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

[TheMooN]

Lets hope so MP

Yes , From reading around the forums I am pretty impressed so far with this mobo especially considering this is a rev 1 board .

I suppose one way around this little problem would cost me the price of another Sata Caddy ~ Running them both off the same channel ?

[Mickey Padge]

Yeah that would boot the OS OK, but you may need the same HDD too. It depends on how the BIOS picks up your caddy.

If it sees just the caddy in the BIOS and not the HDD firmware then you are OK, but if it sees the HDD I think the BOOT config would get mucked up if the HDD were different models.

I hope that makes sense

[TheMooN]

Yeah that would boot the OS OK, but you may need the same HDD too. It depends on how the BIOS picks up your caddy.

If it sees just the caddy in the BIOS and not the HDD firmware then you are OK, but if it sees the HDD I think the BOOT config would get mucked up if the HDD were different models.

I hope that makes sense

Yep. makes perfect sense m8 , Unfortunately ,

Thanks for your advice tho

[arrarro]

You gotta flash the Firmware of the drives to BANC1B70 or newer, and use the SATA drivers from version 6.39 forceware. A friend of mine has the same drive firmware but he can use newer drivers without a hitch, so it might just be a WinXP issue.

The problem is: HOW TO FIND THE UPDATED FIRMWARE for those MAXTOR HDD??? Can you send me that BANC1B70 firmware you are speaking of? is it for 300Gb 16mb cache Diamond Max10 drives? Thanx!

[smurfmods]

Is this a HD thread or a Motherboard thread? Did I click the wrong thing??

Just kidding... I'm actually going to try raid 0 SATA for the first time tonight. Still not so sure about it for data backup (movies, games, music, downloads ect) Worried about a HD fail on one drive could kill all my data. I will try it for WinXP though. My winxp install has always been on a seperate drive. I format and reinstall every 3 months because my Windows install gets that "Not So Fresh Feeling." No matter how carefull you are windows collects to much junk from downloading and installing it gets sluggish over time.

Is raid pretty easy to set up on this board? I don't have the CD or software that come with the board. Can I still setup raid?

[Zeus...]

Is raid pretty easy to set up on this board? I don't have the CD or software that come with the board. Can I still setup raid?

The raid driver is on the CD u dont have, But should be on ASUS site (will mail u a copy if u cant get it) the raid0 was easy to setup when installing XP, not sure how to do it myself know u have already installed XP but I would of thought it was pretty straight forward just format the raid on boot and windows should recognize it and promt u for the driver - I have had NO issue with the raid0 what so ever - So far

[Mickey Padge]

I remember that there were problems with programs like Ghost and creating backups with Nvraid. Ghost had problems with thre nvidia drivers.

I copied this information from another forum and can confirm it DOES allow you to create backups when using Nvraid.

In order to use Ghost in a NVRAID volume, the user must:
1. Disable the Ghost Direct Disk Access
2. Force it to rely on Extended INT13 to access the disk

Ghost Version 7.5
To set these options for Ghost Version 7.5, do the following:
1. Start Ghost from the DOS prompt. (Not the Windows Command
2. Prompt session)
3. Select the “Options” (ALT+O) menu
4. Scroll to the “HDD Access” tab
5. Select the “Use Extended Interrupt 13h disk access” (ALT+E)
6. Select the “Disable direct IDE access support” (ALT+B)
7. Select the “Disable direct ASPI/SCSI access support” (ALT+B)
8. Press (ALT+A) to activate the “Accept” button to use the new settings
9. Proceed to run Ghost as normal

Ghost Version 8.0
To set the options for Ghost Version 8.0, do the following:
1. Use the command line option to disable direct disk access and enable INT13
2. In DOS prompt, start Ghost with this command line: ghost.exe -ffx -fni
Note:
ffx - Prefers the use of Extended Interrupt 13h disk access for hard disk
operations.
fni - Disable direct IDE access support for IDE hard disk operations.

Sorry if this is common knowledge already, but it may prove helpful to somebody. Also Ghost version 10 may have fixed the problem now.

Cheers

[smurfmods]

I remember that there were problems with programs like Ghost and creating backups with Nvraid. Ghost had problems with thre nvidia drivers.

I copied this information from another forum and can confirm it DOES allow you to create backups when using Nvraid.

In order to use Ghost in a NVRAID volume, the user must:
1. Disable the Ghost Direct Disk Access
2. Force it to rely on Extended INT13 to access the disk

Ghost Version 7.5
To set these options for Ghost Version 7.5, do the following:
1. Start Ghost from the DOS prompt. (Not the Windows Command
2. Prompt session)
3. Select the “Options” (ALT+O) menu
4. Scroll to the “HDD Access” tab
5. Select the “Use Extended Interrupt 13h disk access” (ALT+E)
6. Select the “Disable direct IDE access support” (ALT+B)
7. Select the “Disable direct ASPI/SCSI access support” (ALT+B)
8. Press (ALT+A) to activate the “Accept” button to use the new settings
9. Proceed to run Ghost as normal

Ghost Version 8.0
To set the options for Ghost Version 8.0, do the following:
1. Use the command line option to disable direct disk access and enable INT13
2. In DOS prompt, start Ghost with this command line: ghost.exe -ffx -fni
Note:
ffx - Prefers the use of Extended Interrupt 13h disk access for hard disk
operations.
fni - Disable direct IDE access support for IDE hard disk operations.

