Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe = piece of junk

[SocialChaos]

I just pieced a new system together from newegg, and this is my story.


I ordered an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard, and AMD Athlon XP 3200+ processor, and a 1GB twin pack of Corsair TWINX1024-3200LL PC3200 DDR400 memory. Pieced the machine together, and got all the way up to installing Windows XP Pro. Loaded the SATA with no problems, and right when the installation got to the part where it would normally show my hard disk and the partitioning options, it would reboot. This continued over and over, it was hung up in a reboot cycle. Well, come to find out, the A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard will NOT work with two DIMMS installed. It would load all the way up to the desktop, install drivers and every thing if you used one stick of 512MB (either one worked fine) but when you put them together in single channel or dual channel, no matter what order, and rebooted, it would not load into windows but get hung up in a constant reboot cycle again.

I have tried 4 different DDR voltages, probably 30 different combinations of memory timings, and over 5 different BIOS versions with NO luck whatsoever of these two sticks of memory working together. I have read up all over the internet and this is a known issue with this board yet they chose to ship it with such sh*tty memory support. $293 worth of RAM from NewEgg only to find out only ONE will work in this board, not BOTH like I paid for. At this point, I can either send both the Corsair memory sticks back to NewEgg and get some Twin pack 1GB GEIL Golden Dragon DDR400 PC3200 and HOPE it works ok on the board, or just send the Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe back and order a Abit AN7 or NF7-S and keep my Corsair memory.

I'm not even sure what I want to do at this point. The Golden Dragon memory would be easier to order and slap in the Asus, but again, as picky as this board seems to be, I have a feeling I'd be pissing in the wind trying to get two DIMMS working together. What do you guys think is my best option, get a different board, or just get the GEIL and pray that it works? Let me get off here before I start ranting some more. Thanks ahead of time.

[MJCfromCT]

Originally posted by SocialChaos
Well, come to find out, the A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard will NOT work with two DIMMS installed.

I am not sure what you mean by this...i have my Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe running w/2 ram sticks right now...2 DDR400 512 each, 1GB total, and i dind't have any problems...is this what you are talking about? Have you tried switching the sticks around, or moving them in and out of dual channel slots? Of just running with one stick and seeing if that makes a difference? I dont think you'd have to fiddle with RAM timings and the such, just go with the defaults in your BIOS...also, are you sure that your hard drive isn't kaput?

[SocialChaos]

I have tried every single thing you can imagine, defaults, tweaks, etc.... Windows would not even install with 2 DIMMS together. If I use either one by itself though, no problems. This board should not have been released when it was. Too many memory issues, tons of people sending their memory and/or boards back to NewEgg for different brands. Guess I'll be going with the Abit NF7-S or the AN7 it seems to be very coimpatible memory-wise. If my $293 worth of RAM won't work in Asus' rubbish, then it'll work in someone elses. I hope they eat dirt on this board....downright pathetic memory support.

[rsfnatik]

Odd, I was not aware of any known memory issues with the A7N8X-E... hmm. I know for a fact that there are *many* users out there running more then one DIMM so the problem, if it exists, is not consistent.

Is the RAM included on the boards compatibility list?

[Direct1]

Definately RMA the MB. It's supposed to work with more than 1 DIMM.

Good luck! :D

[Bat25]

Things like that can happen. You might try clearing cmos, loading the OS with one stick, then add the other stick. Go manual and use cas 2.5 - I have set up that mobo with Corsair 2x512 dimms with absolutely no problems. You just got an "iffy' board probably. But that does not mean the board=piece of junk. Get your RMA. Just for giggles I would definately get the Abit, probably better chance that your ram will work. .

[SLX]

Your boards a lemon and its so sour that you can make lemonade out of it.:eek:

[SocialChaos]

Originally posted by SLX
Your boards a lemon and its so sour that you can make lemonade out of it.:eek:

LOL....thanks for the support :D


Anyways, ****update***


To my surprise, one of the 512MB Corsair DDR400 chips stopped working, now one of them works in the machine by itself and the other one doesn't. So I finally settled on the fact that I had ONLY a bad stick of memory. I was installing all my drivers in Windows XP Pro using the good 512MB stick and everything was peachy......until....I installed the sound driver for the nVidia Soundstorm audio. I could get sound out of the top 3 channels but nothing out of the bottom 3 which are input, output, and mic I/O on the rear of the board. Using the standard 2 speaker setup, when they were plugged into the green one (obviously the standard audio output jack) These were with the shipping version of the nVidia drivers and the newest updated ones from www.nvidia.com I got no sound even with 2 different sets of speakers while playing mp3 audio. When I switched it to 5.1 or 6.1 audio output and plugged the speakers into the top 3 jacks on the rear of the board which were subwoofer, rear speakers and center channel speakers, I got sound of of every one of those.

