ASUS Striker II NSE

[SF3D]

ASUS have released very nice motherboard for those, who like to save few $/€

This motherboard is called Striker II NSE. It costs ~300€ in here Finland and it is targeted to Xtreme enthusiasts. Motherboard is almost same as Striker II Extreme, but the chipset is a bit different. This mobo holds 790i SLI chipset and Striker Extreme holds 790i Ultra SLI chipset.

Layout and all features are the same and I quess there is not much difference in bios either. Extreme version will bring you the 2000(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600(O.C)/ memory level up features, but 790i chipset can do those speeds as well.

Some important specs:
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce 790i SLI
FSB: 1600/1333/1066/800 MHz
Expansion slots:2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 ,support NVIDIA® SLI™ technology, at full x16, x16 speed(blue), 1 x PCIe x16 ,at x16 speed(middle)

More from ASUS site:
http://asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=654&l4=0&model=2116&modelmenu=2

Then some pictures:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00951/2049178.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049178.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00644/2049179.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049179.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00097/2049180.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049180.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00163/2049181.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049181.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00335/2049183.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049183.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00742/2049184.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049184.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00722/2049185.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049185.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00966/2049187.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049187.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00044/2049188.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049188.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00200/2049190.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049190.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00009/2049191.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049191.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00101/2049192.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049192.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00569/2049193.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049193.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00149/2049195.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049195.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00454/2049196.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049196.jpg)

As you can see the layout of the motherboard is good. At least I think so.

If you flash bios use AWDFLASH from ASUS site. I did have some problems to flash bios, but using this program solved those. I was getting ROM ID error.

This works:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00469/2049200.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049200.jpg)

This doesn't:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00832/2049204.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049204.jpg)


This motherboard is eating HDDs, but we can't blame ASUS for that :D

You have to find the right MEM/FSB combinations and then you are fine. At stock speeds I didn't see any problems.

More results in later posts.

[SF3D]

Setup:

ASUS STRIKER II NSE
QX9650 (4.6GHz 11,5x 400) (Except 01, cause I didn't look mem bandwidth at that pint :( )
G.SKILL HZ DDR3 (D9GTR) (7-6-5-15, can do easily 6-5-5-14)
8800GTS 512MB SLI
TT 1200W

First I tested some mem bandwidth.

There is one problem. When you use fsb over 400, you need to have very high fsb until you reach this "performance level" again. It woul be ideal to boot at 400 and go up with clockgen from there.

12.4K at 800MHz. Quite good.
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00255/2049260.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049260.jpg)

Then I just assembled two 8800GTS 512MB cards in and overclock them straight to 808/1140.

Setup:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00426/2049257.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049257.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00964/2049261.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049261.jpg)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00643/2049262.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049262.jpg)

Some scores on air cooling. (Sorry no 06 for some reason..did I forget to bench it :D)

01:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00434/2049263.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049263.jpg)

03:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00716/2049264.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049264.jpg)

05:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00639/2049265.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049265.jpg)

AM3:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00813/2049266.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2049266.jpg)

More Xtreme benches in next post.

[SF3D]

:) No interest, no updates then.

Case closed.

[PaRn ssR]

Great and nice MOBO...:up:

[Crazypinoy9]

:) No interest, no updates then.

Case closed.

Wow! Someone's a little impatient...:p:

Nice setup!

[rockqc]

Any corruption issues or FSB holes around 1600 linked like on the Extreme ?

Were you able to push the memory past 1600MHz ?

[SF3D]

Great and nice MOBO...:up:

Yes it is and a little cheaper than Striker Extreme.


Wow! Someone's a little impatient...:p:

Nice setup!

Just joking :D I'll update this thread when I have more time.


Any corruption issues or FSB holes around 1600 linked like on the Extreme ?

Were you able to push the memory past 1600MHz ?

No corruption issues around 1600MHz (400MHz). In my case, corruption hits around 1800MHz+(450MHz) speeds. There's not much difference between E8500 and QX9650 when speaking about fsb and corruption.

VTT voltage must be 1.2V with QX. That helped me a lot in this corruption issue.

Memory is running really good on this board. I'll try more memory settings when I have time.

[over@locker886]

Hi man!

Where is the 0501 bios?:)


I tested mobo at 540-550FSB with 1800Mhz rams for 2 hours test without any corruption! Keep pushing! I will too:up:

[SF3D]

Hi man!

