ASUS Maximus Formula SE

[SuperMiguel]

is that sound any good? will it perform better than something like a $100 creative?

[GAR]

is that sound any good? will it perform better than something like a $100 creative?

No, its not better than a creative sound card, because all on-board sound cards use your cpu to process sound, x-fi has its own cpu wich is very powerful, but its plagued by mediocre drivers.

[Karl_in_Chicago]

No, its not better than a creative sound card, because all on-board sound cards use your cpu to process sound, x-fi has its own cpu wich is very powerful, but its plagued by mediocre drivers.

Amen to that. I was trying out the X-Fi GamerXtreme (or similar name) and OMFG I quickly remembered why I hadn't bought a Creative product in a long time. Scanned the Creative user forums and found my problems were shared by many without much good news. Followed some different methods to make it work and, after twisting myself into a pretzel, decided it wasn't worth it and I'd instead return it and focus my efforts on making the supplied Maximus sound card to work (which did work briefly after initial install prior to Catalyst install).

I'm not looking for glorious 7.1 sound, I've got a home theatre for that, I just want my computer to make noise through two crappy desktop speakers. Like my crappy AMD nForce (1st gen) mobo with Athlon XP 1800+ does (albeit incredibly slooooowwwlly).

On the positive front, without breaking a sweat, a couple tweaks in the BIOS and my E2160 is running at 3Ghz on air with maybe 1 or 2 degrees increase in temps. Amazing.

[Karl_in_Chicago]

If you're running a late model ATi card with sound, your sound will default to that. You have to go into windows control panel and manually select the sound card you want to run. Hope that is the issue.

Curiously the only audio output option in Control Panel Sound menu is for the HD Audio Rear speakers. Plugging the speaker jack into that hole (or any other one) yields no sound. This is after a fresh format and install of XP Pro - without the sound card in the mobo - then an install of the ATI drivers off the CD Rom then a Windows update then an update to the new 7.1 Catalyst drivers then finally installing the sound card in the mobo and running the install off the Maximus CD.

I'm wondering if I caved to the dark side and went with Vista would this become easier? I've got a box of Bioshock waiting to be loaded and the call of DirectX 10 is like a siren song pulling me towards the rocks.

[CERO]

btw does this board suffer from "RAID / SATA(II) issues "?

[GAR]

btw does this board suffer from "RAID / SATA(II) issues "?

Nothing that i have heard about.

[cadaveca]

Yes it is in that black slot (the most 'north' slot in the mobo). It worked for just a while during my initial install but now it is a real PITA. I had figured I'd get something that would work 'for sure' and tried a X-Fi GamerXtreme from Creative. Hooboy, big mistake; I know Creative dominates the genre but I'd always hated their drivers - that hate, years later, was not misplaced. So I yanked the SB card and did various registry cleaning tricks and finally just decided to do a format/reinstall of XP Pro (just build the system 2 days ago so no big deal). Did the full XP install, the Diamond Sapphire Catalyst install and update to latest drivers and Windows update to install 85 updates. THEN I shutdown, installed the Maximus soundcard, and rebooted.

Now the sound app in Control Panel has ATI HD Audio rear output as it's selection and I can't change it. I'm really wondering if there's a conflict between the various and sundry drivers that ATI installs for the HD2900 and my soundcard for the Maximus. In any case it's been so frustrating that there's a giant do not disturb sign all around my office.

You issue is user-error. I have no issues with 2x2900XT's and maximus, I simply changed the default audio from the ATI cards to the SupremeFX2.

And I'l ltell ya why user error...you installed the ATI audio driver, making it the default, and expect windows to be smart enough to find another card?


SRy, pls take no offense...Windows is stupid, and you must hold it by the hand and lead it where you want to go. Maybe next time don't install ATi drivers until last?


I had no issue with audio install in either XP or Vista.

[CERO]

Nothing that i have heard about.

Great, I just have to finish this week my Exams, then I am getting this board, cant wait

Only thing that "concerns" me is that the Dimm is probbly overvolting by 0.07-0.09, but then again u can just "down clock" the volts respective 0.07-0.09.
Is this already known by asus?

[SuperMiguel]

btw does this board suffer from "RAID / SATA(II) issues "?

im having few trouble with my HD's when ever i boot up sometimes it will recognaise my hd and sometimes it wont...

[CERO]

im having few trouble with my HD's when ever i boot up sometimes it will recognaise my hd and sometimes it wont...

aw that sux man, As I was planning to get another Raptor X and Raid it:X

[CERO]

im having few trouble with my HD's when ever i boot up sometimes it will recognaise my hd and sometimes it wont...

aw that sux man, As I was planning to get another Raptor X and Raid it:X, seems Asus still connected with "SATA issues"? :X

[SuperMiguel]

well i can raid it ... but windows xp installation will get a blue screen. so i can raid them using windows vista...

[GAR]

well i can raid it ... but windows xp installation will get a blue screen. so i can raid them using windows vista...

I dont know why you are having so many issues man, i have had hardly any issues what so ever.....you sure your doing things right???

[Karl_in_Chicago]

You issue is user-error. I have no issues with 2x2900XT's and maximus, I simply changed the default audio from the ATI cards to the SupremeFX2.

