EPoX "EP-9NPA+Ultra" NVIDIA nForce4 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard

[SPQQKY]

If you can, slipstream SP2 into WinXP, then install nForce drivers, then graphics, sound and anti virus. Then go to MS and get all the updates.
Slipstreaming the service pack is made easy with a utility called AutoStreamer and a CD burner. I have found the OS install just goes so much smoother with it slipstreamed rather than installing the OS then the service pack.

 

[MadScientist]

I just tried the 9/14 bios. It, like the last bios, still messes with my ram settings and turns ntune into ntune lite. No big deal if you don't use ntune.

For slipstreaming SP2, hotfixes, and fine tuning my Win XP installation I use nlite and RyanVM's post SP2 update pack.
nlite
RyanVM's Update Pack

If you still like to do it it manually then follow these directions at PCSTATS.
PCSTATS

 

[Dave Sz]

Default vcore on the 9npa ultra is 1.5v, so if at stock and you set it to off or auto it will be at ~1.5. This is AMD's fault. The memory settings in POWER BIOS are just the divider and voltage settings, all the fun stuff is under advanced BIOS, 3rd option down on the main bios screen.

 

[Hotrod2]

Please share your Bios settings!

I'm tring to get mine working and am ready to loose my mind. I got XP loaded and was hasty loading various junk before getting MS updates - it beeped and locked.

It's been very unstable and fails to load XP locking usually when in the final stage of saving. I really need piece of mind to set options the same as someone who knows.
Below are the key pieces

EPOX EP-9NPA+Ultra NF4 ULTRA
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor
Crucial DDRAM 2x512MB 64X64 PC-3200B 8T CRU% - OEM

ASUS EN6600
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS 250GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer

Please help!

 

[route66]

Originally posted by: Dave Sz
Default vcore on the 9npa ultra is 1.5v, so if at stock and you set it to off or auto it will be at ~1.5. This is AMD's fault.

Are you saying that I can goto the power bios and set Vcore to -0.1V ?

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: route66

Originally posted by: Dave Sz
Default vcore on the 9npa ultra is 1.5v, so if at stock and you set it to off or auto it will be at ~1.5. This is AMD's fault.

Are you saying that I can goto the power bios and set Vcore to -0.1V ?

I have a Venice (Rev. E3). I think I remember reading it is v1.4 by default. I'm not currently overclocking it so I don't need the extra juice right now. Is what I am hearing correct, that the board supplies v1.5 by default and it could be dropped down -0.1v?

techfuzz

 

[kleinwl]

I am having some trouble getting my new E3 Venice (3000+) to OC past 2340MHz.

Epox 9NPA+ Ultra
9/13/05 Bios
2x1GB Ocz Value

HTT=3x
FSB=260
CPU Multi = 9
CPU V=1.57V (+0.1V)
DDR=133
42C load (XP-90 w/ 92mm Panflow)

I could run 2400 (267FSB) for 30min Prime95 before failing... but I don't know how much more voltage I should try to get this to pass. I've seen people up to 1.6V

Any suggestions?

 

[CyberChild]

Hey All,

I just ordered this motherboard and I'm kind of a noob when it comes to this stuff. I have two questions that I was hoping to get some feedback on.

1. If I am using a Windows XP Pro CD that includes SP2, do I still need the "F6" SATA driver to install Windows XP to a single SATA hard drive? If so, where do I find the "F6" driver. I do not see it on Nvidia or Epox's sites.

2. Does it make any difference which SATA channel (#1-#4) connector I hook up my single SATA hard drive to when installing Windows XP?

Thanks for any help!

 

[route66]

Originally posted by: kleinwl
I am having some trouble getting my new E3 Venice (3000+) to OC past 2340MHz.

Having any luck yet? Best suggestion is turn down your multiplier to 6 just to verify that it's not a CPU problem. If it is a CPU problem then you're going to have to look at your other components (cooling, power supply, etc)

 

[kleinwl]

Originally posted by: route66

Originally posted by: kleinwl
I am having some trouble getting my new E3 Venice (3000+) to OC past 2340MHz.