So, after testing my mic in the mic jack just to reassure myself, I finally came to the conclusion that all 3 jacks on the bottom row are defective and do not function at all. So, long story short, I have an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe board with 3 bad audio I/O ports and a bad Corsair 512MB DDR400 memory stick (the other one tested good). I got an RMA number today from NewEgg and will be ordering the Abit NF7-S motherboard and the Kingston HyperX 1GB Dual Pack DDR400 tonight with overnight shipping in hopes of getting my box up and running by friday night. In my 10+ years in the computer field this was my most unlucky purchase yet. A defective board and a defective memory stick all in one order. *Sigh*.......maybe I'll have better luck with the new order. Good luck to you all on your new builds, don't end up with my luck! :t

[guardz]

Im running a ASUS deluxe with 768 megs of two sticks ( 512 / 256) and its running sweet !!

[Bat25]

Yeah, they are very nice motherboards :)

[guardz]

well actually...Im getting my new pc built round that MoBo! Every tech Ive been to reguarding this build has had nothing but prase for the asus a8 deluxe board.....good stuff! ;) :)

[steevo]

Just bought said board and it's been sweet as a nut since i installed it. Running 2x 512 PC3200 in dual channel mode.

[guardz]

Yip same stevo. Im biulding a amd 2.8xp+ with 512x2 DDr400 ram and a seagate 80g Hard drive with a powercolor Radeon 9800pro vid card. Ive been to untolled techs to ask if this combo would be ok and they all said the MoBo will hack the pace so what more can I do?? Sometimes u have to run with it ah! ;)

[i1zombie]

So I not the only one out there that hates their Asus A7N8X deluxe MB. It has been somewhat unstable for me and many different components have not worked well. For example my SCSI AHA 2940UW card has worked well on two previous motherboards but it doesn't like my A7N8X. After 8 months of tinkering I am feed up and looking to get a P4. In the future I plan to buy only intel chips sets.

[Bat25]

In your case you might get someone to build for you. Or just buy pre-built.

[guardz]

Yip getting one biult with a warrenty is always a good idea...then if it doesnt go well take it back. A good tech should always let u know wots goona work and wots not anyway.

[Cravczec]

I'm running an A7N8X with two sticks of Geil PC3200 @ 200MHZ maybe try running it with everything at defaults.

[guardz]

So is ur motherboard running ok crav?? How do u find it? Also wot sort of Video card do u run mate?

[dajogejr]

That's the way it goes...Soc.
I just built my friend a system with that board, AIW 9800, two sticks of OEM Crucial PC3200...all from newegg.
The vid card and one of the sticks of RAM were bad.


So...RMA'd 'em...and he had it all together in less than a week.

All is well.

I'm very fond of my A7N8X deluxe Rev. 2 board...but, these Nforce boards are picky about RAM...especially the Asus offerings....

Sorry bout your luck, but...me thinks once you have a good board, you'll be very happy.

[guardz]

So Dajo...u say the vid card AND a stick of ram where stuffed...heck man where'd u find it...?..on the floor!??? :confused: :t

[dajogejr]

newegg.com.

Very...very rare indeed.

I order thousands of bucks worth of stuff from them a year...first run of bad parts. It was due to happen, but...this is a good friend of mine, so...kinda sucked. Oh well....

;)

[guardz]

lol yeah mate...nothing perfect forever ah. 'They' reckon 1 in every 1000 electronic items fail world wide outa everyone thats made and sold....and theres HEAPS made and sold as you know world-wide......:rolleyes:

[dajogejr]

Yep, me's been lucky.
Built about 5 Asus based systems, never had a problem.
Recently, I've used Albatron, MSI and Abit, no issues, either...
Luck of the draw...oh well.

:t

[Someone Stupid]

Watch out ESD, that generally is the cause of more lemons than not. If this is one of your first builds, you've probably experienced it. Not saying the ram and the board aren't bad, but it's just rare. Daj builds systems fairly frequently from the sound of it and he found some bad parts, so it could be either. Just I found the one thing that wasn't mentioned was ESD (static), so I figured I'd chime in on that just incase that was the problem.

Don't work on carpet is the major issue, also touch the chassis and KEEP touching it if at all possible while handling anything, especially if going inside it and it has been plugged in before.

[dajogejr]

Good call...SS.

Yep...I try to touch the innards of the case frame as much as possible, if not keep constant contact with my wrists/arms as I'm putting the goods in the case.

I think a ground strap is overkill, as long as some sense is used!!

;)

[guardz]

No man...a stat strap is a good thing. I worked at a major eletronics place here and if we didnt wear them we got fired! simple as that. The amount of bugger components frm body stactic was amazing!!! :eek:

[dajogejr]

I can see in some locations...my ex had to wear 'em in an electronics factory she used to work at...they made circuit boards for the big three.

