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

[brzrkr0]

Cool. I'll stick those heatsinks on there when I get home.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Thanks for the suggestion but after my first DOA and the problems with my second board I decided that I won't even install it in my case anymore lol. I have had all the parts sitting on my Centurion cases cardboard box lol.

I did change out to one module. One of the two is certainly bad. I can't even boot up on it. I have the other one in right now and it is running well enough. I ran Prime95 for 10 or 15 minutes with no errors on that one good stick.

I am waiting for Sean from OZC to email me back with an RMA number.

 

[sgtdic]

i'm needing some advice from you overclockers. i'm using coolbits (w/auto optimization settings) and i bumped my cpu to 2.0 Ghz. that's all i changed from default and i got a great 3dmark score. today i moved up to 2.2 Ghz and moved from ddr400 down a step. i ran 3dmark and the score i got was basically lower than my system defaults (1.8G and no coolbits). i'm not understanding this. i also want to ask about voltages. you would think everything on auto would suffice (theoretically?) i've seen my voltages go up when overclocking so i don't see how auto would hurt. what are the advantages and disadvantages of using the auto setting and a specific voltage? i love my temps now that i finally got a back fan. i wake up and it's at 29 C and never gets to 40 C under load. these temps are with overclocking.

for those of you who believe in the nvidia IDE driver, you probably won't notice day to day problems with it. but i'm sure you will soon. just wait til you get a corrupted download or a disc burns improperly and won't play. i don't think they've revised the driver since, april?

 

[johnnytc3]

Have they resolved the USB 2.0 Problem yet with this mobo?
thanks

 

[Exnihilo]

Originally posted by: techfuzz
Exnihilo, there's a newer BIOS on the EPOX website. Download it, read the instructions, and put it on a floppy since you can't boot into windows. I don't know about doing it from a USB device. I've upgraded with CD's, floppies, and thru Windows, but never a USB key or something like that.

techfuzz

I flashed my bios to the 10/18/05 version and I even used the Magic Bios utility, but it still won't boot with my new video card. As I said everything works great when I put in that old PCI video card, but when I put my x800gto2 into the PCIx16 slot, then the computer won't post. I really wish I had another mobo to try the card in or another PCIx16 card to try in the mobo.

I am really tempted to RMA the video card, but I want to be sure I've tried everything. What do ya think?

 

[fabidovalle]

Well, i hope you guys get a good laughter off this, but here comes...

I bought this EPoX EP-9NPA+ SLi for my new system i am building. Do i need to buy a network card as well or it is already built on? And if i do, which one do you recomend?
Thanks!!

 

[WhipperSnapper]

How well does the EP-9NPA+Ultra do with the Socket 939 single-core Opteron chips? I ordered an Opteron 148 from Monarch. Should I expect any problems? Since I ordered the Epox at the same time from ZipZoomFly, would it come with the newest BIOS? Anyone else running an Opteron on one these?

Has anyone mounted a Thermalright 90 on here? Any problems? Would a Big Typhoon or Thermalright 120 fit?

WhipperSnapper's Upcoming New Rig. First ever do-it-yourself build:

Case: Chieftec Matrix (plum purple)
Motherboard: Epox EP-9NPA+ULTRA nForce4 Ultra.
CPU: Opteron 148 (hoping to overclock to 2.5 Ghz).
RAM: 2 x 512 MB Corsair Value Select (Cas 2.5).
Video Card: Connect3D x800 GTO (purchased from Monarch in early November, hoping to unlock to 16 pipes and overclock to at least x800xt speeds). Might tack on an Arctic Silencer.
Hard Drives: Two of the following. 200 GB Maxtor PATA, 160 GB Maxtor PATA, 120 GB Seagate PATA.
Optical Drives: Lite-On CD-RW, BTC DVD-RW (Staples Black Friday deal/scam).
Power Supply: Sparkle 550W EPS-SLI with 36A on a single rail.
HSF: Probably a Thermalright 90. Fan unknown.

