2nd striker 2 extreme mobo with the same NVIDIA 9800 GX2 GPU and BIOS issues

[optical10]

As I stated in my topic this is the second striker II extreme motherboard I have had in the last two weeks that is unable to display any thing in BIOS/DOS or Windows using my BFG 9800 GX2 GPU?

To make matters worse when I use my BFG 8800 GTX GPU to boot into the BIOS or Windows to update BIOS from the version 0402 that the mobo shipped with I am told that, ”ROM ID in the file is incompatible with the existing BIOS"? The only too available ROM versions are 0508 & 0601.bin, neither of which seem to be compatible with the currently installed version 0402. So I’m caught in a loop, anyone got any ideas as to what the hell is going on?

I know what you’re thinking that maybe it’s the BFG 9800 GX2 GPU that is at fault, but I have tried it on a different motherboard (ASRock 1333 FSB), and it works fine ironically on a inferior 650 Watts GPU. SIIE mobo has a superior 650 Watts ASAKA PSU with a piggyback ThermalTake power plus 250 Watts dedicated graphics card PSU which works fine with my current BFG 8800 GTX GPU.

The other issue I have is that I can’t get both sticks of 2 x 2Gb of DDR3 OCZ - OCZ3P16004GK 2 x 2GB 7-7-7-24 – RAM to boot but one stick 2Gb is fine, anyone else having this problem?

I only bought the 790i SLi SIIE because my first striker extreme 680i SLi is at Asus UK for repair but in the last two weeks I’ve had two SIIE, both with the same graphics card issue!

Any help or thoughts appreciated.

[GAR]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...179184&page=35

check out that thread, lots of information.

[Leeghoofd]

Flash bios from Ez flash in bios, maybe that TT is not good enough to support ya X2 card, maybe you got the same dud board back,... if not you might be looking at somehting else than just the mobo to blame...

[optical10]

Flash bios from Ez flash in bios, maybe that TT is not good enough to support ya X2 card, maybe you got the same dud board back,... if not you might be looking at somehting else than just the mobo to blame...

Thanks but I tried EZ 2 Flash in the BIOS and still I got no joy. The ALL OS BIOS revisions on the Asus website are of a higher revision than 0402 BIOS that the mobo shipped with, but the DOS BIOS is 0101, and that even safe to contemplate using such an old BIOS?

looks like I'm going to have to do that stuff the floppy USB drive and do a force BIOS update using the DOS command prompt again! But I'll wait for Asus technical to confirm this is a good idea but I can't afford to have three aces motherboards RMA without confirmation they can accredit me for the first two.

I'll obviously report back here with my progress.

Cheers

[optical10]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...179184&page=35

check out that thread, lots of information.

I'll keep an eye on this thread as it's got lots of useful information which I've been following, but I can't see anybody with my particular problem.

thanks for the heads up

[optical10]

After telling me to disable ”quick boot” in the BIOS, BFG have offered me an RMA. One thing I’ve learned in my 20 years of IT is that you need to know why you have a problem before you can decide what you’re going to do about it.

Having put this issue out too many forums I’m starting to think that my 650 Watts ASAKA combined with my Thermaltake 250 Watts GPU dedicated PSU is the culprit. This thread that this forum seems to also suggest that this: http://forums.slizone.com/index.php?...ic=19742&st=20. Coupled with the fact that when I drop this 9800 GX2 into a inferior rig which I mentioned in my first post the GPU worked in got me into Windows XP and Vista no problems.

I need a pole on which PSU’s you 9800 GX2 GPU users are using, as this 3 weeks have cost me enough in money so I want to get this PSU purchase right?

I want some headroom for Quad Sli & I don't think running @ 100% is good for any rig? What do you peop's think of NVIDIA® HybridPower™ mode?

Cheers

[Leeghoofd]

I had one rig here with a PC power cooling PSU 750 watt, that handled a Qx9650@4ghz,gigabyte P35DS4, 4gigs of ram, 9800 X2, 4 HD's ,WC setup and an optical drive just fine... no worries there...

[GAR]

Antec Quattro 850w $139.99 at Fry's, cannot beat this price and performance!!!

http://shop1.outpost.com/%7BNL78KNOe...rchase=5278537

[optical10]

I had one rig here with a PC power cooling PSU 750 watt, that handled a Qx9650@4ghz,gigabyte P35DS4, 4gigs of ram, 9800 X2, 4 HD's ,WC setup and an optical drive just fine... no worries there...

Cheers, Leeghoofd it's good to get confirmation that that 650w + 250w is enough, you know what it's like when you can't see the wood for the trees because you've been dealing with a problem so intently.

I will wait for Asus to confirm a fix for the BIOS updater & EZ 2 Flash issues with this particular 0402 BIOS. If after updating the BIOS I still have problems then I think that I will try one of the suggested PSu's you guys are using and scrap my 2 x PSU's combo.

