Asus A8V

[anthony_abx]

not a very encouraging thread i was going to order the asys a8v and fx-53 next friday since i can't wait no more for the socket 939 nf3 boards

so, are there any revision numbers i should check out for to get the so called hardware fixed mb? (to get pci/agp locks)

thx

[xgman]

The setup is no where as bad as we/I may be making it sound. The only thing is we were hoping for more than the 940/FX setups gave, which already kicked ***. So this setup is pretty awesome, it is just that we are getting a little impatient and maybe a little power greedy, and there is the uncertainty of the locks which is probably the worts part of it right now. In any case there should be many more boards soon and I'm sure it will all get sorted out. Eary adopters always live on the edge a bit. It is an expensive and time consuming habit. (but i love it!)

[Sierra_abx]

Originally Posted by anthony

not a very encouraging thread i was going to order the asys a8v and fx-53 next friday since i can't wait no more for the socket 939 nf3 boards

so, are there any revision numbers i should check out for to get the so called hardware fixed mb? (to get pci/agp locks)

thx

You could try flashing to Bigtoe's BIOS first and see if that fixes the problem. It did for me. I don't know which serial numbers indicate a board has the two extra resistors. I think Asus has said it would fix any problem if you RMA'ed them your board.

[Sierra_abx]

Originally Posted by xgman

It is an expensive and time consuming habit. (but i love it!)

Me too.

Let me know if SetFSB works for you.

[bmg]

Originally Posted by sierra_bound

Hi cmay119. The main difference between the two boards is that the A8V does not required registered RAM. There is an issue with the AGP/PCI lock. But a BIOS update seems to have fixed that. I'm 99.9% certain the lock is working now on my board. The next issue is getting more VDimm. Xgman says he can't get above 2.875v, even with a vmod. This could be problematic since my BH-5 sticks need more voltage.

So is the bios update to 1005.020 all that's needed to fix the FX53 problems?

[Sierra_abx]

Originally Posted by bmg

So is the bios update to 1005.020 all that's needed to fix the FX53 problems?

That was the case with my board. I got a hold of a beta version of SetFSB which confirms the lock is working. As I mentioned earlier, I have not had any stability problems with 1005.020.

[xgman]

I saw this post on amdmb.com forum today. Sounds like BS, but what do you make of it? :

"According to ASUS there is no difference in any of there A8V deluxe boards, they say that they have not reworked to board to get the AGP/PCI locks working, also they say that they never sayed that they were going to work properly, it is a VIA chipset problem and they can't get it to run stable. Below is a copy of my fault report and reply from ASUS.

Dear Lee,
Sorry but the A8V does not support unsynchronised mode because the VIA chipset is not stable under this mode, indeed we never claimed that it would do so, it isn't to do with resistors or a rework on the board. It will support other overclocking features of course. Could you tell us where you saw the resistors mentioned? We would like to know so we can quash this rumour. You can find the correct information at the link below:
---------- Original Message ----------
From : LeeHowdle@msn.com
Sent : 16/06/2004 03:08:22
To : "tsd@asus.com.tw"
Subject : <TSD> Motherboard A8V Deluxe

Apply date : 6/16/2004 3:07:45 AM

[Contact Information]
Name : Lee Howdle
Email : LeeHowdle@msn.com
Telephone : 01132287868
City : Leeds
Country : United Kingdom

[Product Information]
Product Type : Motherboard
Model Name : A8V Deluxe
Product Type : Motherboard
Product Serial No : 45mg0b7663
Purchase Location : (Venders name ommitted from this to protect the innocent)
Purchase Date : 2004/6/8
MB version : revision 1
MB BIOS version : 1003 also tried 1005, back at 1003
CPU Vendor : amd 64 3500+
CPU Type : SOCKET 939
CPU Speed : 2.2ghz
Memory Vendor : Corsair
Memory Type : 3200 xl pt
Memory Size : 2X512
HD Vendor : Samsung
HD Name :
HD Size : 160
Addon Card Vendor : Creative
Addon Card Type : Soundcard
Addon Card Name : AUDIGY 2 Platinum

Operating System : XP Professional

[Problem Description]
This board does not have the working agp/pci lock, i understand that some boards have so
components missing which does n! ot allow the locks to work. If i set the locks the system will not boot.
I would like to know if this was true or i can be sorted out with a official bios update. I have changed
to this board because i had a lot of trouble with a very unstable chaintech ZNF3 250 board, which
claimed to do things it could not, so I would not be very happy if this is also the case with this board.
If you could shed some light on this i would be grateful. If it is a problem with this board model I would
like a new board that works properly as soon as possible. I can't send it back to the store i got it from
as they say that it is not strictly faulty, it is just limited in its overclocking ability. This i will not accept
from you as you push this board as an overclocking board.

I eagerley await your answers.
Many thanks.

Lee Howdle."

[Sierra_abx]

Originally Posted by xgman

I saw this post on amdmb.com forum today. Sounds like BS, but what do you make of it?

Always remember this is the same company that's passing off BIOS 1002.019 for the SK8V as 1002 Final.

[xgman]

After closer inspection it looks like removing the IHS lowered temps by 8 degrees.

[Sierra_abx]

Originally Posted by xgman

After closer inspection it looks like removing the IHS lowered temps by 8 degrees.

My idle temps now are around 38-40C. Of course, the weather has been very hot where I live. Have you flashed to the newer BIOS? I won't be able to do it until I get off work.

[xgman]

yes and tried the vdim again. Like I posted on the other site, I do not think the locks are working regardless of the reports and settings. Everyones sync seems to hit the wall around 228. I tried my Mush lvl 2 Bh's and the XL's hit the wall at the exact same spot. 228.

[Sierra_abx]

You're talking about running 2-2-2-5, right? Because that one guy at XS got 240 HTT at 2-3-2-5. And I can get 232-233 at the same timings.

[Sierra_abx]

FYI, I talked to the SetFSB guy. He says the program is reading information from the clock generator.

I flashed to the latest BIOS. Still stable, but no improvement in performance that I can see.

[xgman]

Originally Posted by sierra_bound

You're talking about running 2-2-2-5, right? Because that one guy at XS got 240 HTT at 2-3-2-5. And I can get 232-233 at the same timings.

No I'm getting random screen freezes at 2-3-2-5 even at 228. I have tried lowering the multi and 2 sets of ram and even clocken at 2700 mhz seemed ok, so I have to think it is the board. I'm going to get a Abit AV8 Friday and see if that behaves differently. then I will probably try the Giabyte 939 board when it ships just to compare.

[Sierra_abx]

I have no trouble running 2-3-2-5 @ 232. By the way, I just ordered some 3700EB. I want to see if I can get a little higher HTT.