But...unless you manufacture PCs...it might be a little overkill!

Still...smoke if ya got 'em, right??

;) :D

[guardz]

Right!!! :)

[SocialChaos]

The Asus A7N8X-E was not the problem, and neither was the Abit NF7-S....read below and I hope none of you are going through this like I did for 3 weeks.

***UPDATE***

I posted this on the Corsair forum about the THREE TWINX1024-3200C2PT sets I have sent back to NewEgg. I have an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe and an Abit NF7-S, and THREE different sets of the TWINX1024-3200C2PT brand new in the retail package refused to run at 400mhz on either board with an Athlon XP 3200+ 400FSB. This week I ran a memtest on each module by itself for 8 hours straight on the Asus at 400mhz, both chips failed at about 20 different voltage and timing settings. However, I clocked each chip down anywhere in between DDR333 and DDR400, and both chips passed a 10 hour memtest86 with no errors. I have come to the conclusion that while these modules are tested in the A7N8X, they are NOT wanting to run at DDR400 at any timing/voltage configuration. I have sent my 3rd pair back and have some Mushkin DDR400 Level I twin pack on the way Wednesday. I'll bet money the Mushkin clocks right in sync with the 3200+ at DDR400 unless a module is defective. These TWINX1024-3200C2PT need to be recalled or something, they are not stable at DDR400. For all those planning new builds running at DDR400 avoid the TWINX1024-3200C2PT go with either a different kind of Corsair or go with another brand. You'll end up like me going through 3 sets of TWINX on 2 different boards beating your head on the wall. They don't work at DDR400, just send them back while you can. To all those running stable at 400, you got lucky.


***UPDATE***

Received my Mushkin Level I Twin pack DDR400 today, put both sticks in, set to DDR400 at 2.6v and 2-3-2-11 timings, and works flawlessly. No crashing out of games or failing memtest86. As I suspected, all three sets of the TWINX1024-3200C2PT refused to run at DDR400 with the Athlon XP 3200+ processor I have on both the Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe and the Abit NF7-S. If you get a set of Corsair and find that it won't run at DDR400, do yourself a favor and send them back and go with a different brand. I fought with these modules for 3 weeks going through 3 different sets of TWINX1024-3200C2PT trying to give Corsair the benefit of the doubt, but all I did was waste my time. Ordered the Mushkin and all was well.

[Someone Stupid]

Considering that Corsair is one of the more, if not most heralded company when it comes to quality high value ram that is rather odd indeed.

[SocialChaos]

Originally posted by Someone Stupid
Considering that Corsair is one of the more, if not most heralded company when it comes to quality high value ram that is rather odd indeed.

Yeah I used Corsair exclusively until this happened. Then again, 3dfx used to make good video cards and now look at them. Looks like they better improve their quality or lower their prices because I just paid $54 less for the Mushkin DDR400 and it's kicking the Corsair's @ss all over the place. I think I've found the brand I'm gonna start using from now on. I don't feel like running around in circles with Corsair anymore. Their head has gotten too big to the point where they don't want to admit to QA issues or just plain bad batches of RAM going out the door. What puzzles me is, RAMGuy on the Corsair forum couldn't believe that three sets wouldn't work in my A7N8X-E Deluxe, as he mentioned "they are tested here at the factory on the A7N8X". At what? DDR333? Because they sure as hell wouldn't work at DDR400 in TWO different top of the line nForce boards. And it was in fact the memory every time, because memtest86 pulled errors every time I had the modules clocked at DDR400, but at anything lower it would pass with flying colors. I didn't pay $266 for a pack of memory for it to have trouble running at DDR400. Not to mention the Corsair has gone up to $307 now and I picked up the Mushkin (which is performing way better than the three sets of Corsair ever did) for $249 from NewEgg.

[lptech]

SocialChaos-

I guess that this is one of these "buyer beware" issues where the manufacturer makes a claim that they couldn't justify fully. Too bad that you had to be the one to find this out. At least that saves us from having to find out the hard way.

Maybe Corsair had rested on their laurels for too long. Having made their brand of memory well-known doesn't really guarantee that it would work for all mobos with specific chipsets! This apparently is one of those instances. Let us know if you find other brands that claim to work but don't. Good luck!

LPTECH

[guardz]

....Yeah...well Ive never heard of the Corsair brand. I use either Kingmax or adata with my asua a7nx8-e mobo. But even well know , well bread stuff has different ups and downs. For instance, the seagate 160G hard drive is **** in general when their 80 and 200G hd's run rings round similar hd's....my ponit being sometimes you can never tell even frm well know more expensive brands whats gonna give and whats gonna hack it. :r

[Someone Stupid]

Corsair is generally ranked as the company you pay a premium for the ram because you know that ram will perform in overclocking situations, not because of the name. The XMS line is made in the US, hence the even higher cost, the Value line is made oversea's for obvious reasons. This may be an issue with new DDR 400. IIRC Corsair test all their paired XMS modules before shipping. Can be checked at Legit Reviews, Corsair Plant Tour just incase I'm wrong on this, but I believe I recall this correctly.

