Couldnt have said it better myself, For exact same reason's too. Motherboard. I ended up going to DFI though.

ASUS dont have customer service do they? I couldnt find one!!!!

I can assure you that Co-op FPS's started long before Quake 2. 
I know this because I played through Doom 2 with a friend over a modem link- it was a long slog but worth it.
Another early Co-op FPS was 'rise of the triads', much forgotten now, but still sticks in my mind because of the John Woo style double pistol action.

I know I'm a broken record on this topic but damn... if ASUS can't be bothered to do tech support on their motherboards then why on earth would I buy a notebook from them?

ASUS, spend some money on tech support please! I like your products but without you supporting them adequately I refuse to buy them anymore.

I have a $500 PAPERWEIGHT Striker II Extreme that I finally gave up on after 3 RMA's before I bought an EVGA motherboard that worked perfectly from day one.