Official Asus A7N8X Thread

[halkebul]

<b>Task list</b>

- The most common explaination of how to use dualDDR mode is two equally sized memory modules in the BLUE slots. Any other way is beyond me.

- If you upgrade your BIOS, make sure you get the right BIOS for your particular board, deluxe or non-deluxe. Some BIOS updates may be specifically for one version.

- Probable FSB change, 100MHz to 133MHz or 100MHz to 166MHz for example, in order to get the processor to operate at its' expected speed.

- Set the "AGP frequency" to 66MHz. PCI bus is already locked at 33MHz.

- Install Windows XP Service Pack 1 if using Windows XP

- General Rule: Make sure the devices that are connected to the motherboard's Primary and Secondary IDE channels are using DMA, not PIO. Go to Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager and open the "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" tree to check.

<b>Reviews</b>

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1759&p=7" target="_new">Anandtech, Dec 4 2002</A>
<A HREF="http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/a7n8x/default.asp" target="_new">FiringSquad, Dec 3 2002</A>
<A HREF="http://www.lostcircuits.com/motherboard/asus_a7n8x/3.shtml" target="_new">LostCircuits, Dec 2 2002</A>
<A HREF="http://www.maximumoc.com/reviews/asusa7n8x.html" target="_new">MaximumOC, Dec 2002</A>
<A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Mzk0" target="_new">HardOCP, Dec 9 2002</A>

<b>Deluxe version versus Non-Deluxe version</b>

Basically Deluxe has better audio capabilities, a second LAN, firewire, Serial ATA (able to do Serial ATA RAID 0/1). Deluxe can do ATA RAID, but only with converters - the converters will cost you extra.

<b>Tips</b>

<A HREF="http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,751308,00.asp" target="_new">Installing a motherboard</A>
<A HREF="http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,751531,00.asp" target="_new">Installing Memory, CPU and Heatsink</A>

<b>Troubleshooting</b>

- Some problems are solved by clearing the CMOS memory. The Asus A7N8X manual explains how to do this:

<i>Remove power cord.
Remove battery from mobo (small screwdriver needed to move the
retaining clip)
Move the CLRTC1 jumper on to pins 2-3
Move jumper BACK to pins 1-2
Re-install battery
Attach power cord</i>

<b>Links</b>

<A HREF="http://www.nforcershq.com" target="_new">NForce Website</A>
<A HREF="http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=1" target="_new">Definitive BIOS Optimization Guide</A>

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[tha_trixta]

hi Halkebul

You are not making sense on which slots to fully use dual ddr, is it slot 1,3 and 2,3 but NOT 1,2??? I am really curious of this option, i am planning on getting an asus a7n8x, and am interested in dual ddr 333, but dont know what the blue and black slots are for? Will i be able to use dual 333 without it being knocked down to 266 or lower cas timings like 2.5 cas??

thanks for your time,

Trixta

 

[halkebul]

is it slot 1,3 and 2,3 but NOT 1,2???

Yes. Just to keep things simple, I'll say to put the two memory modules in the two slots that are farthest from each other. Like this:

************Memory Module************** [Slot 1]
************Empty********************** [Slot 2]
************Memory Module************** [Slot 3]

<b>Edit: This method, slots 1&3, has been proven to be incorrect. Read first post.</b>

And buy DDR400 memory in order to better prepare for a future option to upgrade to a Barton 400MHz DDR FSB processor. In this case, the FSB/Memory_Speed ratio between your 400MHz DDR Barton processor and your DDR SDRAM memory will be synchroneous (400MHz/400MHz) - addresses performance killing latency. Note: DDR400 can operate at lower speeds like DDR333.

Will i be able to use dual 333 without it being knocked down to 266 or lower cas timings like 2.5 cas??

You will be able to run Dual 333 without being knocked down to 266 and you can run cas 2.5 and even cas 2.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by halkebul on 12/13/02 09:06 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Makaveli]

if budget is a problem you don't have to buy DDR400 if you buy good quality DDR333.

I'm using OCZ Performance PC2700 which come with Copper Heat spreaders and I can run them @ DDR 400 speed and still keep them @ Cas 2! that is at 2.5v if I need to I can increase it to 2.6v or 2.7 DDR voltage.

