CPU & GPU issues on A8N-SLi Premium

[Zenoth]

Hi.

First post here.

I have low-performance issues with my system, based on ASUS A8N-SLi Premium (BIOS 1008).

Currently with Windows XP, Service Pack 1 (was on Service Pack 2 when I first encountered the issues in question, so I tried again with SP 1).

I got this system three days ago, and so far, I haven't been able to make it run like it should.

First of all, there's a thread I made about this on nVidia forums, here is the link: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=9479

It explains, quite in details, pretty much everything I "know" of the situation so far.

I've been searching for help since three days on this, and all the replies I've read so far only suggests me to try different driver versions of the nForce 4 chipset drivers. Which of course I did countless times within the three reformats I've done since I built the system and turned it on for the first time.

Basically, my GPU performs lower than it should.

And the CPU performs much lower than it should.

Here's my 3DMark05 score compare link (I ran this one just a few minutes ago): http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1484856

I am shocked, and disappointed like never before. I've ... spent, or should I say wasted $1,300+ CAN on this, and what I get is problems.

I am sure, I am conveinced at 101% that I am forgetting something, or missing something that I am not aware of.

Such as, am I using the good set of drivers ?

Do I need different nForce types of drivers ?

Should I try the Unified Drivers instead ? Even with an ATi GPU ?

What am I doing wrong ?

What should I consider, what should I verify ?

Please oh please someone, something, help me.

The worst case scenario would be to return ALL the parts I bought, and get my money back, and completely forget about PCI-Express based or nForce 4 based systems, and get stranded in the past with AGP.

[Randomletters]

I know its a long shot but have you tried defragmenting your hd before running the test? Also have you actually played any games? if so how were your framerates?

[H3X4D3C1M4L]

You should run Unified nForce drivers for your mobo even if its got an ATI card

[The_Neon_Cowboy]

You realise your FSB is listed at "240" A 40 Mhz overclock
Your AMD Athlon 64 3500+ is over clocked from 2.2 to 2.4 Ghz (wich
doesn't make since as 240X11=2640 but it could be due to AMD cool
& quite if you have it enabled. and beinglisted as "AMD Athlon(tm)
64 2400 MHz" (case its overclocked or set at other then it default clock).
depending on you setting that would mean your also running your pc3200
400mhz ram @ 480Mhz

so it appears you overclocking... That could be the root of your woes
if your system can't handle the clocks your trying...

[Zenoth]

To Randomletters :

Yes, I've defragmanted my C: & D: Disk Drives. And, yep, I've installed Steam (Half-Life 2 and so on), plus other games, like Far Cry, I've played them, and the frame rates are ridiculous, much lower than they should, and they drop way too easily even at 1024 x 768 without any A-A or A-F.

To H3X4D3C1M4L :

And even if I am running a PCI-E GPU ? Aren't the Unified Drivers supposed to be for AGP-based nForce 4 systems ?

Well, I will try them in a few moments after this reply, then I'll come back after to let you guys know what's the results.

To The_Neon_Cowboy :

My AMD Cool & Quiet is Disabled, and was never turned On since I got the system. I want my CPU fan to run full speed, as it always did on my previous system, and it still works great (reference fan), silent, and still efficient. I wouldn't need to have control over it (which is the role of Cool & Quiet, isn't it ?), or I wouldn't need that it controls itself either. It's fine at it is.

As for the FSB at 240 Mhz, yes, indeed, it is. I did it manually, with a sufficient CPU Core voltage as well (it's a 130nm ClawHammer, so even just a 200 Mhz over-clock needs more juice). That's with a multiplier of 10, since at 11 it gives an higher over-clock, and right now I don't need it at 2.6 Ghz, and being at 2.4 Ghz is just a test to see if the system runs stable with any over-clock from the FSB, and it seems it does. I do know that a 200 Mhz over-clock won't really help in games, as I said, it's a test.

As for the Memory, my Corsair PC-3200 is currently set at 333 Mhz, 2-2-2-5, 1T, in the BIOS (Manually set of course). At default, it runs at 266 Mhz, 2.5-3-3-5, 1T. And when it runs as default speed, CPU-z 1.31 reports that it runs at 160 Mhz. And when it is set as it is right now (333 Mhz in BIOS), then CPU-z reports it at 200 Mhz, which I believe should be the speed it should run at a minimum.

What I'm going to try next:

1) Bring back the FSB / CPU Voltage to Default
2) Un-install ALL drivers I have (GPU, Sound, Chipset) by following steps I've seen in another forum
3) Install Unified Drivers (I'm gonna try), GPU Drivers, and SoundBlaster Drivers
4) Test again

I'll be back ...

[Zenoth]

Ok, I've tried Unified Drivers 5.10, and then Unified Drivers Beta 6.11. Also, I've set my CPU / FSB back to default from BIOS.

Still nothing changed. It's even worse.

3DMark05 score dropped even more, and reached 4900 with 5.10, and about 5100 with Beta 6.11. At least, nForce 4 Drivers version 6.70, for AMD, gets me 5500 in 3DMark05.

But it's still way too low.

I should get 7000+ with my set-up.


If I see my situation is doomed, then I'll bring back my Motherboard to the store, and completely forget about ASUS.

I'll go with another company. Probably ABIT.

And if I still get problems, I'll wait until I get a new CPU.

And if I still get problems, I'll get a refund on my X1800 XL as well, and I'll go back with AGP, and buy an GeForce 6 series GPU and get stranded with AGP forever, since PCI-E doesn't want to work.

I'm sick of all this. I don't know what to do, what to try anymore. I've tried everything I could think of.

[Zenoth]

Could anyone please tell me the exact names of all needed files, or the files I should have into my system32/drivers/ folder ?

That's considering I got a PCI-E GPU, and an nForce 4 chipset.

I want to make sure all the drivers I have are the ones I should have, and if any are missing, or if they are too old.

[H3X4D3C1M4L]

PCI-E or not you go to nVidia's website and look under the section for your chipset then install it.

Better yet go to the mobo manufacturer's website and install everything off of that and while you're there see if there is a BIOS update for the board.