ASUS AN8-SLI - No POST screen..

[BlueMagician]

I dont know much about raid, but are you sure it hasnt dropped the array? As you keep mentioning nothing happens when it gets to that bit. When my IDE's are incorrectly set up, it locks boot at that point.

No, it's only POST'ed once in 2 days now, and _then_ it hung at the 'detecting hdds' bit.

I have already reset the CMOS - but thanks for the suggestion...


NEW INFO! The only thing I left in the board, was the RAM. I have now removed both sticks, and for the first time in 2 days, I have beep codes, and that annoying woman says "System failed memory test"

I tried putting one stick back in DIMM-B1 (as recd in the manual for single channel), but NO POST, NO BEEP CODES. I tried the OTHER stick of RAM in DIMM-B1, but NO POST, NO BEEP CODES.

What the hell does that mean?! Either BOTH of my OCZ sticks have fried at the same time (somehow), or the mobo sockets/CPU mem controller is s**gged.. I have no other memory to test, but I serious doubt both sticks are crackered...

Comments?
S.

[mattjgalloway]

The beep codes you are getting is cause of no RAM in there - so when you stick in the RAM you are just testing to see if the RAM is fine which it is. I.e. you get no beep codes now because there is RAM hence no RAM failure.

I don't really know what you can do, but have you tried non SLI (remembering to turn around the selector card on the mobo) with both cards separately?

[BlueMagician]

Yup, I've tried both my 6800GT's individually, in the first (blue) PCIe16 slot, and switched the EX card to SINGLE. And... I've reset the CMOS more times than I can count, but no effect.

I genuinely appreciate the advice everyone's advice in this thread. It is GREAT to know that forum communities like this exist, and that people are willing to offer the 'hand holding' that the rest of us need to keep from going nuts.

I'm just a bit pi***d that a big boy like Asus knock out a "FLAGSH*T" product like this, and expect the enthusiast collective to be beta testers.. It's pants.


Now, where can I get that DFI board...

Many thanks for your support,
S.

[DR]

At the moment if you want all the features - ASUS, if you want OC'ability get the DFI

[BlueMagician]

At the moment if you want all the features - ASUS, if you want OC'ability get the DFI

I just want something that works, and I see people on other forums going through 2 or 3 ASUS boards and still not getting what they paid for, which is such a shame.

I do intend to dabble in the overclocking arena, so I'll be trying (once again) to get an RMA for the Asus, on Monday..

S.

[mattjgalloway]

I'm getting the A8N-SLi and I'm sure it will be fine. You just gotta remember it's new technology and will have new requirements. What PSU you got anyway?

[BlueMagician]

...What PSU you got anyway?...

Check my sig guv'... The OCZ PowerStream600.. It did a wicked job of powering the system for the few days, and there's no indication that _it's_ causing the problems..

There are people all over, suggesting that only a fresh revision of the Asus will cure all it's issues. I hope this isn't true, because it'll be a right headache for a good company - but you can't help but take notice of the sheer number of (mostly experienced and competant) people having issues with this product.


S.

[StormPC]

I just want something that works, and I see people on other forums going through 2 or 3 ASUS boards and still not getting what they paid for, which is such a shame.

I do intend to dabble in the overclocking arena, so I'll be trying (once again) to get an RMA for the Asus, on Monday..

S.

I don't think the problem is your motherboard (although it may be dead now). More likely than not your problems originated somewhere else.

Have you built many A64 systems? How much actual training have you had building and setting up systems?

The reason I ask is that I have built 10-15 systems based on the A8N-SLI Deluxe and have yet to get a bad one. Conversely, I've had 3 out of 3 ABit A64 boards fail, all in different ways.

I've been building Athlon 64 machines since September 23rd of 2003. Asus has proven time and time again to be the leader in A64 boards. The SK8N was the only game in town when the first Opterons hit. When the A64 desktop processors (S754 and FX-S940) hit the K8V was the best motherboard for quite awhile and the SK8V was a masterpiece. The A8V had it's problems but is now one of the best S939 choices if you are not a hardcore overclocker. The A8V in my sig is the older Rev 1.2 and it still retains the world record in 3DMark2001 for an Asus board regardless of platform.

I have tested the A8N-SLI Deluxe for quite some time now and I have to say that it is (when properly set up and configured) the best offering Asus has put out to date. It's rock-solid and has tons of features. It's not the best overclocker's board but most people running the best overclocker's board don't really overclock that much. In those cases the Asus boards would be a much better fit. For most people reliability and features outweigh the importance of rediculously high framerates.

My 2 cents...

[BlueMagician]

I've tried not to judge this motherboard, I REALLY have..

I work as a Network Sysadmin and have been building systems for the last 10 years, so I'd like to think I have a fair understanding of how a PC works, and what makes them not work.

Things like this don't usually get to me, but then it's not usually my money being spent, and I personally refuse to waste any more time playing beta tester for Asus. The amount of forum traffic being generated around the world complaining about this product proves that I am not alone.


I am disappointed my sample of this product would seem to have serious hardware issues, however I thankfully acknowledge you have obviously had great success with these boards - it proves that Asus haven't completely lost the plot .


Kind thanks to all for your support - the best is yet to come, I'm sure!
S.

[StormPC]

Do you actually have the DFI in your sig running yet? You'll probably find that it overclocks better but has a few more issues than the Asus (although maybe not in your case since your's didn't work).

[BlueMagician]

...Do you actually have the DFI in your sig running yet?...

The greyed out bits in my sig are for bits that I intend to order, or bits that I already have tracking numbers for... I missed out when cpucity had the DFI's in stock, cos I wasn't sure what was gonna happen with the Asus. Now I'm looking around for reliable stock..

...You'll probably find that it overclocks better but has a few more issues than the Asus (although maybe not in your case since your's didn't work). ...

Lol.. true true. I have been looking at the Gigabyte too, but the XP120 cooler doesn't fit..


S.

[mattjgalloway]

Yeh I'd say you were just unlucky with your board. I'm fairly certain that ASUS will provide me with a good board when I get it (actually I have got it, it's at home and I'm at uni so it's just sitting around!).

But yeh, I wasn't going to say your power supply was causing the problem, but didn't you say you had an RMA on it or something?

It does sound like something has messed up the board - or have you checked that the CPU hasn't blown? I known it's unlikely, but it's a possibility.

[chrisg22]

I had the exact same problem, try lifting the EZ Selector card so its facing upward.... that fixed my problem...

[BlueMagician]

I had the exact same problem, try lifting the EZ Selector card so its facing upward.... that fixed my problem...

Love it.. Someone suggests something new to try, on the very evening that I've spent packing the thing back into its box... LOL!

Well it's ready to be sent back tomorrow, and I've pretty much convinced myself to not get the same board again, but we'll see how 'hard to get' those DFI's play over the next week or so - I may have another Asus yet..

Thanks for all the suggestions guys,
S.

[chrisg22]

Sorry I didnt read the post quicker

Mine used to not POST when I took the kettle lead out of the PSU.... I had to clear the CMOS everytime just to get it to boot.... then all sorts went wrong with it.... ah well its fine now!

[nur5ey]

Sorry I didnt read the post quicker

Mine used to not POST when I took the kettle lead out of the PSU.... I had to clear the CMOS everytime just to get it to boot.... then all sorts went wrong with it.... ah well its fine now!

Thats because ya had the kettle still plugged into it m8