 

[tha_trixta]

hey can I use dual ddr 400 , like in 2 slots, or will it knock me down to lower speeds? Why would using to dimms knock the user down to lower speeds? I have read articles, even on thg, that state ddr 333 is as fast or faster than 400. what are your thoughts on that? if you say to use the two slots farthest from each other, then how come slots 2 and 3 are blue while slot one is black, or at least thats what i see from the pic? What are the best heatsink / fan options i have facing me, as i would liek to overclock my beast. Would i go a total copper heatsink, or just part copper / part aluminum?

 

[toss5000]

First thing DDR400 ram is only a few dollars more then DDR333, if you getting the Corsair XMS CAS2.0 stuff, which is the best. The ram running at DDR333 has gotton better performence in the benchmarks due to the fact that its in sync with the processor, and I don't think the processor can take full advantage of DDR400. I would still recomend getting DDR400 though, you can always run it at 333 and it gives you better outlook for the future. From what I can see, the color of the RAM slots means nothing. All copper is always the best, depends on your budget. The Thermaltake Volcano 7+ was recomended to me (I have an A7N8X).

- - - -
Kill a man and you're a murderer;
Kill many and you're a conquerer;
Kill 'em all and you're a god.

 

[tha_trixta]

Yes, the volcano 7+ looks like a good hsf, but it is rated for a lower speed athlon, not a 2800. So you think i should go all copper? i am willing to dish out extra cash on a very high quality HSF, as I would like to overclock. Any other recommendations?

 

[toss5000]

Though it is not rated for 2800 or whatever, I'm like 99% sure it will work on one, I think its just because thermaltake wants ppl to buy their newer volcano 9(hoping someone else can verify this), which is not all copper. I have looked at some reviews and the all copper heatsinks always perform the best, and the volcano 7+ outperforms the 9.

- - - -
Kill a man and you're a murderer;
Kill many and you're a conquerer;
Kill 'em all and you're a god.

 

[tha_trixta]

any other great HSF sugggestions out there for me?


AMD athlon xp 2800 desiring an overclock
air cooling, not wishing to watercool

 

[Makaveli]

Your confusing the Volcano 7 With the 7+.
Volcano 7+ has an all copper base, i'm using one right now.
The volcano 7 and 9 are the ones with just a copper insert in the middle of the base. I still think the 7+ is there best HSF!

 

[halkebul]

AMD athlon xp 2800 desiring an overclock

Hello. 2800+ is not a overclocking buy. Get the 2400+ and Thermalright SLK-800 cpu cooling.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[Skipper007]

One thing about running the A7N8X with Corsair XMS memory: you'll need another stick of DDR as well. For some reason, if you run the A7N8X with default Bios settings it won't POST with Corsair XMS, but it will post when hte memory and CPU timings are on agressive. Then I think you can vary the timings and stuff manually, although I'm not sure. Of course, to set the memory timings to agressive, you need a different memory stick, since you need the board to POST to get into the Bios. I know this because I had to troubleshoot a A7N8X recently (work experience at a computer store. Especially fun since one of the systems we got in kept locking up in Warcraft 3, and we had to run a sort of "burn in" on it to make sure it worked - which meant we basically took shifts playing Warcraft 3 for the better part of one day.).

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Skipper007 on 12/09/02 00:24 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[tha_trixta]

So volcano 7+ all the way then? No thoughts on the volcano 9?

 

[XT600_Crix]

About the corsair XMS memory....
I have the Asus A7n8x with a xp2200 (budget ran out there, hehe..) and i'm using one stick of XMS 3200 512Mb memory and it works with any settings. Default, agressive and everything therebetween..... And my PSU sucks and can't even give a stable voltage on any of the lines... (is even to low on most of them).. No problems with stability or anything....

That's not a knife... THIS is a knife!