Cheers

[optical10]

Antec Quattro 850w $139.99 at Fry's, cannot beat this price and performance!!!

http://shop1.outpost.com/%7BNL78KNOe...rchase=5278537

Damm, thats a good price, I can't get close to that price on this side of the pond.

Thanks for your quick reply

[Lu(ky]

Damm, thats a good price, I can't get close to that price on this side of the pond.

Thanks for your quick reply

My friend bought that PSU for his 2 8800GTs SLI would not even power them.. I have heard of bad comments about it even at newegg reviews... For that price go with the Corsair TX750W for the same price...

[Leeghoofd]

I would ditch the TT 250 watt power supply mate, I think there's where the probs begin, I own a liberty 620 that powered a 780i with a Qx9650@4.5, 8800GTS 512 in SLI, 2 raptors in raid and a WC setup... no issues at all...

[Lu(ky]

Take a look at the Corsair 1000W, Ultra X3 850w or 1000w, and the Thermaltake 850w, 1000w, and 1200w. All of these PSU are worth there price in GOLD..You have a solid system do not throw all of that high end stuff with a cheap PSU. Also try BIOS 0511 seems to be the best one for me right now and some other guys with this board when it comes to OCing with a high FSB. Bios 0512, 0601 having problems at higher FSB settings..

[optical10]

Thanks for your replys. I was so close to buying an Enermax 1000w PSU today when I got a reply from Asus Tiawan telling me to use Award Bios Flash to flash the old fashioned way.

But It gets worse, I have tried to update the BIOS using awdflash version 1.33 [lastest version] but it has frozen at 50% I have not turned off the power or reset the system, as I am awaiting instructions from Asus or any other experienaced user who can get me out of this loop without frying the BIOS CHIP with a restart mid-upgrade.

If I have to currupt the BIOS will I have to send this 3rd SIIE mobo for RMA or do you guys know a way of saving this FLASH upgrade? The thought of disconnecting my W/C loop for the 4th time is getting me down .

Any AWARD FLASH SAVING TRICKS appreciated.

A photograph of the AWARD BIOS FLASH frozen at 50%:

[Broly]

Heh it just seems like you have no idea what you're doing. I'm sorry fi I sound harsh but you're the only one posting this issue, and on top of that you're posting on SLIzone as if those trolls know anything. Please do a little mroe self testing. I think your PSU is massively suspect, and if you had an OC on your chip it may not hold up on a new board. There are many factors and I'm just too tired to answer right now, but I don't think posting on other threads with your issue (You're the only one having it iirc) then I don't think it's ASUS' fault that you've ruined your second one.

Sorry

[cptkoulis]

i had issues when trying to update the original 0402 bios.I tried 0507 and i managed to flash it through windows,first try-no problem

BTW i'm using C2D8500@4+GHz + 2x9800GX2 + 2xRaptorX....using a one year old Enermax Galaxy 850W(i've managed to play Crysis with the cards OCed as well)

[optical10]

Take a look at the Corsair 1000W, Ultra X3 850w or 1000w, and the Thermaltake 850w, 1000w, and 1200w. All of these PSU are worth there price in GOLD..You have a solid system do not throw all of that high end stuff with a cheap PSU. Also try BIOS 0511 seems to be the best one for me right now and some other guys with this board when it comes to OCing with a high FSB. Bios 0512, 0601 having problems at higher FSB settings..

cheers I appreciate your reply.

[optical10]

i had issues when trying to update the original 0402 bios.I tried 0507 and i managed to flash it through windows,first try-no problem

BTW i'm using C2D8500@4+GHz + 2x9800GX2 + 2xRaptorX....using a one year old Enermax Galaxy 850W(i've managed to play Crysis with the cards OCed as well)

Cheers thats very helpful, does the Enermax Galaxy 850W upgrade to 2 x 8 pins for quad SLi?

Can't wait to see your testing results.

PS. Which URL did you use to download 0507, I only see 0508 & 0601?

[optical10]

Take a look at the Corsair 1000W, Ultra X3 850w or 1000w, and the Thermaltake 850w, 1000w, and 1200w. All of these PSU are worth there price in GOLD..You have a solid system do not throw all of that high end stuff with a cheap PSU. Also try BIOS 0511 seems to be the best one for me right now and some other guys with this board when it comes to OCing with a high FSB. Bios 0512, 0601 having problems at higher FSB settings..

Thanks for your positive support, I want to stick with Asus & your good builds keep me going, even with these wobbles. I only hope that Asus accept my RMA's.

Your bios results also needed, so if I get another chance with this mobo I'll try your suggestions.

Cheers

PS. Which URL did you use to download 0511, I only see 0508 & 0601?

[Orion24]

Optical10 what has finally happened?

I've got the same problem with S2E, EVGA 9800 GTX, Corsair 2x2GB GDDR3-1600, Enermax Galaxy 1kW. Tried all BIOS versions, tried another PSU. The board works with other cards (8800GTX and 7900GT) and the 9800 GTX works perfectly ion other boards. WTF? I've googled to find people with the same problem and there is 1 thing in common: Nobody has a solution