Why did I buy the A7N8X-E Deluxe????

[Roln]

Because I've been using Socket A chips for the past several years, I thot
I'd be kewl and get a Motherboard that could handle a SATA hard drive. I
immediately found out this board don't recognize a SATA drive until you
update the bios.
Not a big deal, IF you'd done that before, which I haven't. Next thing I
needed was an Athlon CPU, and found out, there is no dealer in Iowa that
sells AMD Athlon Socket A chips for this board and what's worse, the dealers
say they can't even order them because they've been discontinued. Great!!
They do sell the Sempron chips, however, but would need to update the bios
to handle them. I guess it's time I quit using AMD chips and switch to
Intel.

To sum it up, I made a big mistake buying this board!!!

 

[default]

I would just order one. www.pricewatch.com

 

[Rob Stow]

Because I've been using Socket A chips for the past several years, I thot
I'd be kewl and get a Motherboard that could handle a SATA hard drive. I
immediately found out this board don't recognize a SATA drive until you
update the bios.
Not a big deal, IF you'd done that before, which I haven't. Next thing I
needed was an Athlon CPU, and found out, there is no dealer in Iowa that
sells AMD Athlon Socket A chips for this board and what's worse, the dealers
say they can't even order them because they've been discontinued. Great!!
They do sell the Sempron chips, however, but would need to update the bios
to handle them.

I guess it's time I quit using AMD chips and switch to Intel.

Who is the idiot who led you to believe you could avoid this
issue with motherboards that use Intel chips ?

To sum it up, I made a big mistake buying this board!!!

I've built several systems around variants of the A7N8X,
including the A7N8X, A7N8X-VM, and A7N8X-E deluxe, and the A7N8X
Deluxe. Great boards - easy to build a system around.

A BIOS update is no big deal - just follow the steps at the Asus
web site to the letter. The most common mistake people make is
to use a BIOS flashing program other than the one the
instructions tell them to use. Use the one on the same download
page as the version 1012 BIOS and you'll be fine.
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7N8X-E Deluxe&Type=Latest

If you are still not comfortable doing a BIOS upgrade, there are
still lots of vendors out there selling the Athlon XP and the
Athlon XP-M, all of which can be used in your system without a
BIOS upgrade. For example, I regularly buy from www.ncix.com and
they have yet to sell out their Athlon XP and XP-M stocks. And
last time I bought from www.lynncomp.com they also still had a
good selection.

However, if you are not comfortable with something as simple as a
BIOS upgrade then perhaps you should hand your project over to
someone with some experience in computer building and let him/her
finish it for you.

 

[Rudy Kazuti]

That's a bunch of bullshit. I have that board and it runs great. Go to
newegg.com. I just bought an Athlon XP 3200+400fsb for $180.00 a 2800 or
less will be cheaper. Takes about four days for them to ship to N.J. PS the
HS and fan are included. Watch the memory it seems to run better with
Corsair than Kingston.
Rudy

 

[Rudy Kazuti]

PS I'm running 2 WD satas. Finding the drivers on the CD is a pain. Asus is
no different than gigabyte or anyone else for my money. They all should ship
with a lousy cheap floppy and it would make it easier for someone who is new
to this SATA setup to install in the beginning.

 

[Sonja Garrett]

This is a very good board, I haven't had a moment's trouble.
Try http://www.newegg.com. This is where I buy all my stuff. They may still
have some CPUs for Socket A.

 

[Roln]

:

Rob,

I never said the ASUS board is not a good one. In fact, it's the best MB
I've ever had. Doing the BIOS thing is easy and I'm not complaining about
that. My point is the socket A chip! It's almost history! Yes, you can
buy a Sempron, but unless you get the most expensive one, you're dealing
with a slow FSB. Why would anyone buy a MB with 400fsb capabilities and
buy a processor that is slower?
My local dealer has two stores where I live (eight stores in other states)
and every one of the techs have switch from AMD to Intel within the past two
years. AMD chips used to be cheap compared to Intel, but that's not true
anymore. I've built 12 computers in the past 8 years and used AMD chips in
every one of them.....and never had a problem.
What really upset me, was when I computer builder, with 15 yrs experience,
called me an idiot for using a socket A chip!
For the same money I spent, I could have had a Pentium 4, 2.4gig (800fsb,
512cache) and Intel MB with 800fsb.

So, what do I do if my socket A chip craps out two years from now?? Throw
my ASUS socket A board away?

Like I said, I don't have a problem with an ASUS board....it's with using a
socket A CPU.