Having any luck yet? Best suggestion is turn down your multiplier to 6 just to verify that it's not a CPU problem. If it is a CPU problem then you're going to have to look at your other components (cooling, power supply, etc)

When I ran at cpu=6, the FSB could go up to 290 easy (I didn't try higher). I've seen that most peoples results are much higher than 2340... so I'm curious what is holding me back... perhaps I just have a bad (not as good) chip.

I am curious if upping the chipset voltage would help any (it's at 1.5V)... but I think that's only if the FSB is having issues.

Cpu spread = OFF
HTT=3x
FSB=260
DDR=100

I can boot into xp at more 2.4MHZ.... but it fails prime immedately.

 

[jotosuds]

hey kleinwl i'm having the exact same problem. i have a E3 venice, week 22. running the 8/04 BIOS.

i'll set this:

260x9
-0.1 vcore
133 divider
3x HTT
loose timings 3-3-3-8

and it'll sometimes just freeze, and it'll fail prime immediately. i remember when i had vcore at auto it needed 1.6v to do 2340mhz, don't know if it was stable, but it'd run 3dmark fine.

system:
512mb Mushkin basic DDR400
X800
FSP 350-60THN

this is pretty gay, cuz i thought this cpu/mobo combo would do 2400mhz easy

 

[SPQQKY]

Originally posted by: CyberChild
Hey All,

I just ordered this motherboard and I'm kind of a noob when it comes to this stuff. I have two questions that I was hoping to get some feedback on.

1. If I am using a Windows XP Pro CD that includes SP2, do I still need the "F6" SATA driver to install Windows XP to a single SATA hard drive? If so, where do I find the "F6" driver. I do not see it on Nvidia or Epox's sites.

2. Does it make any difference which SATA channel (#1-#4) connector I hook up my single SATA hard drive to when installing Windows XP?

Thanks for any help!

I would go in order of SATA connectors. You can make a SATA driver floppy using the supplied CD with the motherboard. It's very easy, once you get your system set up and are ready to install Windows, set first boot device to CD-ROM but instead of the Windows disk, use the CD that came with the mobo. It is a bootable CD and will ask you if you want to run a command prompt or make the driver floppy. Of course you want to make the floppy. It will format the floppy and copy the driver to it. Reboot and put your Windows disk in and you are on your way.

 

[SPQQKY]

jotosuds, if you are running a 350 watt PSU, that may very well be your bottleneck. Many of the Venice have been turning out to be duds, not the speed binned chips we were first seeing. Maybe you guys got a couple of duds.....who knows. Remember, the board is reporting higher that actual vcore (most everyone that has checked the board with a DMM is saying the actual vcore is about .04-.06 volts lower than reported by the board). SO 1.6 volts may only be 1.54 volts actual. Plus this board does seem to fluctuate a bit.

 

[jotosuds]

yeah the psu is 350w, but it's dual rail capable of 24A on +12. i think the cpu is bad. i put the v-core to auto and i booted into windows at 270x9, 3-3-3-8 timings, 133 divider, and prime failed immediatley and 3dmark froze. however, at 260x9 at -.025vcore i got prime to go for 2 minutes lol.

i don't care too much though, cuz 2.2ghz is what i'm at and that's good enough for me. :shrugs: more would be better though

 

[Dave Sz]

Originally posted by: kleinwl
I am having some trouble getting my new E3 Venice (3000+) to OC past 2340MHz.

Epox 9NPA+ Ultra
9/13/05 Bios
2x1GB Ocz Value

HTT=3x
FSB=260
CPU Multi = 9
CPU V=1.57V (+0.1V)
DDR=133
42C load (XP-90 w/ 92mm Panflow)

I could run 2400 (267FSB) for 30min Prime95 before failing... but I don't know how much more voltage I should try to get this to pass. I've seen people up to 1.6V

Any suggestions?

If your CPU can't do more than that than it doesn't mean it's the board's fault. Maybe the processor is just maxxed out. I had no problem running my e3 at 2700 or my e6 at 2500 all at under 1.6v.

 

[bonhimself]

i want to ask something to get this outta the way. yes or no, will a 7800 GT fit on a epox 9NPA+ ultra board? ive been looking at this thread but couldnt find a clear answer, plz help. and when i say fit, that means nothing has to be squeezed in or forced.

 

[SPQQKY]

If you are using a SATA HDD, no problems, if you are going to use a PATA HDD on IDE1, you'll have to do some manipulation.

