Striker II Formula just died on me! ERRORMSG/No Screen/No Post

[skippo]

OK, so it was a long time coming - my mobo has finally just died on me. What a POS it is!

The scenario:
- Just resumed the PC from suspend and then the screen goes blank, and then vista reports that the VGA (NVIDIA) drivers have died on me, the screen still works, can see everything on my pc where i left it, and then proceed to do a restart to fix the problem. (Note that my NIC has also failed.)
- remembering that a later BIOS update had fixed my NIC troubles, I proceeded to launching into the BIOS updater program (ALT+F2)
- I selected 1101 (latest release) and then it verified the file first - reporting that it found no boot information - An error message.
- I thought this may mean that the data on my USB stick had corrupted somehow, so left this updater after I couldn't update the BIOS.
- I went into my BIOS setup, confirmed everything looked okay in there. and then F10 to save and quit.

- The PC restarts, but nothing is coming up on my monitor, the HDD lights aren't flikering like they used to, and it just hangs there. As i don't have a PC speaker I don't hear any beeps.
- I plug in this stupid LCD poster that came with this mobo, and it goes through, CPU INT, DET DRAM, TEST VRAM etc etc, then BAM - ERRORMSG

- I have unplugged my 8800GTXs, unplugged my X-Fi, re-seated 1 GTX at a time, checked the RAM, checked my HDDs which work elsewhere - no joy.
- I have cleared the CMOS using the button on my I/O ports - no joy
- I have removed the battery, waited a while - no joy
- several restarts - no joy

everytime, nothing on my screen, and this message on my LCD poster - ERRORMSG


So questions:
1. Is there anything that I can do apart from RMA'ing this board - which is what I really should be doing!
2. What alternate mobo should I be considering as this has been nothing apart from a POS, (replacement - DDR2 and SLI essential, although if DDR3 modules are cheap, then a DDR3 mobo will be considered)

your help is appreciated in advance

 

[skippo]

Ok, so have been thinking, this mobo is almost certainly dead and in need of a replacement.

As all 780i's have been said to be , i am considering my options with the 790i's.
How are people who have a 790i finding them?

What do people think of this: Asus Striker II Extreme nForce 790i Ultra SLi (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
or this: XFX nForce 790i Ultra SLI (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
or this: EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLi (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

The motherboard would have to work well with the components listed below in my signature - (apart from the mobo and ram of course!)

thanks

 

[WJA96]

When will people learn? The Nvidia chipsets aren't finished yet. Get an X38 or X48 board and enjoy speed and reliability.

 

[helmutcheese]

You should know the 680/780 were a joke, the 790 is good and beat a X38/48.

I dont know what above user is on about, the NF2/3/4(939 and AM2) were all great, only with the NF5 did it start to go downhill.

Most sites will state a X48 is a waste of time over a X38 as its the same Cherry Picked Chipset.

Go read all reviews and XS Forums about the 790, then accept Nvidia can fix the Sata Corruption (same as NF2 though that was Silicon Image) with new sata Bios+Drivers).

I have never seen a X48 review that blew me away.

 

[WJA96]

You should know the 680/780 were a joke, the 790 is good and beat a X38/48.

I dont know what above user is on about, the NF2/3/4(939 and AM2) were all great, only with the NF5 did it start to go downhill.

Most sites will state a X48 is a waste of time over a X38 as its the same Cherry Picked Chipset.

I did suggest an X38 or X48. They are indeed the same chipset with the X48 having a slightly improved technical specification, theoretically allowing it to run faster.

Go read all reviews and XS Forums about the 790, then accept Nvidia can fix the Sata Corruption (same as NF2 though that was Silicon Image) with new sata Bios+Drivers).

I think you've made my point about it not being finished. I have no doubt they can fix the current issues, but at the moment, I'm not going near an Nvidia chipset machine with a bargepole.

I have never seen a X48 review that blew me away.

I don't do reviews anymore as most of them are partial and tend towards whatever the reviewer is feeling positively disposed to at the time. So I generally buy the board and test it myself. After being stung horribly by various Abit, EVGA, ASUS and Gigabyte NForce boards recently, I've decided not to buy any more of them for a bit. NForce=NoGood as far as I'm concerned at the moment. The Intel chipset boards tend to be reliable and have stable drivers from the outset. You definitely can't say that about NVidia products.

 

[kenofstephen]

I did suggest an X38 or X48. They are indeed the same chipset with the X48 having a slightly improved technical specification, theoretically allowing it to run faster.



I think you've made my point about it not being finished. I have no doubt they can fix the current issues, but at the moment, I'm not going near an Nvidia chipset machine with a bargepole.