Sorry if this is common knowledge already, but it may prove helpful to somebody. Also Ghost version 10 may have fixed the problem now.

Cheers

May be common knowledge to some but it's news to me! I have wanted to use a ghost image to set things up. It sucks having to reinstall everything everytime. I would love to just set it up and have a good starting point everytime. It would save a great deal of time.

Is this still a problem? Have newer nvidia drivers fixed this or is it Ghosts problem? I may end up using a different program for more simplicity (if there is one.) I would hate to be 3 to 6 months down the road trying to remember "
What did Mickey Padge say?? Was it ghost.exe +ffy +fnq or something else?"

Great advice though, thanks! Any other recommendations for ghost type programs? Man.. this thread is getting a bit off topic. Sorry if i'm boring anybody.

I do have a more MOBO related question though. What temps are you guys getting for the MOBO temps. I'm not running a fan on the fins of the heatpipe and I'm getting 115 to 120 F (46C) Is that to hot? What kind of a difference can I expect with a fan?

[Mickey Padge]

My temps are at arround 40c with that little fan added to the heatsink. Although I don't think the temp readings are that accurate because everything FEELS just warm to the touch after many hours of use.

As for using Ghost 8 your right, you just have to add the -ffx -fni to the floppy disk config boot command, easy really

[Xyriu]

I can't belive...

I set in the BIOS 250x10, RAM 1:1 etc.
The system pass all tests, SPI32MB, 3DMarks, Prime, Games... etc. Really RS!

WHEN ...I reboot, the system won't boot!!!!!!!! I need to shut down it or reset!!

If I set 240x10...he reboot perfectly every time...


Why?

[stone_cold_Jimi]

Just want to round up my Z503 Ballistix info in this mobo in one spot, might be useful to someone else:

From Ben805:

"the TREF only has 3 options so I didn't have much to try there, from experience TREF play a major role in overclocking these Ballistix so it would be helpful if I could get more values to play with. I'd also noticed if the timing and overclock speed was instable then the BIOS would either automatically relax the TREF, TWR, MAL and READ Preamble, or it would not work at all."

" set 11ns for Async Latency, 9.5ns for Read Preamble, and 24clk for TRFC,TRC in Auto, once you dial in those values then leave them for now, there is only three settings for TREF so play with it one at a time and see what happen."

Also, use 1T always.

OC on a Venice 3000+ E6, sweet at this frequency, note async latency and read preamble which need Ben805's settings to OC the CPU more, also Tref:



Don't know if this has any great meaning. Data rates are 6500MB/s according to Sandra:



It's a nice box to use set up like this. CoD 2 runs very nice indeed.

[tommrussell]

smurfmod try acronis true image 9.0 it works better than ghost tried em both and been using acronis for a couple of years now and its been very good to me oh ya i also have this board and set up in raid 0 not a problem with setup but did have a prob with a couple of prog that broke the raid other than that its been rock solid and no temp issues
tom

[bobov]

I do have a more MOBO related question though. What temps are you guys getting for the MOBO temps. I'm not running a fan on the fins of the heatpipe and I'm getting 115 to 120 F (46C) Is that to hot? What kind of a difference can I expect with a fan?

My MB temp is 30C underload without the fan on the fins of heatpipe. It's in an Antec p180 case.

[smurfmods]

My MB temp is 30C underload without the fan on the fins of heatpipe. It's in an Antec p180 case.

You case must sound like a wind tunnel to have a temp that low without a fan directly on the heatpipe.

[qdemn7]

This is the smoothest board I've ever own. I've got my 3000+ Winchester running @ 260 x 9 on stock voltage. Idles at 37C, full load 48C using an XP-120. The board actually runs about 4C hotter than the CPU. Only glitch I've noticed is my -12v rail is showing -1.65v, and my +12 is showing +11.65v. This is with an Anetc Neopower. I know Antecs sometimes have flaky 12v probems, so I pulled out my 'meter. The -12v rail is spot on, and the +12v is showing +11.75. Weird.

[bobov]

You case must sound like a wind tunnel to have a temp that low without a fan directly on the heatpipe.

No, the two 120mm yate loon case fan running ~1150rpm, and panaflo 120M1BX running ~ 1450 on SI-120. No near sound like a wind tunnel. My opteron 148 running at 3GHz 1.45v prime large fft 24h, cpu temp ~45-46C, MB temp ~ 30-31C, room temp @ 18-19C.

I did get 38-40C MB temp when I first use it. I remember that after I cleared CMOS and load BIOS default some days ago, I get 30-31C mb temp. I also drop the vdimm from 2.75v to 2.60v. Maybe that helps the mb temp.