Might have been a motherboard issue if Corsair changed ram, which happens from time to time, which now makes that brand incompatible with your motherboard. I'm guessing it's a ram change as they have changed providers for several grades. Hynix is used now on the high end, I'm not sure who else though.

Btw Asus and Corsair they may not know this yet as it could be a new deal as I've always heard of Corsair working on that board and only recall one time I've heard anyone say they had a bad stick of the stuff unless they were running it set wrong. I generally always use Corsair for personal builds, I may look into OCZ as they are starting to look really good from the disaster they were. There is always Crucial, not performance stuff, but it works.

Glad it is sorted out in the end, just it sucks that it took so long. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth as well I must admit.

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by Someone Stupid
Considering that Corsair is one of the more, if not most heralded company when it comes to quality high value ram that is rather odd indeed. Corsair Ram has had a history of problems w\ the A7N8X board, It was s'posed to have been fixed by Corsair ...maybe you got some old stock.

[SocialChaos]

Originally posted by Strawbs
Corsair Ram has had a history of problems w\ the A7N8X board, It was s'posed to have been fixed by Corsair ...maybe you got some old stock.


Since I ordered from NewEgg, which sells more computer components than any company in the world, that would mean Corsair is sending out **** to vendors that still doesn't work. It's pretty sad when a company gets so big headed they forget about us, the very people who keep them in business. It'll be a long time before I go with Corsair again after all this.

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by SocialChaos
Since I ordered from NewEgg, which sells more computer components than any company in the world, that would mean Corsair is sending out **** to vendors that still doesn't work. ..Understand that the issue only affected this particular board! The RAM was readily compatable w\ 99% of the others and worked very well and above spec in most cases! It's not "****" ram, it was just a run-of-the-mill compatability issue. They can and do happen with many components from most companies from time to time. I actually meant that maybe you got some of Newegg's old stock, not Corsair's.

Originally posted by SocialChaos
... It's pretty sad when a company gets so big headed they forget about us, the very people who keep them in business. It'll be a long time before I go with Corsair again after all this.welcome to the world of big business. :t

[guardz]

Originally posted by SocialChaos
Since I ordered from NewEgg, which sells more computer components than any company in the world, that would mean Corsair is sending out **** to vendors that still doesn't work. It's pretty sad when a company gets so big headed they forget about us, the very people who keep them in business. It'll be a long time before I go with Corsair again after all this. ...

LOL true...look at EA games..:mad:

[ebinator]

Hi @ all!
I am lucky having found this thread. Here's my story:
I had a 8rda+ Board which went up in smoke when i tried to use it with TWINX1024-3200C2 Corsair RAM. So far so good.. everything has to die sometime. I went to my local store and bought the a7n8x-e, which was supposed to be a very popular and stable board. I tried to use it with my new Corsair RAM and I had CRC errors all the time, bluescreens, spontantious restarts.
I lowered the FSB and the RAM frequency from 200 mhz to 166 and .... :D :D :D tadaaaaaa it worked. Stable as a rock. Having in mind that i had bought RAM for 270 bucks i wanted to use it with its official specs... at least. But it never worked stable... i have tried several bios versions, even the uber bios 1008. Nothing helped. Then I looked a bit around and found several threads dealing with this issue: most of them say the a7n8x-[e] is making trouble when using 1 gig of ram. others say it is important to use only ram that is validated by asus. Others said u can't use twinbanking with this board @ 200 fsb. My opinion, and i have found this one several times in different forums is the following: 1. the board is quite picky with ram; 2. Some of the TWINX1024-3200C2 modules are simply ****. Having the experiences of SocialChaos in mind I would say that the board ain't the problem, 'cause the RAM didn't work either with the Abit Mobo.

What do you think about my investigations ?

_________________________________________________
plz excuse my "bad" english, i am german

[causticVapor]

I think the RAM might have gotten damaged from the frydom.

Why not start a new thread about this?

[ebinator]

Originally posted by MJCfromCT
I am not sure what you mean by this...i have my Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe running w/2 ram sticks right now...2 DDR400 512 each, 1GB total, and i dind't have any problems...is this what you are talking about? Have you tried switching the sticks around, or moving them in and out of dual channel slots? Of just running with one stick and seeing if that makes a difference? I dont think you'd have to fiddle with RAM timings and the such, just go with the defaults in your BIOS...also, are you sure that your hard drive isn't kaput?

Can you tell me what kind of RAM you got? Brand etc.