New Motherboard

[synapz]

Hi guys, if youve read my previous post about changing heatsink youd know ive broke my motherboad. I was thinking of getting the DFI LanParty NF4 SLI-DR EXPERT (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard. The PC this motherboad is going in is used to review products sent to me.

Currently My sytem has:

AMD Athlon x64 3800+
BFG 7800 GT
Hiper Type-R 580w PSU

What motherboard do you think i should get? It must be SLi ready.

[monoflap]

I would recommend getting one with AMD's latest socket the M2 so you can review more cpu's down the road.

[synapz]

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=19973494652&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=112170

How does that look, best AM2 board i can find lol

[synapz]

aslo can you please tell me if i switched to AM2 can i use my AMD 64 X2 from my 939 mobo in the AM2 mobo, and do i have to buy DDR2 memory or will DDR work aswell? Thanks in advance.

[monoflap]

Well as far as I know, you'll have to buy ddr2 (there might be a mobo that lets you use ddr) The 939 cpu's wont work with the new socket unless some funky interchangeable mobo comes along. I mean who knows what mobos will come out later. I'm pretty sure you'll have to buy new stuff.

[synapz]

well in that case lol, what recomendations do you have for me? I need a 939 mobo.

[synapz]

ok, i am looking at the

DFI LanParty NF4 SLI-DR EXPERT

or

Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe nForce4 SLi X16


The only thing is i have XP 64 bit to install and im not sure if DFI do 64 bit lan drivers for that motherboard. =\

Which one do you think?

[monoflap]

Well, I have basicly that same asus mobo you listed just an earlier version and its really good (i'm an asus fanboy personally :) ). The only problem I had was that the crappy heatsink fan didn't work right so I had to replace it (lots of people had that problem). The DFI one looks good however, the reviews do say it is a pretty advanced board to use (that probably won't be a problem). Both boards look good buys to me. The asus one is a little cheaper but than fan can be a real problem. They are both good boards but the DFI seems to be the one for you, more of an enthusiast board. Great for overclocking and stuff. Im not sure about the lan drivers, does it really matter?

[synapz]

Well, I have basicly that same asus mobo you listed just an earlier version and its really good (i'm an asus fanboy personally :) ). The only problem I had was that the crappy heatsink fan didn't work right so I had to replace it (lots of people had that problem). The DFI one looks good however, the reviews do say it is a pretty advanced board to use (that probably won't be a problem). Both boards look good buys to me. The asus one is a little cheaper but than fan can be a real problem. They are both good boards but the DFI seems to be the one for you, more of an enthusiast board. Great for overclocking and stuff. Im not sure about the lan drivers, does it really matter?

ok thanks for the help, would i have to mod the DFI board to make it SLI?

[synapz]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Socket_939_520.html

I want to get the second one down but ive heared you have to mod the nforce chip to make it SLi, is this right?

[monoflap]

Um.. I don't think so, the board comes sli ready doesn't it. The only thing you might have to is update the bios and chipset drivers. In fact, the nforce chipstet was the first to use sli. (funny how this is a two man thread :D )

[silverdemon]

funny how this is a two man thread :D

I guess you're the only one who knows enough about it ;)

[monoflap]

Lol im not that experienced, I just take the time to look up things I don't know :) .

[synapz]

ok got a new motherboard, put it in, installed xp 64 bit and now when i turn the pc on it does its boot checking the ram etc then i get a message saying "DISK BOOT ERROR, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" then when i out the xp 64 bit disk in and press enter nothing happends. ive installed 64 bit twice now but the same thing happens. The boot order is HDD, None, None,

Mobo: DFI LanParty UT SLi Expert

Anyone know why this happens?

[.Maleficus.]

Try having the boot order start with your CD drive. Then it will start with the CD drive and read your disc. I had the same problem installing regular XP and when I put the first drive to boot as the CD drive it was fine. After you have XP installed you can put it back to your HDD. I'm pretty sure this will work. Hope this helps.

[synapz]

****ing PC'S. I put the XP disk in and it says press any button to boot so i do then it says inspecting pc's hardware then the pc turns off. Im thinking CPU overheating or a GPU problem. I know my GPU is a bit dodgy im sending it to BFG tomorow, but do you think the GPU is cauing it to turn off?

[.Maleficus.]

I'm not really sure. I would think that if you had a hardware error, it would tell you instead of shutting off right away. Are you just losing a connection with your monitor, or is your whole system shutting off? Who knows, it just might be your GPU. Is everything hooked up properly? There also might be an answer on the DFI forums - www.dfi-street.com. Maybe check there too.

[monoflap]

I remember one time my computer booted but incredibly slow. I found it was a ribbon cable that wasn't in all the way. One word of advice: Before digging in, check the obvious things first.

I would think that if you had a hardware error, it would tell you instead of shutting off right away.

Actually, I've found it to be the opposite. Usually when a part overheats, the computer shuts itself down right away to protect itself. If it is an overheating issue, the computer wouldn't be consistant in how far it got in the instaliation. Try waiting a while so it can to cool down and see what happens. This might sound stupid, but make sure the CPU heatsink is on all the way and you applied thermal paste (it happens to the best of us). Hope this helps somewhat, sry to hear you're having trouble :( .

[synapz]

another bloody problem now. After finding out it was the GPU overheating i went into the windows install to install windows, the install completed and then i got an error on the boot up saying DISK BOOT FAILURE, PLEASE INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER.

I Have tried installing XP again
I have used a different install disk
I have used different IDE cables
The HDD is set to Master and on the master IDE
The HDD is detected in the BIOS
I have tried the HDD as first boot and second boot with CD as first boot(NO CD IN DRIVE)
I have reset the CMOS

I have put the HDD in another PC and installed XP successfuly with my instalation CD but when i put the HDD back in my PC i still get the DISK BOOT FAILURE.

Any Suggestions?

[monoflap]

What kind of hard drive is it? Also, did the other computer get in to windows or did it just install correctly? This may sound stupid but you could try using the cd drive from the other that worked computer. Other than that, mabey its a wrong jumper, or a bad mobo.

[.Maleficus.]

Maybe Windows doesn't like one of your parts. Download the LiveCD of Ubuntu (or another free OS) and try installing that and if you still get an error, at least you'll know it's not Windows being dumb.

Edit: Also, did you have to skip any steps in your install? (Like they didn't want to install) When I installed Windows, I had to skip a few things, but it still worked. If you skipped something critical to running Windows, then the install may have completed, but it still might not work.

[simon275]

Maybe the hardrive itself if dodgy and only works with some systems. I have heard of problems like this with DFI boards you should have gone with the ASUS. Any way if its underwarranty bite the bullet and send it back. Also check the jumpers. Hmm yeah one work around could bego with Maleficus and install Ubuntu then download the latest mobo drives and bios and flash the bios on your mobo and update it. Then try and reinstal windows.

Hope this helps

[synapz]

ok guys, i downloaded the live cd of ubuntu and installed it but still got the same problem, and i tried doing this on another hdd to but still the same problem. also now i cant boot from a floppy coz it also gives me a DISK BOOT FAILURE.

[monoflap]

It sounds to me like its a conflict between your hard-drive and your motherboard. What kind of hard drive are you using? sata or pata? and what brand? I would try using a different hard-drive in your system and install it on that. If I'm not mistaken thats the only thing you haven't tried.