ASUS Extreme - Idiocy or Service - Now - Dante's Journey

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 24 Dec 2005, 15:47

Vapourware is exactly that. :) You can wait forever for 'the next big thing' to finally arrive. Better to buy when you've got the money (although not the top-spec kit, as that comes at a serious premium)...

I'm guessing this whole experience may have put you off Asus, yes? ;)

Post by **skipclarke** » 24 Dec 2005, 16:31

I wish it had put me off them, unfortunately :roll:

I am not yet impressed with the approaches offered by alternatives such as MSI, Gigabit & others.

I like the way ASUS matches components to provide a complete enhanced solution -well usually solution :lol:

This is a very dicey thing for me at this stage, because I am also thinking that if I shift I might go the AMD & nVidea SLI route :shock:

But would only really be confident & comfortable in doing it via the ASUS route. :(

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 24 Dec 2005, 16:39

Hm...

We might have another convert from the Dark Side... :lol: 8)

You can go down the SLI path with Intel, too... there is the nForce4 for Intel available. However, I must confess that I don't think Intel is all that great for gaming.

I do prefer Asus motherboards if I can get them, even though I've had a couple of *cough*interesting*cough* experiences with them over the years...

Post by **skipclarke** » 30 Dec 2005, 19:25

UPDATE (again) :roll:

Well the card arrived - finally (whew!)

I'll pop it in tomorrow & post results. (pregnant with anticipation) :roll:

Anyone care to place bets on the out come?

New Mother Board need?

YES

NO

I turned this into a [ POLL ] :lol:

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 30 Dec 2005, 20:16

I hope it all works out for you, Doug - but why isn't there an option in the poll reading:

"Turn away from the Dark Side! Just get an AMD64 + nVidia SLI already!"

:lol:

Your power bills will thank you - although your central heating might not, since a Prescott core P4 is a boiler on it's own... :lol:

(Sorry... ;))

I hope you get the outcome you want, though. :)

Post by **skipclarke** » 30 Dec 2005, 20:38

PS,

Honestly - I heard your "voice" say that when I made the poll :lol:

I heat with wood only, but I'm thinking of tieing in some radiators to my TT BigWater system & using that to supplement our heating!! :lol:

Save a few trees I'd bet. :lol:

My IT buddy says those hi perf AMD's also are cookers.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 31 Dec 2005, 00:08

They are, mate, but still aren't as bad as a high-spec P4. :D

I think the highest TDP of an AMD chip is 110watts (that's the 4800+ X2, the previous highest before the FX-57/4800+ was 90w or something...), or somewhere in that region. The 'toaster' P4s are around 130watts...

What really makes me laugh is that the 2.26GHz Dothan Pentium-M runs at something crazy like 28watts TDP, and gives similar performance to a P4 that cooks eggs at 120watts... :lol:

You heard me making a comment about moving to AMD, huh? ;)

Post by **skipclarke** » 01 Jan 2006, 14:51

UPDATE (Final?)

Well it is in & both DVI output heads are working perfect!!! :lol:

(For now?) :?

This time they shipped me the proper model that is the same as my original card
- 16 pipelines over 12 makes a BIG difference !!! :shock:

66,225 on Aquamark 3 instead of around ~ 62,000 :shock:

FEAR, Doom3, COD2 & the other new games run much smoother, less jaggies & I can up the in-game settings now.
Even the games' auto-detect sets things higher.

So - all in all I'm NOT happy with ASUS

MUCH too long to get this last issue sorted out - 3 months !!
Shipped the wrong (lesser) & defective card to me in September.

Did not offer to give anything at all for the $100-200 I spend in shipping & insuring (for return) the 1st 2 defective cards.

Remember this issue first started in March 2005.

I lost 4 1/2 months use of a high end card in total out of 9-10 months.

I feel a 3/10 is all I can offer for ASUS on this one. :evil:

Post by **skipclarke** » 01 Jan 2006, 18:19

UPDATE - last one - I'm done. :evil:

Well almost perfect :evil: - there is still a minor problem with the odd small flashing/sparkling lines on the 2nd DVI head.

That's it for me - to heck with it :evil:

this card stays until I do the X1800 CrossFire cards & MB upgrade.

The vid card runs WAY hotter with the fan assembly on it than with the waterblock. 20C more :shock:

Post by **Gilly** » 01 Jan 2006, 19:10

UPDATE - last one - I'm done. :evil:

Well almost perfect :evil: - there is still a minor problem with the odd small flashing/sparkling lines on the 2nd DVI head.

That's it for me - to heck with it :evil:

this card stays until I do the X1800 CrossFire cards & MB upgrade.

The vid card runs WAY hotter with the fan assembly on it than with the waterblock. 20C more :shock:

GPU's seem to be better heaters than CPU's :D

i wouldnt rush into X1800.... replaced as of end of Jan 06 according to ATi... :( maybe some bargains? :P

Post by **skipclarke** » 01 Jan 2006, 19:55

RE: "X1800 replacements"

Yeah I posted about it at
SECRET: ATI X1900 Latest Vapourware offering in this Hardware section.

I think I'll stay safe & refer to my next as X1X00 Crossfire :lol: :roll:

Well mabe most CPU's except the P4 HT 3.4 & above (75C) is not unheard of :shock: when gaming - mine was 67C before water cooling :shock: :twisted:

Post by **Gilly** » 01 Jan 2006, 20:15

evil! :P

who knows, might go to X2000 :P they your screwed ;)

Post by **skipclarke** » 01 Jan 2006, 22:59

No matter what anyone buys - at some point they're all screwed :lol:

Post by **skipclarke** » 20 Jan 2006, 13:43

SHEEEESH !!!

:shock: I how now received my MasterCard statement & I have been charged ($300.00 US) $359.56 Canadian on 30 Dec 2005 by Asus for the returned card ?? :shock:

They also confirmed receipt of the wrong & defective card I shipped back.

This has now become a Dante's Journey :(

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