Where is the 0501 bios?:)


I tested mobo at 540-550FSB with 1800Mhz rams for 2 hours test without any corruption! Keep pushing! I will too:up:

It came directly from ASUS. Maybe I can upload it later.

These boards are individuals :D Some boards can do that kind of fsb easy and some are not.

[rockqc]

Cheers for the update. :)

Are P1 and P2 settings also in the NSE's bios ?

I'm wondering why ASUS released this and the Striker II Extreme if they perform the same ? The Extreme is just better binned ?

Any chance of testing the board with an E8500 (high FSB and memory in linked mode) ?

Forgot to add earlier, nice review so far :up:

[over@locker886]

It came directly from ASUS. Maybe I can upload it later.

These boards are individuals :D Some boards can do that kind of fsb easy and some are not.

Ok, I understand;) Some early mobos good, because have nf790i Ultra chips:D;) Btw, Nice review!;)


Cheers for the update. :)

Are P1 and P2 settings also in the NSE's bios ?

I'm wondering why ASUS released this and the Striker II Extreme if they perform the same ? The Extreme is just better binned ?

Any chance of testing the board with an E8500 (high FSB and memory in linked mode) ?

Forgot to add earlier, nice review so far :up:

Yes, with 0403 bios P1 and P2 settings is available. As SF3D said difference is chipset, but early mobos have nf790i Ultra chips;)

[SF3D]

I'm wondering why ASUS released this and the Striker II Extreme if they perform the same ? The Extreme is just better binned ?

Any chance of testing the board with an E8500 (high FSB and memory in linked mode) ?

I don't know why they release this mobo, but maybe a bit lower price will be better for a large group of users.

In germany prices are: Extreme= 300€ /NSE= 250€

I can test this board with E8500 soon, but first I have to do some other stuff :up:

[Solarfall]

i have a request: could you show us the inners of that NB water block.....plllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :D

btw nice review so far :up:

[SF3D]

i have a request: could you show us the inners of that NB water block.....plllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :D

btw nice review so far :up:

Thanks! I'll take some pictures soon.

[SF3D]

Here you go Mikko!

http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00175/2057213.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2057213.jpg)

This Fusion block can't be opened. I also suggest, that you replace that thermal paste if you are going to do some real watercooling with that block.

[CometMan]

is this board ddr2 or ddr3?

[SF3D]

is this board ddr2 or ddr3?

DDR3

[fng77]

Damn. I thougt that the waterblock was the same at Maximus Exterme and got exited when I saw that You removed yours.

I opend my case just to se that it aint. Its solderd on the ME :(

[Solarfall]

Here you go Mikko!


This Fusion block can't be opened. I also suggest, that you replace that thermal paste if you are going to do some real watercooling with that block.

oooh i though you could take the whole water block apart..seems like thats impossible.. i guess its soldered or something right ?.....
oh man they have really skimped out on the thermal paste there... :shakes: :shakes:

[Das Capitolin]

Any corruption issues or FSB holes around 1600 linked like on the Extreme ?

Were you able to push the memory past 1600MHz ?

I stumbled across this thread in preparation for my review of the ASUS Striker II NSE. I ran into the same problems updating the BIOS from 0305 to beta 0403. Please pm me with a link to where I might be able to download the later version BIOS file.

I used my ASUS P5K3 Deluxe and Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 to run Vantage in Vista and PCMark05, and I somehow thought that this would be a straight-forward test on the Striker II NSE. No so much. The Corsair DDR3 kit I'm using was stable to 1900MHz on the P5K3, and 1886 on the X48T-DQ6 (both at 2.0V), but I can't get anywhere near 1600MHz on the Striker II NSE. Also, the E8200 I am using to test all of the boards is completely stable at 3600MHz with 1.275V.

Any suggestions? So far, I'm not very impressed, as both the P35 and X48 boards have been excellent and the NSE has been uncooperative.

[pmp]

Crossflash it with S2E BIOS - works like a charm for me :-)

[Hipcrostino]

so pmp, flashing the Extreme bios on the NSE actually worked? I have been trying to find out. The roms are the same size, and with very little differance in the chipset itself, it sounds like it should.

Have you have any problems with it, or are there even advantages?

I just bought one of these boards too.