 

[sgtdic]

i need help now please!! lol i'm on my other computer. i just installed the nforce 6.66 drivers and every time i try to access the internet i get the BSOD and my system reboots. it happens instantly when i try to connect with anything. wtf!!! the nforce4 and it's drivers are too touchy for my taste. i think i might be having probs with the IDE driver also. it loves page files. help please

 

[sgtdic]

ok i figured it out. it was the dam Nvidia ActiveArmor. i tried setting a rule for internet explorer on it but it still didn't work. oh well, bye bye activearmor has anyone had problems with it and do you recommend having it on (does it help with speed like it's supposed to)?

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: sgtdic
ok i figured it out. it was the dam Nvidia ActiveArmor. i tried setting a rule for internet explorer on it but it still didn't work. oh well, bye bye activearmor has anyone had problems with it and do you recommend having it on (does it help with speed like it's supposed to)?

I removed all the nvidia network software from my computer. The nvidia firewall was corrupting downloads and causing my throughput to drop dramatically. I couldn't find any good reason to use it.

techfuzz

 

[MadMax]

Originally posted by: bonhimself
i want to ask something to get this outta the way. yes or no, will a 7800 GT fit on a epox 9NPA+ ultra board? ive been looking at this thread but couldnt find a clear answer, plz help. and when i say fit, that means nothing has to be squeezed in or forced.

I have the 7800GTX, and it DOES overhang the fist IDE connector. You can only plug into this connector by prying off the top clip of the included round IDE cables (which was fine with me). It should fit easily with a "normal" IDE cable since they are shorter (the rounded ones have a clip that makes the connector much taller). And if you only need one IDE channel, then you have nothing at all to worry about, as the second connector is completely clear.

In short, if the GTX will fit, then the GT will fit for sure, since the GT is a bit shorter.

MadMax

 

[SPQQKY]

The 6.66 drivers in generally are a very poor release and I hope nVidia releases a new one soon, though I am quite content with the 6.53s. I do not use the IDE drivers and I tried the nVidia Active Armor and it was a royal pain in the arse. I stuck with my trusty copy of McAfee.

 

[sgtdic]

thanks. i wish i had known this sooner. is there a reason you don't use the IDE drivers? it's supposed to be better than the ones that come with windows, which i assume they're the ones that you are using.

techfuzz, thanks for saving me some troubleshooting. i couldn't figure out why some of my downloads were corrupt, which in turn would cause BSOD for me. that was so irritating. how do you know that it decreased your throughput? i couldn't tell and my internet speed was coming pretty fast, so i was more than satisfied. oh well don't matter now, i took the advice and uninstalled NAM.

 

[SPQQKY]

Originally posted by: sgtdic
thanks. i wish i had known this sooner. is there a reason you don't use the IDE drivers? it's supposed to be better than the ones that come with windows, which i assume they're the ones that you are using.

techfuzz, thanks for saving me some troubleshooting. i couldn't figure out why some of my downloads were corrupt, which in turn would cause BSOD for me. that was so irritating. how do you know that it decreased your throughput? i couldn't tell and my internet speed was coming pretty fast, so i was more than satisfied. oh well don't matter now, i took the advice and uninstalled NAM.

I don't use the IDE drivers as they usually cause problems. I've had them stop auto run, keep the optical drive from even running, corrupt data transfer when burning CDs and even ruin one of my HDDs as soon as they were installed (some older ones, but a well known issue). They simply suxor.

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: sgtdic
techfuzz, thanks for saving me some troubleshooting. i couldn't figure out why some of my downloads were corrupt, which in turn would cause BSOD for me. that was so irritating. how do you know that it decreased your throughput? i couldn't tell and my internet speed was coming pretty fast, so i was more than satisfied. oh well don't matter now, i took the advice and uninstalled NAM.

When downloading files with NAM enabled, there was always a moment of pause before and after the transfer. I attributed it to the firewall inspecting every packet before letting it through. Without NAM, the pauses were no longer present. Maybe throughput was a bad word to use. If you're so inclined, get a bandwidth meter like DUMeter and watch for yourself what happens.

With NAM enabled, whenever Symantec AV downloaded virus defs, they were always corrupt and wouldn't pass authenticity checks. With NAM disabled, not a single problem. I've never had a firewall do that before.

techfuzz