[soloz2]

As many of you know, I have been having problems getting my Corsair XMS memory to run at the timings it was tested and certified to run at on the A8N-SLI Deluxe mobo. I sent Asus a Technical Inquiry 2 weeks ago. Yes, two full weeks ago today, and I finally got an answer. Note that it states on Asus's website that they answer these inquiries in 48 hours. That is a blatant lie!
So anyway, if you read my initial message I clearly state that I have run memtest and contacted Corsair about my memory. Yet, what does Asus suggest? They tell me to run memtest and to contact my memory manufacture. I waited a full 2 weeks just to recieve a generic email that tells me Asus did not even read my email! Hell a monkey could have done a better job than Asus! Asus could write a program to look for key words in their technical inquiries and then shoot off generic emails.
Asus Tech, who posts on here sometimes even told me that he would bring my problem to work and have an answer to me the next day. That was over a week and a half ago. It's sad to say that the one person who works for Asus Tech who at least tries to appear to care about customers can't even keep to his word.

In short, Asus officially has the worst Tech Support Ever!!!

Here is my original email with the response that I got:

Dear Sir/Madam:

If the memory is causing the problems you are having, there are programs out there that will help in diagnosing problems with memory such as the ones found at www.memtest86.com or the Microsoft memtest diagnostic tool, although we do not officially support these tests your manufacturer may suggest one of these I have listed or another that they themselves use. Below are links to some of the more commonly used memory manufacturers compatibility labs where you can verify what would be the tested and approved memory for your motherboard.Please do not respond to this email. If you need further assistance please have your case number ready, then contact Technical Support at 502-995-0883 (M-F 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM EST).


Corsair: http://www.corsairmicro.com/corsair/...2004-APRIL.pdf
Tech support number for Corsair - 1-800-205-7657

Mushkin: http://www.mushkin.com/epages/Mushki...646/Product/Vi ew/990880
Tech support number for Mushkin - 1-800-569-1868

Kingston: http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/conf...ls.asp?root=us
Tech support number for Kingston - 1-800-435-0640

Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/store/listPro...+to+step+2+%3E
Tech support number for Crucial - 1-800-336-8915

OCZ : http://www.ocztechnology.com/support/motherboard/
Tech support number for OCZ - 1-800-459-1816

Unigen: http://www.unigen.com/search/brand.cfm
Tech support number for Unigen - 1-510-668-2088


Asus Technical Support

*** Please include all Previous emails to our Technical Support Staff so that we can better assist you with your ASUS Products. ***

---------- Original Message ----------
From : soloz_2@hotmail.com
Sent : 10/17/2005 12:35:36 AM
To : "tsd@asus.com.tw"
Subject : <TSD> Motherboard A8N-SLI Deluxe

[CASEID=WTM20051017019182970]

Apply date : 10/17/2005 12:19:18 AM

[Contact Information]
*Name : Jacob Studioso
*Email Address : soloz_2@hotmail.com
Phone Number : 605.999.7983
City : Houghotn
*Country : United States

[Product Information]
*Product Type : Motherboard
*Product Model : A8N-SLI Deluxe
*Product S/N : 52ZG029483
Place of Purchase : newegg.com
*Date of Purchase : 2005/5/21

[Motherboard Specification]
*Motherboard Revision : 1.02
*Motherboard BIOS Revision : 1014

[VGA Card Specification]
*VGA Card Vendor : MSI
*VGA Card Model : NX6600GT-TD128E
*VGA Card Chipset : Nvidia 6600GT
*VGA Card Driver : 78.01

[CPU Specification]
*CPU Vendor : AMD
*CPU Type : socket 939
*CPU Speed : 3200+ (2.0Ghz)

[Memory Specification]
*Memory Vendor : Corsair
*Memory Model : Twinx1024-3200C2Pt
*Memory Capacity : 1024MB

[HDD Specification]
HDD Vendor : Seagate 2 in RAID 0 same model
HDD Model : ST380817AS
HDD Capacity : 160GB

[Add-on Card Specificatio]
Add-on Card Vendor : Sound Blaster
Add-on Card Type : Audio
Add-on Card Model : Audigy 2 ZS Gamer

*Operating System : WinXP

[Problem Description]
Whenever I try to run my memory at a command rate of 1T if my memory timings are 2.5-3-3-6 as
Corsair specification Windows will not boot at all or if it does it will blue screen and/or crash.
with the default tmings of 3-3-3-8 if I switch to 1T windows will start but prime95 will give me hardware
failure errors.
My memory passes memtest even at 2.5-3-3-6 1T.