 

[livedistortion]

I want to get an A7N8X to prepare for the future, but I'm probably not going to go with the latest CPU. The firing squad review said it's only a 5% increase going from the 266 to 333 FSB on the XP2600, is that right? I guess it's not a big deal, especially if you're not playing hardcore games. I may go with a XP2400 and get 266mhz RAM, am I missing out on a whole lot by not going with XP2600 333FSB and 333 or 400 RAM. The most intense app I run is Photoshop. In the reviews dual channel doesn't even seem to make a huge performance difference over standard. I think we all get too caught up in the latest and greatest, myself included.

 

[halkebul]

The firing squad review said it's only a 5% increase going from the 266 to 333 FSB on the XP2600, is that right?

Greetings. 5 percent. I don't know. That sounds pretty good to me. I guess it's a matter of an individual's performance needs.

I may go with a XP2400 and get 266mhz RAM, am I missing out on a whole lot by not going with XP2600 333FSB and 333 or 400 RAM. The most intense app I run is Photoshop.

For intensive Photoshop work, I would go for a Pentium4 Northwood 2.4GHz+ 533MHz QDR FSB system. Pentium4 has certain optimizations that give Photoshop a boost. That's not to say the Athlon isn't fast in that sort of work, but the Pentium4 is better.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[Fionavar]

Simple Question and I have not seen it answered specifically - will the A7N8X support the Barton @ 400mhz? Thanks and great thread!

 

[halkebul]

Yes, it will support the 400MHz DDR FSB Barton processor. It would also be a good idea to get DDR400 memory or faster. In which case the FSB could be in sync with the memory - 400MHz/400MHz FSB/Memory_Speed ratio. Running it in sync results in better performance I highly recommend the <A HREF="http://www.coldconcept.com/default.php/cPath/39_42/osCsid/bacb71282522ff2370ab505db85302d5" target="_new">OCZ PC3500 Enhanced Latency (EL) memory modules</A>. Set up two of them in order to benefit from the DualDDR feature of nforce2 - doubles memory bandwidth. Quality power supply also. I recommend the Enermax EG465P-VE(FMA) 431W power supply. Cheers!

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[Spitfire_x86]

This question is nForce(1) related. I am using 1 x 128 MB Kingston PC2100 CL2.5 DDR in my MSI K7N420 Pro. Will dual channel DDR mode become available if I add one 256 MB Kingston PC2100 CL2.5 DDR?

Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

 

[halkebul]

This question is nForce(1) related. I am using 1 x 128 MB Kingston PC2100 CL2.5 DDR in my MSI K7N420 Pro. Will dual channel DDR mode become available if I add one 256 MB Kingston PC2100 CL2.5 DDR?

Becuase the K7N420 contains the nforce 420D chipset and not the 220D chipset, it <b>does</b> support dual-channel DDR. I would recommend you contact MSI to confirm whether the two memory modules must be the same size.


<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[Fionavar]

Thanks halkebul!

 

[Spitfire_x86]

According to MSI manual, it should not have any problem with different size memory modules. But they also claim that DC DDR is available when 3 memory modules are used!
<A HREF="http://download.msi.com.tw/support/mnu_exe/E6373v1.1.exe" target="_new"> Click to download MSI K7N420 Pro manual </A>

Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

 

[halkebul]

According to MSI manual, it should not have any problem with different size memory modules. But they also claim that DC DDR is available when 3 memory modules are used!

I would call to confirm whether you would be utilizing DC DDR when 3 memory modules are used. The asus A7N8X's manual made a similar statement. Turned out to be an error. I would call them just to be sure.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[Spitfire_x86]

So you are telling me to e-mail MSI? I can make a phone call to my local MSI vendor. But their knowledge base is not good. IMO, I have better knowledge about nForce chipset than them.

Let us know <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=25703#25703" target="_new"> What File compression format you use? </A>

 

[murphys_law]

i'm interested to hear more about this refusal to post with xms memory. my computer ran for 3 days then doh'ed out completely and hasn't posted since. there is a seperate post about this :-"a7n8x sudden death". i've swapped what i can to no avail. but i have the xms in default condition, do you think this is a factor?

specs

a7n8x dlx
xp2200
alpha pal8045
2*256 corsair p3200 cl2
radeon 8500
SB audigy
aureal vortex2
wd 80gb 7200
seagate 40 gb 5400

cheers
Carl