 

[Roln]

Hi Rudy,

First of all, you could have bought your CPU from ZipZoomFly for a lot less
money and got it 2nd day air FREE. I use them and Newegg to buy my stuff,
but check prices on each before I order. (Incidently, you could have bought
a Pentium4 2.8gig+800fsb for the same money)

I'm not concerned about the ASUS board, but I am concerned about getting a
socket A chip two years from now. My local dealers can not order Athon
socket A chips anymore and they don't have any in stock. Only socket A
chips available locally are the Sempron and none of the local dealers carry
the fast ones. My favorite local dealer doesn't stock any socket A
motherboards any more and another dealer is closing theirs out for $49 and
chances are, they will not stock any more socket A boards.

This all started when my hard drive crapped out and I wanted to replace it
with a SATA drive, but wanted to continue using the socket A chip. I should
have done some research before buying a new motherboard. There's a good
chance I'll get another ASUS board someday, but it won't be a socket A!
Roln

 

[Roln]

Rob,

I checked the dealers web sites you mentioned and found them to have much
higher prices than the two dealers I use.
Roln

 

[Roln]

This is a very good board, I haven't had a moment's trouble.
Try http://www.newegg.com. This is where I buy all my stuff. They may
still have some CPUs for Socket A.

Sonja,
I agree this is a very good board, but you missed my point.
The Athlon socket A CPU is almost extinct! Had I known this
in advance, I would not have bought this board. Sure, you
can buy an Athlon chip, if you send for one. But what
happens if you chip craps out two years from now??

I have bought things from Newegg and they are good to deal
with. However, I buy a lot of things from ZipZoomFly,
because they are usually cheaper and give 2nd day air FREE,
which is another saving.

 

[Ed]

To sum it up, I made a big mistake buying this board!!!

I would of bought an AMD 64 3200+ or 3500+ + and Socket 939 board,
Socket-A has been around since 1999, it's time is up!

A A7N8X and fast Barton is still nice though, I have one as my second
PC.

Good luck,
Ed

 

[Larry Gagnon]

Because I've been using Socket A chips for the past several years, I thot
I'd be kewl and get a Motherboard that could handle a SATA hard drive. I
immediately found out this board don't recognize a SATA drive until you
update the bios.
Not a big deal, IF you'd done that before, which I haven't. Next thing I
needed was an Athlon CPU, and found out, there is no dealer in Iowa that
sells AMD Athlon Socket A chips for this board and what's worse, the dealers
say they can't even order them because they've been discontinued. Great!!
They do sell the Sempron chips, however, but would need to update the bios
to handle them. I guess it's time I quit using AMD chips and switch to
Intel.

To sum it up, I made a big mistake buying this board!!!

No, I think you made the mistake not doing your research beforehand to
know that AMD is discontinuing the Socket A chips and that you would have
to upgrade your BIOS for SATA and Sempron. But these are not
insurmountable problems as there are still Socket A's around to buy and
upgrading your BIOS is not a big deal : just follow instructions VERY
carfully! I think you will still end up happy with the motherboard in the
end.

Larry

 

[Paul]

:

Rob,

I never said the ASUS board is not a good one. In fact, it's the best MB
I've ever had. Doing the BIOS thing is easy and I'm not complaining about
that. My point is the socket A chip! It's almost history! Yes, you can
buy a Sempron, but unless you get the most expensive one, you're dealing
with a slow FSB. Why would anyone buy a MB with 400fsb capabilities and
buy a processor that is slower?
My local dealer has two stores where I live (eight stores in other states)
and every one of the techs have switch from AMD to Intel within the past two
years. AMD chips used to be cheap compared to Intel, but that's not true
anymore. I've built 12 computers in the past 8 years and used AMD chips in
every one of them.....and never had a problem.
What really upset me, was when I computer builder, with 15 yrs experience,
called me an idiot for using a socket A chip!
For the same money I spent, I could have had a Pentium 4, 2.4gig (800fsb,
512cache) and Intel MB with 800fsb.

So, what do I do if my socket A chip craps out two years from now?? Throw
my ASUS socket A board away?

Like I said, I don't have a problem with an ASUS board....it's with using a
socket A CPU.

Here are the current price lists. If you don't read any of the
advanced warnings on the review sites, the price lists will tell
you what is coming (or going).

Intel list - last update Jan24/2005
The P4 3.06GHz/FSB533 Northbridge is still listed!
http://www.intel.com/intel/finance/pricelist/

AMD list - last update Feb14/2005
XP-M DTR processors still available (unlocked multiplier) (newegg.com)
The XP-M DTR is cheap and overclockable to 3200+ rates.
I would buy an XP-M from Newegg while they still have them.
I don't see any Bartons listed any more. Plenty of the smelly
Semprons though.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_609,00.html?redir=CPT301

The XP-M's are listed here. I use a 2600+ XP-M at 200x11 on
an A7N8X-E Deluxe. 1.65 volts. A 2500+ would also be a good
choice.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...ce=&maxprice=&mfrcode=0&DEPA=0&InnerManu=1028

Paul

 

[Sonja Garrett]

Buy two and have one spare!