[grizzlybear]

ello all

at default install ai booster shows
cpu frequency 200
multiplier x10
fsb 800

tweak the cpu frequency and the fsb will raise at x4 till you reach 220
cpu frequency 210
multiplier x10
fsb 840

cpu frequency 220
multiplier x10
fsb 880

but at anything over 220 (fid set to auto will drop the multi to x9) report the fsb at 1:1
cpu freqency 221
multi x9 or x10 (set) k8-nb-f 800 or 1000 (set or auto)
fsb 221

see aibooster pic a few post back

i thought the fsb multi was the chipset k8-northbridge frequency
1000=x5
800=x4
600=x3
400=x2

tried @default settings
sb-nb overclock 210 = no change to fsb
k8-northbridge frequency 600 = no change to fsb (individually and combined)
nb-sb frequency 600 = no change to fsb (individually and combined)

any ideas ???????
is it just ai booster not reporting it correctly ??
can anything else confirm the hypertransport speed ????

ram divider (memlock) is set to auto and does drop the memory mhz as cpu frequency is increased
cpu frequency 200x10 mem 200mhz
cpu frequency 295x9 mem 133mhz

my spec q4 stable
cpu frequency 295 (if 800=x4 then my htt is 1180 )
multiplier x9
k8-northbridge frequency 800 (1000 will make it crash )
ai booser reports fsb at 295
3dmark05 5799

a64 3200 venice @2654
twinx2048c2pt 2-3-3-7 t1
xfx 6800gs
bios 703
stock h&f & volts

default settings wall @ 240 (ish)
dropped multi to x9 wall @ 270 (ish)
dropped k8-northbridge frequency to 800 wall @300 (ish)
will boot into windows at 380 multi x6 (not tested tho)

[smurfmods]

This is the smoothest board I've ever own. I've got my 3000+ Winchester running @ 260 x 9 on stock voltage. Idles at 37C, full load 48C using an XP-120. The board actually runs about 4C hotter than the CPU. Only glitch I've noticed is my -12v rail is showing -1.65v, and my +12 is showing +11.65v. This is with an Anetc Neopower. I know Antecs sometimes have flaky 12v probems, so I pulled out my 'meter. The -12v rail is spot on, and the +12v is showing +11.75. Weird.

I've had very few problems with this board also. Very smooth like you said. No random reboots. Extremely stable. Only thing is I don't like my MOBO temps. Will have to find a little fan to put on there. I don't have any of the stuff that come with the board.

[Titus]

Greetings

I am in the midst of building a new system with the A8N32 board...does the optional fan that came with the motherboard need to be installed if not using a water-cooling setup?...and yes I know the manual states that you should not use the fan unless you are using passive cooling BUT I heard it makes a difference in temperatures by attaching it to the copper heatsink even when using air-cooling?...I will have great airflow withing my case so I was wondering if using it would be worth it or not...

what's this about problems with Maxtor 16 MB cache hard drives??...I bought a Maxtor DiamondMax 10 300GB SATA 150 16 MB cache/with NCQ (Model #6B300S0) drive?...what problems have there been with this hard drive/mobo combination and where can I find the latest firmware?

Thanks

[Yegg]

Just ordered the following

ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe
AMD Opteron 165 (god knows when these will be in stock again over here)
G.Skill 2GBZX
TT Big Typhoon

Hope I'll be pleased with the money I spent :/

[smurfmods]

Just ordered the following

ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe
AMD Opteron 165 (god knows when these will be in stock again over here)
G.Skill 2GBZX
TT Big Typhoon

Hope I'll be pleased with the money I spent :/

Should be happy. Even happier if you are overclocking. Youd be crazy not to. What will you use for sound? If you can afford it the X-FI is pretty slick!

[Yegg]

Should be happy. Even happier if you are overclocking. Youd be crazy not to. What will you use for sound? If you can afford it the X-FI is pretty slick!

Of course I'll be overclocking! I just hope the memory will work ok.

I'm planning on getting an X-Fi at a later date, can't really afford one at the moment, I'm $1000 over my budget for the computer :thumbsup:

Does anyone know if this motherboard and the Big Typhoon will fit in an Antec Sonata II case?

[ben805]

Greetings

I am in the midst of building a new system with the A8N32 board...does the optional fan that came with the motherboard need to be installed if not using a water-cooling setup?...and yes I know the manual states that you should not use the fan unless you are using passive cooling BUT I heard it makes a difference in temperatures by attaching it to the copper heatsink even when using air-cooling?...I will have great airflow withing my case so I was wondering if using it would be worth it or not...


Thanks

Asus do not recommend the optional heatpipe fan unless you're on WC or Phase change, I do not think you can fit it on if you're using big cpu heatsink like XP120 or Big Typhoon anyway. As long as your case has sufficient air-flow you shouldn't need it

[qdemn7]

Asus do not recommend the optional heatpipe fan unless you're on WC or Phase change, I do not think you can fit it on if you're using big cpu heatsink like XP120 or Big Typhoon anyway. As long as your case has sufficient air-flow you shouldn't need it

On my board the backside of the XP-120 overhangs the heatsink next to the I/O ports.

[mion]

What bios is good for that board and dual core.