Q9450 + Asus Striker II Extreme + Raid0 OC

[Clunk]

You mean you aren't using the latest BIOS and drivers?

if not, you should update those right away.

I can't honestly answer any of your questions because I do not have that motherboard to test.

If the BIOS and driver updates don't work, I would be looking to return the board. If you have to have SLI, then try a replacement - As far as I know, ALL 790i boards are affected by several problems, so it's up to you how important SLI/CUDA is over having a system that actually works properly.

Either way, I would get on to whoever sold you the parts and see if they can test them for you.

[Shanara Red]

Thank you both for the replies. Yes ... I am using the latest BIOS, but the drivers that came with the MB and graphics card. Oh and XP is SP3.

I will go to the store tomorrow and see what the tech guys there have to say about it all. I am willing to try another 790i, but if the same problems persist, I will definitely go for the X48.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Clunk]

OK, good

But update those drivers first, just to double check

[Kelainefes]

I think that the memory won't go 1600 because it's not an official JEDEC standard, so if it is not nVIDIA Certified (with EPP support) you'll have to enter settings manually, whatever the sticker on the memory says.
the memory is being set on 1333 because that's what the highest official setting.
So the memory it's not being funny, it's supposed to do that.
As to why you have trouble at 1600 speeds, it could be many things, NB voltage being one of them, if the 790i chipset is anything like intel's chipsets.
Sad fact is that if your memory doesn't have EPP, you can't say it's the board's fault i think.

Another thing is that if the applications you work with are CUDA accelerated overclocking memory and CPU will make little to no difference.
Ofcourse it is your right to get a board that does what is supposed to, so i think you should have a read of some stickies and guides in forums about overclocking nVIDIA chipsets, and if you can't sort it out in a few days ask for a replacement board.
790i chipsets are famous for their lack of consistency, as in you can be lucky and never have a problem, or have a board that will just mess your disks every day if you attempt any overclocking.
Better yet you should ask the tech guy a replacement right away.

[Shanara Red]

Yes ... JEDEC. If that i so, 1333 should have been the norm i guess. And yes, I do realise, that to reach 1600 I need to OC the memory in BIOS. It however makes no sense that tested memory would give me so much grief afte I tried to run it at memtest TESTED setings under XP.

Any tweaks I do at all to the NB voltage result in instability issues and not stability.


Another thing is that if the applications you work with are CUDA accelerated overclocking memory and CPU will make little to no difference.

I'm not sure exactly how the intricacies of CUDA function, but from what I gather it's supposed to allow the GPU to act as a separate processing core, when it is not being used to preform 3D tasks (games/other 3D calculations). In fact it is then capable to be used as an advanced shader and vertex calculating unit if this separate CPU treading is software supported. What I gather from this is in fact, that when rendering 3D environments (architecture, wich is my profession), the GPU functions a bit like the Quaddro, enabling direct-hardware render aid to the main CPU (which otherwise does all it's calculating render-wise by itself). Overclocking memory and the processor has other benefits. For instance working with larger files, reducing software load times, DRASTICALLY reducing file 'save' operations. When trying to save a 2.3 Gb file, it takes a while. Having a RAID0 and an overclocked computer should help with these issues tremendously. But as I said. I am no techie, and far be it from me knowing all the facts and exactly how everything works ... for that I probably should be an IT engineer specialised in weak-current circuits . So Kleinefeas I don't truly understand you post.


Ofcourse it is your right to get a board that does what is supposed to, so i think you should have a read of some stickies and guides in forums about overclocking nVIDIA chipsets,

Yes. Absolutely. I have spent most of yesterday reading on the 790i chipset. The results of my reading are a very mixed bag as you pointed out. Everything from horros stories like mine ... to omg-I-had-no-issues-with-the-790i and you-are-a-n00b posts and articles. I am still quite confused, but the bottom line is... the MB SHOULD DEFINTEVELY run the 1600 memory at it's rated speeds, so there must be a board issue.

But update those drivers first, just to double check

This morning, through a relaytively messy set of procedures (a lot of downloading, rolling back, etc ...) I updated the graphics, chipset, audio and MB management drivers and I'm still getting the same results. Crashes all over @ 1600.

Better yet you should ask the tech guy a replacement right away.

I've already called the store, and the service dept. starts wrking at 12 o'clock. Another 1:15 hrs to go ... I'll keep you posted.

[Kelainefes]

As far as i understand the way CUDA works, it should be able to offload the CPU almost completely, the processor should be just a feeding unit for the GPU, and if the applications you work with are written to take full advantage of all 4 CPU cores, the CPU's clock speed should'nt be as important as it would be without CUDA, where you'd see almost linear scaling (=double the clock, half the rendering time).
Basically what i'm saying is that a GTX280 will probably give you more performance increase than a 3.4GHz CPU in CUDA compatible applications.
As far as saving a big file goes, i believe that the bottleneck here will be the HD, unless the program performs operations such as data compression or adding ECC while saving.