Sonja,
I agree this is a very good board, but you missed my point.
The Athlon socket A CPU is almost extinct! Had I known this
in advance, I would not have bought this board. Sure, you
can buy an Athlon chip, if you send for one. But what
happens if you chip craps out two years from now??

I have bought things from Newegg and they are good to deal
with. However, I buy a lot of things from ZipZoomFly,
because they are usually cheaper and give 2nd day air FREE,
which is another saving.

 

[rstlne]

Because I've been using Socket A chips for the past several years, I thot
I'd be kewl and get a Motherboard that could handle a SATA hard drive. I
immediately found out this board don't recognize a SATA drive until you
update the bios.
Not a big deal, IF you'd done that before, which I haven't. Next thing I
needed was an Athlon CPU, and found out, there is no dealer in Iowa that
sells AMD Athlon Socket A chips for this board and what's worse, the dealers
say they can't even order them because they've been discontinued. Great!!
They do sell the Sempron chips, however, but would need to update the bios
to handle them. I guess it's time I quit using AMD chips and switch to
Intel.

To sum it up, I made a big mistake buying this board!!!

Lets Summarize
He has used SktA boards for years but he cant get a SktA processor
He wanted SATA but it doesnt work until you update the bios (Strange mine is
years old and it worked out of the box)
He says no dealers in Iowa will sell them then he corrects everyone on the
websites they should use (I thought he bought in Iowa only)
He is going to switch to Intel. Good, going by what he has said so far I
think he's goign to put a P1 in there (as he can get these in IOWA)..

Oh yeh .. Guys.. Stop feeding the Trolls!

 

[Roln]

Hi Ed,

I thot seriously of going the AMD 64 route and ended up staying with a
socket A.

I wish AMD would classify their chips with model numbers that represent the
true frequency.
ie: 3000= 3ghz, 3500= 3.5ghz, etc.

When are you going to a 64 system??

 

[Rob Stow]

:

Rob,

I never said the ASUS board is not a good one. In fact, it's the best MB
I've ever had. Doing the BIOS thing is easy and I'm not complaining about
that. My point is the socket A chip! It's almost history! Yes, you can
buy a Sempron, but unless you get the most expensive one, you're dealing
with a slow FSB. Why would anyone buy a MB with 400fsb capabilities and
buy a processor that is slower?

So why did *you* buy this board ? Its not as if there is not a
wealth of information indicating that a Socket 939 or 940 board
would have been a better choice for most people. Every review
out there should have steered you away from *any* Socket A,
Socket 754, or P4 motherboard, but you bought a Socket A
motheboard anyway.

At this late date I would have expected that the only people
still buying Socket A motherboards would be people who already
have a great Socket A system but had a motherboard failure. But
if you need *both* a motherboard and a CPU, it is rather hard to
fathom why any one would get a motherboard for any kind of Socket
A, Socket 754, or P4 cpu. Socket A and Socket 754 are have
essentially been abandoned by AMD, and a P4 is simply garbage
compared to what AMD has to offer.

My local dealer has two stores where I live (eight stores in other states)
and every one of the techs have switch from AMD to Intel within the past two
years. AMD chips used to be cheap compared to Intel, but that's not true
anymore. I've built 12 computers in the past 8 years and used AMD chips in
every one of them.....and never had a problem.
What really upset me, was when I computer builder, with 15 yrs experience,
called me an idiot for using a socket A chip!
For the same money I spent, I could have had a Pentium 4, 2.4gig (800fsb,
512cache) and Intel MB with 800fsb.

So, what do I do if my socket A chip craps out two years from now?? Throw
my ASUS socket A board away?

Like I said, I don't have a problem with an ASUS board....it's with using a
socket A CPU.

 

[Roln]

Hi Larry,

I am happy with this ASUS board and it serves my purpose fine. Like you
say, I should have done my research before ordering. This whole thing
started when my WD hard drive crapped out and a few friends talked me into
getting a SATA drive. I did order a SATA drive, but had to get a
motherboard to use it. Since I have always used AMD chips and a socket A
the past several years, I assumed (ass+u+me) I wouldn't have a problem
getting a faster chip. At the present time, I'm using a Sempron 2200+,
which shows a speed of 1.5ghz. Pretty slow compared to what I should be
using in this board.

I had no problem flashing the BIOS for the Sempron. I thot it was weird
the board didn't have the BIOS ready for Semprons.....

Do you plan on upgrading to a 64 system soon?

 

[Roln]

rstlne,

I understand your reasoning and take no offense being classified as a troll.

It's my fault for not doing a little research before I ordered a new
motherboard.
Had I done the research, I would have never got this board or stayed with a
socket A system!
You know the saying: Hindsight is always 20-20

 

[Rudy Kazuti]

Why are we talking about parts dying in two years. We could all be gone in
that time and if we aren't throw the shit out and by new. Hallelugih (is
that spelled right?)