And I'l ltell ya why user error...you installed the ATI audio driver, making it the default, and expect windows to be smart enough to find another card?


SRy, pls take no offense...Windows is stupid, and you must hold it by the hand and lead it where you want to go. Maybe next time don't install ATi drivers until last?


I had no issue with audio install in either XP or Vista.

Typo on my part - I meant to type ADI (not ATI) HD rear audio - you know as in the ADI 1988B 8 channel CODEC that is associated with this card. There are no other sound card drivers installed, ATI or otherwise.

No, I don't expect Windows to be smart at all, I know better than that.

[cadaveca]

Ah. that changes things a bit lol. However, as you said, it worked before installing ati driver...and when you installed driver windows would have taken ATI audio as default driver(this is what happened to me, both Vista and XP).

You must also make sure that windows has installed the updated codec for HD audio devices...there is a KB on it, but I cannot remember the number. Is your windows updated before driver install?


Maybe this can help you....


When i install windows, upon first boot i install DX SDK, mobo drivers(including audio and netwrok), update windows, and then install vid drivers. After installing vid drivers I had to go to audio settings and enable the ADI codec as default audio device, both in XP and Vista.


Did you take the same steps in the same order, or did you do differently?

[MIS3]

I dont know why you are having so many issues man, i have had hardly any issues what so ever.....you sure your doing things right???

Good to know.

I read that it may be difficult for a newbie like me to set the various settings for the BIOS. Sure I can go through the manual and experiiment but this will take time.

My question: Straight from the box and leaving all the settings to AUTO (default), will the board boot and be able to install OS?

[Karl_in_Chicago]

You must also make sure that windows has installed the updated codec for HD audio devices...there is a KB on it, but I cannot remember the number. Is your windows updated before driver install?


Maybe this can help you....


When i install windows, upon first boot i install DX SDK, mobo drivers(including audio and netwrok), update windows, and then install vid drivers. After installing vid drivers I had to go to audio settings and enable the ADI codec as default audio device, both in XP and Vista.


Did you take the same steps in the same order, or did you do differently?

DX SDK as in DirectX? If so off the CD or from a download? Just want to be in sync in case I go with a fresh install (cuz I really like talking to the automated Microsoft voice, lol). One of the problems I was having was the mobo audio driver install process crapping out with an error message about not having the right hardware (since resolved, but maddening at the time).

I'm still totally open to it being user error, in my experience these things typically are, which is why I'm just picking the brains of people that are actually using the card to see how they did it so I can replicate that process. Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's appreciated.

[cadaveca]

Good to know.

I read that it may be difficult for a newbie like me to set the various settings for the BIOS. Sure I can go through the manual and experiiment but this will take time.

My question: Straight from the box and leaving all the settings to AUTO (default), will the board boot and be able to install OS?

It should but mine did not. CLR CMOS had no effect either...but once I forced a bad overclock and the board reset itself(CMOS CHECKSUM BAD), it works a treat. My board had signs of being used before I got it tho...

DX SDK as in DirectX? If so off the CD or from a download? Just want to be in sync in case I go with a fresh install (cuz I really like talking to the automated Microsoft voice, lol). One of the problems I was having was the mobo audio driver install process crapping out with an error message about not having the right hardware (since resolved, but maddening at the time).

I'm still totally open to it being user error, in my experience these things typically are, which is why I'm just picking the brains of people that are actually using the card to see how they did it so I can replicate that process. Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's appreciated.

I downlaoded teh SDK from windows website. I have HDD with all my "needed files", drivers, benchmarks, monitoring apps, etc. that I use for windows installs...has come in handy MANY times. Don't worry about my comments...I posted just like you so we can compare and see what went wrong..might help someone else out in the future!

[Darkatom]

Can anyone verify wether the attached Fusion block is copper ? I just received it and i'm thinking of just adding it in with my loop ?

[JoeBar]

Can anyone verify wether the attached Fusion block is copper ? I just received it and i'm thinking of just adding it in with my loop ?

There's a thread in wc'ing section, where a guy confirms that the block itself is cooper.

[Renegade5399]

Order placed at ClubIT! Should be here later this week! Thanks for all the info guys, this is going to be fun.

[ShawnTRD]

Order place at ClubIT! Should be here later this week! Thanks for all the info guys, this is going to be fun.

Clubit rocks. I got my system yesterday from Clubit.

ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA / SE
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz G0
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 TWIN2X2048-6400

$530 + $60 for overnight shipping

[Renegade5399]

OK here's the quick rundown:

MoBo: ASUS Maximus Formula SE
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz G0
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2 1066 2GB (2 x 1GB)
Video card: TBD
Storage: 2 X WD 150GB Raptors, Seagate PRT 320GB, Seagate 120GB
Optical: Samsung 16x DVD +/- R/RW/RAM w/ LightScribe
PSU: OCZ GamerXstream 700W
Cooling: Bonnie core w/ 2x Silverstones, MCP655, DD Dual bay res, Stinger PGA Rev. 1 block

[CyberDruid]

Hey there old friend. Welcome to where all the sick puppies hang out

I got one coming too...can't wait.

[Renegade5399]

Hey there Cyber D! Long time no see since...well you know... Can't wait to see some results off this thing.