Asus A8N-SLI Premium (/w Antec P180 & Scythe Ninja)

jermaink · Post by **jermaink** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:37 am

I'm just wondering about the compatability of these components.

Is it true that the CPU slot of the Premium matches up exactly with the vents of the P180? (does this offer any cooling benefits?)

Another thing is whether it is possible to mount the Scythe with the Premium, and have a fan on it from the side near the RAM, because from some pics, it looks like a fit would be very close.

theMAGE · Post by **theMAGE** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:35 am

It works swell.

The CPU does not "match exactly" but it is close enough to the top exhaust, but I chose to install the fan on the cooler.

I have installed a Nexus 120 mm fan on the Ninja and indeed, there is very little clearance for the RAM, but it was enough.

The hardest part was installing the Ninja on the CPU after the motherboard has been installed in the case, but I could do it in 15-20 minutes and I have quite big hands. Also the fan "clamps" are interesting to set up - and impossible without the help of a second person.

WIth the two Nexus fans I get 38'C idle and 50'C full load on the AMD 4200+ x2.

jermaink · Post by **jermaink** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:16 am

Ah ok, those temps sound high (what are the room temps?). My XP120 and my 3500+ Winchester (on a DFI NF4 Ultra-D in a P180 with Nexus fans everywhere) got 22-28C at stock, and 26-33C when OC'ed to 2.5 Ghz. Room temps would have been arround 10-20C though.

wundi · Post by **wundi** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:26 am

theMAGE, Welcome to the forum!

A quick question: have you tried controlling the Nexus fan via BIOS or other software?

I've been planning on a similar system and was wondering if the A8N-SLI Premium can detect a Nexus 120mm properly, or if I must resort to a 3rd party controller (I intend to run the CPU fan only when gaming/etc.).

This has been asked earlier in this thread, but without a conclusive answer.

I figured there must be many Premium owners with Nexuses who could tell. Sorry if slightly OT.

JonV · Post by **JonV** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:18 am

wundi wrote:A quick question: have you tried controlling the Nexus fan via BIOS or other software?

I find I get great results using just the Q-Fan feature on the CPU and CHA1 headers. The Nexus is very very quiet at the low speed, and only ramps up during gaming.

Ackelind · Post by **Ackelind** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:26 am

I am using that exact combo. The Ninja lines up really good with the fans, which makes working in the top left corner a real PITA. Connecting the 4-pin AUX or the CPU/CHA1 fans is recomended before you install the ninja. I installed the Ninja with the mainboard out of the case, which is definately recomended.

I have removed the top fan and closed the fan hole with some cardboard, and replaced the back fan with a Nexus running at around 600RPMs. Without
CnQ (CnQ just bugged out for me one day, dunno why) I have idle temps of around 37 and load temps around 48. Ambient is around 23-25C. My CPU is a 3000+ Venice overclocked to 2.25GHz.

wundi · Post by **wundi** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:34 pm

JonV wrote:
wundi wrote:A quick question: have you tried controlling the Nexus fan via BIOS or other software?
I find I get great results using just the Q-Fan feature on the CPU and CHA1 headers. The Nexus is very very quiet at the low speed, and only ramps up during gaming.

Thanks JonV, that's excellent news.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 3:43 pm

I want to do the P150 + Asus A8n SLI Premium + Scythe combination. I guess the Scythe and Premium board are no problem, but does it all fit in the P150?

hravn · Post by **hravn** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:25 am

You are taking a pretty big risk if you buy that combo. There is loads of problems with the incompability between the A8N-SLI boards and the Neo HE PSUs. My A8N-SLI Premium (latest revision and BIOS) with the Neo HE will power on, but then powers down after like 30 seconds just idling in the BIOS looking at the temps.

Don't get me wrong, the P150 is a great case, but you should be prepared to get a a backup PSU so that you can use your rig if you have to RMA the Neo HE. Antec has stated that this incompability only affects 20% of the A8N-SLI Premium / Neo HE combos, but I'm not sure where they have gotten these numbers from.

But, back to your original question, it all fits without any problems in the P150.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:12 am

Thanks hravn, making arrangements now to have a different PSU on-hand should the Neo HE not work.

Excellent on the other info as well. Thanks.

Hellspawn · Post by **Hellspawn** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:28 am

hravn wrote:You are taking a pretty big risk if you buy that combo. There is loads of problems with the incompability between the A8N-SLI boards and the Neo HE PSUs. My A8N-SLI Premium (latest revision and BIOS) with the Neo HE will power on, but then powers down after like 30 seconds just idling in the BIOS looking at the temps.

Don't get me wrong, the P150 is a great case, but you should be prepared to get a a backup PSU so that you can use your rig if you have to RMA the Neo HE. Antec has stated that this incompability only affects 20% of the A8N-SLI Premium / Neo HE combos, but I'm not sure where they have gotten these numbers from.

But, back to your original question, it all fits without any problems in the P150.

Well, speaking about mainboards and the neo he 430 in general, that 20% is pure BS. As in other posts, I have a p5gdc, p5ld2, abit an8 ultra and an intel d945pvslk.. NONE of them (100%) will boot with that piece of crap that shipped with the p150 case.

On the other hand , I have a 2 year old true380s that powers up EVERY ONE OF THOSE BOARDS LISTED ABOVE. Yes, those boards all have the current BIOS. Using either a AMD 4000+ or a p4 650. My Seasonic s12-430 boots them all just fine.

Far too many boards (I've also seen people mentioning SOYO, BIOSTAR as well) to say all the BOARDS have a problem -- It's the POS PSU in it's current form.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:37 am

Wow, didn't know that.

Okay, so i'm just going to buy a different PSU. I don't even want to risk giving a PC I built to someone, knowing that problems may be just around the corner.

I'm not running SLI, but that may come later if he wants it, in which case I would probably do best to grab a PSU from nvidia's approved PSU list for SLI.

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:53 pm

Just another quick question: are the boards not working with this PSU attemping to run SLI mode? Like I said, I'm not configuring SLI; this will be a single 7800GTX card only.

hravn · Post by **hravn** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:57 am

Nope, I have a single 7800GTX.

Bob_the_lost · Post by **Bob_the_lost** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:50 am

I read that the incompatibility is being sorted now/ is sorted. Aparently a bios flash should fix most of the problems.

*goes to use search engine*

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:05 am

Hmm...this plot thickens.

Okay, so i guess I'll wait on the parts to get here and just see if it works? All this flip-flopping is making me dizzy.