I don't do reviews anymore as most of them are partial and tend towards whatever the reviewer is feeling positively disposed to at the time. So I generally buy the board and test it myself. After being stung horribly by various Abit, EVGA, ASUS and Gigabyte NForce boards recently, I've decided not to buy any more of them for a bit. NForce=NoGood as far as I'm concerned at the moment. The Intel chipset boards tend to be reliable and have stable drivers from the outset. You definitely can't say that about NVidia products.

agree, the fact is, it is not fixed yet.
who knows about the future?

 

[helmutcheese]

@ WJA96, My post was for the benefit of the OP, not yourself.

He bought a NF mobo so may have wanted SLI down the line sometime.

I dont care what Chipset you buy/use.

@ kenofstephen, THE FACT is, not everyone gets Corruption, dont know why they should if they lock the PCI-E Bus.

I had a NF2 when corruption was around due to Silicon Image's Bios and Drivers and never got the issues and they were soon fixed anyhow.

If your going to post info, at least post ALL the info.

 

[skippo]

Okay so taking all of your points on board I think that I will go down the route of a 790 board because I need the SLI support.

So this SATA corruption problem - is it affecting 100% of 790 owners and is a fix likely -(cos i kept hoping asus would fix the S2F!)?

So, which manufacturer offers the best deal in terms of:
- value for money
- reliability
- overclocking capabilities
- warranty and customer service levels

thanks again

 

[WJA96]

So this SATA corruption problem - is it affecting 100% of 790 owners and is a fix likely -(cos i kept hoping asus would fix the S2F!)?

It's affecting 100% of the users complaining about it, and it's very hard to judge how big or small a proportion of the overall userbase they are. Lets just say it appears to be common, and ASUS are pretty shocking at not fixing issues with their boards.

So, which manufacturer offers the best deal in terms of:
- value for money
- reliability
- overclocking capabilities
- warranty and customer service levels

thanks again

I'd have to say EVGA.

They're not too expensive, and they do offer a trade-up programme.

They're as reliable as any other NVidia NForce motherboard

They're the only motherboard manufacturer that offered a free upgrade when the original 680i boards failed to overclock quads, all the others pretended there wasn't any problem.

They offer a 10-year no-quibble warranty with collection and cross-shipping options.

 

[WJA96]

@ WJA96, My post was for the benefit of the OP, not yourself.

He bought a NF mobo so may have wanted SLI down the line sometime.

I dont care what Chipset you buy/use.

@ kenofstephen, THE FACT is, not everyone gets Corruption, dont know why they should if they lock the PCI-E Bus.

I had a NF2 when corruption was around due to Silicon Image's Bios and Drivers and never got the issues and they were soon fixed anyhow.

If your going to post info, at least post ALL the info.

I have to say that your posts come across as extremely aggressive. I'm sure you're not sitting at your keyboard grinding your teeth and feeling paranoic about how others see you, but that's how you come across.

Also - I don't understand why you use happy smileys when you're being so negative.

 

[helmutcheese]

I aint, just am aggressive by nature if need be

But facts are needed and all facts.

The part you said above makes the most sence out all your posts in this thread.

Quoted : " It's affecting 100% of the users complaining about it ",

You wont read much about peeps with no issues as they wont post.

 

[skippo]

It's affecting 100% of the users complaining about it, and it's very hard to judge how big or small a proportion of the overall userbase they are. Lets just say it appears to be common, and ASUS are pretty shocking at not fixing issues with their boards.



I'd have to say EVGA.

They're not too expensive, and they do offer a trade-up programme.

They're as reliable as any other NVidia NForce motherboard

They're the only motherboard manufacturer that offered a free upgrade when the original 680i boards failed to overclock quads, all the others pretended there wasn't any problem.

They offer a 10-year no-quibble warranty with collection and cross-shipping options.

cheers, good info, may get a evga 790i then??

So is this sata corruption thing the only problem then with these chipsets?
And two other things, would this board support my QX9650 hands down, and what RAM (2GB kit and 4GB kit) would go best with this - don't have that deep pockets

thanks again (amongst everyone's arguments)

 

[helmutcheese]

Yes SATA corruption seems only issues, peeps on XS seem to favour the Asus over the others the say its cooler and fact it lack that louf fan is bonus (ok EVGA got far better support).

It will support 45nm Quads with no issues (unlike 680/780).

Ive seen them in reviews with 2GB/4GB and 8GB so should not be an issue (obv some Mobos do not like certain Memory).

I am buying 1 in a few weeks, just got some other financal things to do before that and seeing if Corsair bring out any better 2x2GB DDR3 kits @ about 2000mhz.