Corsair said it was probably either a bios or cpu memory controller problem. I have the newest bios
(both 1013 and 1014 don't fix the problem). Amd seems to say that if the memory controller is bad the
system won't be able to boot windows at all.

Please help!




Yeah, so this just really pisses me off! I can't believe I had to wait 2 weeks for a BS answer like this. Since then I have rulled out my cpu. I rma'd my memory just in case. I should get it back monday or tues... but still this is rediculous!

If the new memory does not work I am seriously considering trying to rma my mobo to newegg instead of Asus and see if I can get a refund. Then I'll buy a different mobo. I've heard some decent things about both MSI and DFI. I'm just not sure what the best mobo would be.

[swimtech]

Man soloz2, I've been reading the history of posts on your memory timing problem and I can understand your frustration. Looks like ASUS dropped the ball on your tech request, but honestly, it is possible that the memory was the problem - and you'll find out in a couple days...

Certainly, you have had a bad experience all around (the PSU issue too...) but ASUS has a relatively good history of reliability, voluminous information on their board on their site, and regular bios updates for their boards.

Before you stick the memory in your board when it comes, make sure you have updated the Nvidia chipset driver to version 6.65 to go with your bios version A1014...

[soloz2]

Yeah, I am really hopping that there was a problem with my memory that memtest didn't show. It's a shame because I still like Asus' products. It's just thier customer service that desperately needs help! Most other top companies have moderators on their forums and tech support that responds in a timely manor. It's a shame that Asus can't pick up on this.

As far as drivers go, I have 6.66 nvidia drivers installed on my system, and when i reinstalled windows I rebuilt my RAID config using the 6.66 drivers. I do see that Nvidia came out with 6.70 this last week. I may end up upgrading to them. I do plan on upgrading to the newest graphics drivers.

Thanks for the note though. I'll be sure that I post the outcome when I get my cpu and memory back.

[swimtech]

What is confusing for me about your problem is that Memtest runs the memory at your selected bios timings and finds no fault, but Windows won't 'get with the program'. Maybe the new chipset driver will help too. Be sure and deactivate all overclocks as well...

[The_Neon_Cowboy]

I only had one experiance with the thech support and it was smooth
sailing / both fast & good.

Also keep in mind software memory testers DO NOT AND CAN NOT TEST EVERYTHING
that say an actuall $10,000 memory tester can . In short your memory could still defective
but excape detectio in a software memory test...

Make sure your ram is set the the voltage the MFG specifies when to attempt the timeings.
Some ram is the STD 2.5 but others need 2.6 or 2.75 and depending on what exact ram you bought it will be specified.

Attempt a slightly higher voltage like 2.6V, then try to use the faster settings, also
make sure you setting the correct ones. If you bios is as confusing is mine (giveing
me to much control )as in I have to think a moment to relese what to set where.

BTW: there is a beta bios avilable for your board 1015.005

[soloz2]

Yeah, I did put my system back to stock speeds to test my memory. The wierd thing wsa is that sometimes it seemed to work better when the system was slightly overclocked... oh well. I did talk with Corsair and I tried voltages from 2.7, 2.75 and 2.8.

I'm really hopping that I get my memory back tomorrow!

[soloz2]

Well my RAM and cpu came back today... I have to work till 9 though so I won't be able to try them out. At least I can putz around on here though .

I know my cpu is good bc AMD tested it and told me. My RAM I'm thinking that Corsair found something wrong with it because the sent me different memory back. it is a newer version... v5.2 instead of 4.2.

After work tonight I'll try to get my rig back together. I have a feeling it'll be a late night esp since Episode III came today so I'm sure my wife will want to watch that

[swimtech]

Cool stuff in the mail today!

Hope all works well...

[soloz2]

Well it looks like so far so good... I'm able to run my RAM at 2.5-3-3-6 1T @ 240MHz. I'd like to get to 2.5, but for some reason when i tried to go higher to test my RAM (cpu clocked at 2.0GHz cause the multiplier was at x8) memtest wouldn't load. I'll look into it later.

[swimtech]

Decent! 20% overclock at 1T - hope she holds...