AOA is loosing ground

[ThunderRd]

I'm not opposed to working with/around problems with compatibility or performance; that's what the enthusiast market is all about, whether it's computers, or cars, or high-end audio(I spent a long time in all those pursuits in my "former" life) - I just can't stand when a component or part of a component simply doesn't work. I believe that every motherboard should put the user in a position to install the OS, out of the box, with the proper peripheral components. There shouldn't be any of this, "oh, it's an IDE DVD? Why not just put a SATA drive. They perform better anyway. You don't need the IDE channel" crap from the manufacturer reps. If it's on the board, I want it working. No one ever knows when he might need one of these extra features. They are there for a reason.

I don't care if it's a $350 ME or a $40 special, it should work as sold. I guess I'm more POed with the service reps' silly communications than the fact that it doesn't work. I don't like the rhetoric they give us, especially when they know that many of us know more than they do. And I don't think that would take too much.

[Samuknow]

Did you try a Bios flash. I had to do that once on an Asus board to get it to install. Something was corrupt in the bios that was stopping it dead.

I was a DFI die hard for the longest. But first there was Asus. My last board was Asus as well. Both have had their issues. but the performance and OC ability far out weighed the problems. Right now I am on EVGA and I love it. It all works and is super stable and it looks great as well.

With you being so far away Robert, it has to make it tough. I agree, if it is on the board, it should work.

[ThunderRd]

Yeah, I re-flashed the BIOS. And I also flashed it to a newer beta BIOS. And back again. SOS.

It's not like the problem with my A8N, though. This board posts fine; there doesn't seem to be any problem other than the JMicron controller not functioning.

Here's the last blurb from ASUS tech support [they gave up fairly easily after I objected to their suggestion that I don't use the port]:

In this situation, please try to enter BIOS>Advanced>Onboard Devices Configuration>J-Micron PATA/SATA Controller>Enabled, and configure Controller Mode as IDE, then please press F10 to save and reboot.

If you still cannot view the optical drive, please clear CMOS for a try. Please disconnect the power cord first, and press the CLR RTC button at the rear of the motherboard for a while, then please connect the power cord and boot again.

If you still have the problem, please contact your dealer and let him test the motherboard for you. If the problem still exists please let him post the motherboard to our RMA we will test it and help you resolve the problem.

I'll wait for a while, and they will work it out. I don't doubt that. It's just annoying.

[ccperf721p]

LOL.. I would have never thought to enable the controller or clear the CMOS..

Service leaves a lot to be desired and in the end it will cost them more to pay this person than it would to just cross-ship a new board..

[ThunderRd]

@ccperf:

Take a second and look at this thing and tell me what your take is:

Mach 2 GT Phase change Cooler like VapoChill - eBay (item 200232118946 end time Jun-22-08 18:44:26 PDT)

[ccperf721p]

He's right that it doesn't need the control board, you will just have to manually start it 5 minutes before booting the computer. From the one picture it doesn't look too badly abused and appears to be in working condition with a S775 custom mounting.

They will weigh in around 50 pounds ready to ship, on a trip that long make sure he bubble wraps the compressor and puts the side panels back on. The compressor is mounted on rubber feet, in transportation it will move enough to possibly crack a solder joint at the lines coming from the compressor (from experience).

If you end up not getting it and are still interested in one shoot me a PM.

[ThunderRd]

I'm not sure what I'm doing just yet, but I'll keep in touch with you. I may talk to you when the time comes Thanks.

[ThunderRd]

@cc:

Do you reckon that Mach II unit would be 110/220V? I mean, most electronics are, these days, but that thing has a compressor motor...

There aren't any bids on it as yet. It may be worth playing with if I can get it for $100 or so + shipping. It's an $800 unit new.

[Samuknow]

Well if it doesn't work out for you, you can always send it to me. : )

[ccperf721p]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

@cc:

Do you reckon that Mach II unit would be 110/220V? I mean, most electronics are, these days, but that thing has a compressor motor...

There aren't any bids on it as yet. It may be worth playing with if I can get it for $100 or so + shipping. It's an $800 unit new.

Not sure whether that one would be 110/220, I built my units with 110 Danfoss compressors, but seeing how they also had other countries in mind it's a possibility.

Edit: I have loaded up the GPU client on my 8800GTS just to see what it will do. It runs fine, but I cannot open the display, doing so causes an infinite loop driver bluescreen. After all of my folding in Linux I am used to looking at log files so it isn't a major issue.

[ccperf721p]

How's that Maximus Extreme treating you ThunderRd? I sold my Maximus Formula and picked up a DFI LP LT P35 board. I guess my falling out with DFI has ended, this board is the cats meow as far as DDR2 boards go. It has taken the number 1 spot away from my old trusty KT7 RAID.

[ThunderRd]

So far it's been effortless. Q6600 runs at 3.6; 450FSB x 8, and it can't even get close to pushing the memory. I think that the memory is the highlight of the rig. Your comment about the Dominator 1800 was the thing that helped make the decision for me. It's real pricey but the performance is awesome.

I haven't had to play around with this rig very much as it has been so easy, but I would like to see how far I can go if I really push it. So far heat hasn't been too much of an issue; am running at 1.425V.

I did go and get a SATA DVD drive, though. The controller still acted flakey when I ran an IDE drive with the Raptors, and that seemed to solve the problem.

[ccperf721p]

That's strange, I haven't seen any problems with the Jmicron controller on any of my boards yet. I'm running a sata burner, an IDE burner and an Esata hard drive without issues. As long as I don't attach a large WD sata to the ICH everything works fine..

Had to post a pic of the latest toy. More to come as I progress through it. Finished up all of the air testing, going to skip water and go straight to subzero cooling and see what she's got.

[ThunderRd]

There are documented issues with the JMicron IDE controller and RAID on the ICH9 chipset. Apparently, if you enable the RAID function, the JMicron has problems seeing the IDE drives for some. I think I'm in that group...

[ccperf721p]

I missed being in that group, never was able to get my WD drives in RAID and by the time I managed to acquire some different drives I had re-imaged in a non RAID config.