A7N8X setup

[GypsyCurse]

I've just set up a new nForce2 system on an A7N8X (2700+) with 512Mb of DDR333 and am noticing some real performance issues in windows XP.

Sound is stuttering whenever the NIC or HDD get busy, and game installs take a horrific amount of time... C&C Generals took over 15 minutes.

Just wondering if anyone knew of a best-practise setup procedure, think I need to reinstall and want to get it right this time

 

[old.LeitMotif]

Sounds very strange .

Having built 3 systems with the Deluxe boards in, there are a few things that I have learnt to make my life a little easier

1.) Flash the BIOS to the latest version (for the deluxe it is version 1003, although I use 1002.A)

2.) If Serial ATA applies to the Non-deluxe board, and you do not use It, turn it off by using the jumper on the motherboard.

3.) Disable any onboard items in the bios which you do not use, e.g firewire, lan adapters etc..

4.) Make sure your RAM is running in Sync with the FSB.

5.) Install the O/S and its Service packs.

6.) Install the motherboard devices using the drivers provided by ASUS, and only ASUS.

7.) Run windows update and install the latest releases (especially the drivers)

Asus Support - A7N8X Deluxe

Asus Support - A7N8X Standard

If you need any other help just shout

 

[Embattle]

I'm hearing of so many problems with this mobo, its a shame really since when running well it is a great mobo.

I'm sure there is now a rev 2 of this mobo, kind of says a lot really.

 

[WPKenny]

I've had no probs with mine. It's great. Just installed a new SATA drive on it and it's zipping along.

There's is a rev 2 of this mobo out now.

 

[old.LeitMotif]

I agree Embattle, although most nforce2 based boards suffer from the bios death syndrome afaik, and most have gone through 2 - 5 revisions already. I have had a couple of moments where the board hasn't POST'ed whilst overclocking, but I have managed to get it restarted and stable. It is also really really fussy about memory, TwinMOS and Crucial work fine, although with the Crucial I had to slacken the memory timings to prevent the system from shutting down when it felt like it.

I've got the v1.04, maybe im lucky and got a good batch, but you tend to hear about problems more than success

The board versions that I know about are, v1.03, v1.04, v1.06, v2 - needless to say the v2 is a much better bet

Personally I think its a bloody good board, the good outweighs the bad by quite a long way. Alot of people's annoyances and damaging remarks come from the fact that they cannot put 400FSB chips in it when ASUS never sold the board with the capability of going to 400FSB, and some people just moan for the sake of moaning, for example, about the fact that they can't overclock past stock speeds, but it performs as sold.

 

[Embattle]

Although I know of the BIOS problem, another common problem that seems to occur, I've had it too, is problems with firewire devices.

The positives only out weigh the negatives if you don't actually get stuck with one/two negatives

BTW even the KT400 wasn't guaranteed to work with 400FSB.

 

[GypsyCurse]

hmm, as I understand it all boards with the SPP are 400FSB capable, it's only IGP boards which have any issues...

 

[old.LeitMotif]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=9089

 

[WPKenny]

Interesting reading. I've just fitted a 120gig SATA drive to my PC and although it's not exactly had a long run since I installed it on friday I've had no probs with it.

I've got the latest BIOS installed although I'm not sure of the 1.XX revision of the board. SATA seems great to me. Much faster boot times than my 20 gig PATA100 HDD.