[Shanara Red]

Ok. I will not argue the CUDA point, as I don't have enough knowledge. I will however say, that ALL CAD and 3DMax rendering processes are handled by the CPU and NEVER the GPU, unless you have a Quadro or two. Render farms (servers) almost exclusively use Xeon's or other multi CPU setups. This I am sure of. So I in fact suspect, that the CUDA based GPU-aid to the main CPU will in fact boost it a bit. I migh have a mis-conception here.

And yes, Saving big files will probably be a HD issue, that is why at the price range I can afford, I've opted for the RAID0 array.

Fast, stable memory and higher multi-thread CPU clock core, means the ability to start two or three of these resource very consuming apps (CS3, CAD, Rhino, Max,etc ...)very quickly, keep them running optimally at the same time, and being able to switch between them very quickly with little or no chances of data loss... Unless the 790i bugs this as well :P. At least this is the construct in my head.

[Kelainefes]

Aw ok i see.
I thought that the software you use was CUDA accelerated for the rendering, but if the final render is handled by the CPU alone then overclocking it wil drastically cut times.
If you tell us what is the software you use we could look exactly what the benefit are and if a faster CPU is important or not.
Having a overclocked system will speed up switching between resource intensive applications, but having loads of ram is probably the single most important factor. depending on how many and how big the files/ projects you work on are, upgrading to 8GB of memory could give you a noticeable performance boost.
Ofcourse you would need a 64 bit OS such as Windows XP x64, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista x64 to use 8 GB, and as a matter of fact you should get one of those OSes even to use 4 GB, since your system probably sees only 3 GBs right now.

[Shanara Red]

Ok ... I just got back from the store. They told me that they needed to test the MB for the memory compatibility errors, as they are supposedly bound (as Mushkin importers) to report any such errors to Asus and Mushkin in taxing details. Supposedly Mushkin will also test their ram with the board in-house, send over the settings, and if those don't work, the MB will be replaced. :/ So I have to wait until Monday or latest Wednesday. They even took in my CPU, to test the memory with the same CPU. It's very annoying and frustrating at best. But I really have no choice. They did say however, that if the motherboard was unstable, they will allow me to either swap it for the same model or a different one.


If you tell us what is the software you use we could look exactly what the benefit are and if a faster CPU is important or not.

Well, the computer will be running various games (mostly RTS, and MMO, no or very little FPS) and AutoCAD (3d modeling), ArhiCad (modeling) Rhinoceros (3D modelling), 3DStudioMax (3D modelling / rendering), Cinema 4D (3D modeling / rendering), and the Adobe CS3 family for web and print editing (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash & Dreamweaver). I figure that the modelling / rendering software leans heavily on the CPU, while the graphical apps suck up ram like you wouldn't believe.


but having loads of ram is probably the single most important factor

... agreed. However atm, I have no cash to go to 8gb, and as far as I am concerned MSvista 64 driver, Service pack, and stability with various hardware is far from where I where I would want my OS to be. Windows XP 64 just barely makes sense with 4Gb's of ram, as (although the system only recognizes 3 Gb, the 'invisible' 1 Gb is used for system source allocation) the 64 bit encoding of instructions/footprint starts to make sense just after the DDR 4Gb barrier. At least this is the situation that I am led to believe is the correct one.

[Shanara Red]

I had to fill the void the missing MB left behind and have spent the entire weekend reading various forums/reviews/guides on all sorts of MB topics. It would truly appear, that the 790i has a serious 'random' factor involved. Some people report only 100% positive, successful dealings, others all sorts of troubles from initial hardware conflicts to re-occurring and new conflicts some 2 months into their use. It's puzzling at best, why a chipset would have such a random factor that so heavily varied the success people have with it. As Kelainefes said, for this price, this randomness seems absurd.

So I've delved into the X48 waters a bit more. Most of the stuff I read on this beast seems to be 99% favourable. Very few threads with complaints and unsolvable issues. Although the chipset seems to have many more favorable capabilities (being stable for one lol ... even AFTER 2 months have passed), the fact, that it is non SLi capable downs my spirits a bit. hehe ... and reading about the up-coming SLi capable X58 (although not full support) does nothing to cheer me up. And the 6x DDR3 dimm support futrther reduces the state of the mood. aaaah ... just a weird time to be buying a new rig I suppose ...

Having said all this, I have started considering the X48 Asus Rampage Formula as a replacement for the 790i ultra S2E... I just don't want the hassle of having to completely re-set my computer every three months because of a RAID0 faliure ... thoughts guys?