks like there was very little solder if at all at this capacitor and it is very clean crack so is there any possibility of it being soldered back or running without it? Was the 80c temperature caused by this? Is my baby gone forever?

I will post an actual pic tomorrow if people want it.

I think I'm gonna go and cry myself to sleep and take another look tomorrow. :( :(

[stealth17]

No big deal. Just have someone solder a new cap on. It actually will probably work without it but I don't think I'd risk it. I can do it but you would have to ship to US. Find someone that solders in Europe and get that bad boy going again!

[computerpro3]

Last minute tips? as soon as you received the mobo.... packed it right up and shipped it back for a refund or exchange, get yourself an Ultra-D AD0, if you need SLi then get the Sli-DR, NOT the Expert ;)

If you love your chip you will heed this mans advice. I've had 2 dead chips and 1 dead expert totaling somewhere around $1000 in losses.

[CompGeek]

If you love your chip you will heed this mans advice. I've had 2 dead chips and 1 dead expert totaling somewhere around $1000 in losses.
exactly why I would never buy an expert.

[GungSeng]

Did some OC'ing while thinking what I should do with them 6800 GT's.

vDimm = 2.96v

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4107/joo0es.jpg

Any other suggestions about the broken card? Should I leave it like that or try solder it myself?

[GungSeng]

Good news!

I used super glue to glue the piece back in. SLI works now like a dream and I'm getting around and above 9000 in 3dMark05 :)

Gonna OC more later so I could hit 10 000 ;)

Laters

[thunderstruck!]

Good news!

I used super glue to glue the piece back in. SLI works now like a dream and I'm getting around and above 9000 in 3dMark05 :)

Gonna OC more later so I could hit 10 000 ;)

Laters
Now that you've got a DFI, you might wanna learn how to get the most out of your RAM, it could probably be much faster and tighter. Look at the Bandwidth section.

[GungSeng]

Now that you've got a DFI, you might wanna learn how to get the most out of your RAM, it could probably be much faster and tighter. Look at the Bandwidth section.

I will. Thanks for the tip. :)

[metro.cl]

UP! im having lost of problems running a expert with my opty and some old bh5 ram, i can only get it to enter windows at 200x11, if i go 220x11 (htt multi at 4) it wont show image, i'm using a pci vga.

Any help??

i'll try flashing the bios because i dont know which one it has

[Diverge]

Good news!

I used super glue to glue the piece back in. SLI works now like a dream and I'm getting around and above 9000 in 3dMark05 :)

Gonna OC more later so I could hit 10 000 ;)

Laters

Do you mean the only thing holding it in place is the super glue? or you just used it to hold it place while you solder it?

If you just used superglue, that isn't a very good way to fix it. Your cap may fall off and short out stuff in your case (MB, other video card, ect). Plus, you will have a very poor contact, electrically, with possibly higher contact resistance. Get yourself a soldering iron, and solder it yourself. it shouldn't be too hard for that cap.

[revenant]

ahhh.. just the thread I wanted to see.. my expert is getting put in the mail as I type.. :)

edit: I guess I will be shipping it back then.. LOL.. *sigh* well.. being that I like to live on the wild edge of chance, I'll give it a whirl and hope those chip killing bugs are out of these later revisions of the board.. fingers X'd!

[Black Phoenix]

Good news!

I used super glue to glue the piece back in. SLI works now like a dream and I'm getting around and above 9000 in 3dMark05 :)

Gonna OC more later so I could hit 10 000 ;)

Laters

Superglued...:eek: ... Solder it, as allready said it looks that it is on place but may be is doing bad electrical contact...

[KoukiFC3S]

ahhh.. just the thread I wanted to see.. my expert is getting put in the mail as I type.. :)

edit: I guess I will be shipping it back then.. LOL.. *sigh* well.. being that I like to live on the wild edge of chance, I'll give it a whirl and hope those chip killing bugs are out of these later revisions of the board.. fingers X'd!

what's all this about?

I just got my Expert today and it has been running fine so far. Should I be worried?

[fareastgq]

I just got an expert, everything is fine except that I can't enable SLI, I get no signal when it's set on 8 4 nc 8... someone got any suggestions?

[stone_cold_Jimi]

I just got an expert, everything is fine except that I can't enable SLI, I get no signal when it's set on 8 4 nc 8... someone got any suggestions?

There's a SLI setting in one of the Advanced setting pages that needs to be set to auto; also set PCI to look for PCIEx for the video.

[loonym]

I just got an expert, everything is fine except that I can't enable SLI, I get no signal when it's set on 8 4 nc 8... someone got any suggestions?set bios 8-4-nc-8, boot win in safe mode, uninstall vid drivers, reboot, reinstall forceware.

[fareastgq]

tried that alrdy guys, no dice