[Das Capitolin]

I finally got the beta 501 BIOS, and I'm now able to overclock the Striker II NSE to the same levels as the P35 and X48. The downside to this board is that you must give all voltages attention in your overclock, and not just the CPU and RAM. There's also the issue of finding the right ratio between FSB's. The upside is SLI... and that's it.

If you need SLI, then this is your board. If you don't, any other P35/X38/X48 motherboard will work just as well or better.

[pmp]

so pmp, flashing the Extreme bios on the NSE actually worked?
yup. just use awdflash with force switch,and enjoy. major point on that is fact that extreme projects bios are more common than NSE builds.
i found no disadvantages of such cross flash. ofc CPU-Z will correctly identity chip as non-Ultra.

[Das Capitolin]

yup. just use awdflash with force switch,and enjoy. major point on that is fact that extreme projects bios are more common than NSE builds.
i found no disadvantages of such cross flash. ofc CPU-Z will correctly identity chip as non-Ultra.

Right-on! Thanks for the information.

[Hipcrostino]

Thanks man, i might go do it now!

[Rol-Co]

yup. just use awdflash with force switch,and enjoy. major point on that is fact that extreme projects bios are more common than NSE builds.
i found no disadvantages of such cross flash. ofc CPU-Z will correctly identity chip as non-Ultra.

No disadvantage ....nice but any advance ??....or only more bios updates?

Have the nse here tested with E8200/E8500 2x , they all gave me a 590 fsb aircooled, nb @2v already ..maybe S2E chipset is a little better.

[Hipcrostino]

what is the AWDFLASH programs force switch. I can't find it anywhere, and the "help" from the program is useless.

UPDATE: found the settings needed and flashed. It booted just fine as a Striker II Extreme :D . now to see what i can clock this baby too.

[ioGLNX]

Which version did you use of awdflash? The 1.33 and which commandline flag you used to force?

Thanks for your help.

[pmp]

No disadvantage ....nice but any advance ??....or only more bios updates?.
Only more updates... ;-)

[SF3D]

Here are some screenhots from my last bench session with this motherboard.
I didn't bench much, cause 9800GTX cards were unmodded and on air.

I really need that clockgen :mad:

Striker II NSE
QX9650
9800GTX SLI stock cooling and no mods.
In this mobo: Cold boot bug -125c and cold bug -145c :shocked:

Superpi at 5.85GHz (Load voltage is 1.94V)
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00829/2154934.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2154934.jpg)

3DM01 with 9800GTX SLI. Just pure MHz run without much tweaking.
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00580/2154936.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2154936.jpg)

Aquamark:
http://www.aijaa.com/img/b/00459/2154937.jpg (http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=2154937.jpg)

This is good motherboard, but performance would be much better with quad core, if fsb could be raised from windows (Nvidia 790i fault). From 400 --> 401 there is 2K drop in mem bandwidth :(

These scores were done, when I was getting used to this motherboard. More to come, when I have time.

[brightwindow]

Looks pretty cool.

[Vampire]

Looks pretty cool actually, what does NSE stand for? "Not So Extreme"? lol! :D

[pmp]

Striker II NSE BIOS build 0502 (http://strony.aster.pl/pmpcfg/PC/ASUS_STRIKER_II_NSE/0502.zip) :-)

[Hipcrostino]

sweetm thanks for the 0502 bios. I upped my power supply to 750W with a 60A 12v rail and now i can overclock. just booted into windows at 4ghz on a E8400. no better on the voltage with this board though, still need 1.45vcore loaded to get stable. Good thing i'm on water.

For flashing i used AWDFLASH 1.33 using the following command. AWDFLASH.EXE xxxx.BIN /CC /CD /CP /F /R /PY /SN where xxxx is the bios number you wish to flash. WARNING! this includes the /F switch which will force the flash even if the bios dosn't belong to your board. MAKE SURE you have Asus Striker II NSE or Asus Striker II Extreme bios ONLY! Confirmed to work with 0602 Extreme bios on the NSE.

GL and have fun chaps.

[NiscoRacing]

Got this board to, and i rally need to update the bios i think because my new OCZ PC1600 is only running at very slow speeds :(

So some one know which bios iz running very nice whit fast mem's ?

I shall try that BIOS 0502 (thx pmp for the link :up:)

[dpa]

hmmm, the extreme version got a new bios that fixes corruption.. any news on nse bios..? I need!!

[StefanZ]

Hello All,

Can i flash my Asus Striker II NSE with the Asus Striker II Extreme 1402 bios ??