 

[Mem]

I bought this EPoX EP-9NPA+ SLi for my new system i am building. Do i need to buy a network card as well or it is already built on? And if i do, which one do you recomend?
Thanks!!

Has one built-in ,just make sure you install the drivers off the epox CD or via Nvidia website .


Update on my NCQ problem,disabling NCQ has fixed the slow boot up when you have the Nvidia SW IDE driver installed,it can be found in SATA controller part in Device Manager under properties.

 

[Mem]

I flashed my bios to the 10/18/05 version and I even used the Magic Bios utility, but it still won't boot with my new video card. As I said everything works great when I put in that old PCI video card, but when I put my x800gto2 into the PCIx16 slot, then the computer won't post. I really wish I had another mobo to try the card in or another PCIx16 card to try in the mobo.

I am really tempted to RMA the video card, but I want to be sure I've tried everything. What do ya think?

Sounds like a dead video card to me,only way you can be sure is to try it in a different PC,your PSU is more then adequate for the x800 video card so I would rule out PSU problem.

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: fabidovalle
Well, i hope you guys get a good laughter off this, but here comes...

I bought this EPoX EP-9NPA+ SLi for my new system i am building. Do i need to buy a network card as well or it is already built on? And if i do, which one do you recomend?
Thanks!!

10/100/1000 networking is built into the board. The latest Linux distros install the drivers automatically but you'll need to load the drivers (from an EPoX supplied CD) for ethernet to work under windows. Nobody would laugh...none of us were born experts.
X is an unknown quantity and a SPURT is a drip under pressure.

Sorry mem, I did not see your answer, above.

 

[RideFree]

BTW, after loading up the newest BIOS flash from the EPoX site in tw, everything is going without any bumps-in-the-night. (Of course it is 9am here )
This is in ref: +SLI, not Ultra.

 

[fabidovalle]

Thanks for the answer, and i will make sure i have the latest drivers.

I had posted this question as a topic, but maybe here is the best place.

I just got the EP-9NPA+SLi, and i want to know if i use only the integrated audio from the mobo, if it will pull resources from the mobo. So, better, if i add an audio card, will it help with the overall performance of the PC? Besides the audio i mean?

 

[Exnihilo]

Sounds like a dead video card to me,only way you can be sure is to try it in a different PC,your PSU is more then adequate for the x800 video card so I would rule out PSU problem.[/quote]

Thanks Mem,

I've been thinking the same thing. You know I've been planning to upgrade my old system after I got this one running anyway. I think I may just order me another video card and mobo (maybe a CPU too, so I don''t have to take the one out of my EPOX board). That way I can do some component swapping and find out for sure what the problem is.

Thanks for all the help you guys! I will keep you posted.

 

[fabidovalle]

Oh, and if i need a audio card for an overall better performance, is this a good deal Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card Retail *** Free 2nd Day ($39.99 after rebate)?????

 

[sgtdic]

i don't want to be an ass, but Topic Title: EPoX "EP-9NPA+Ultra" NVIDIA nForce4 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard

 

[brzrkr0]

When I tried running the ram at 233mhz 2.5-3-3-7 1T, prime95 would hard-freeze after 3 or 4 hours. I loosened the timings a little and got prime95 to run for 24 hours straight. Here is my final overclock for now, using the EP-9NPA Ultra, 3000+ Venice, and one GB stick of Corsair Value Select:

cpu 2520 mhz (280x9), auto vcore
ram 233mhz/ddr466 (5:6), 2.9 vdimm, 3-4-4-8 1T

 

[swamyg1]

Originally posted by: johnnytc3
Have they resolved the USB 2.0 Problem yet with this mobo?
thanks

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing...

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: sgtdic
i don't want to be an ass, but Topic Title: EPoX "EP-9NPA+Ultra" NVIDIA nForce4 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard

Seems to me that they are quite related as all the anomolies are apparently in common.
But, I suppose that you as the OP have every right to dis.

 

[Orcishhuman]

I was just wondering, is it ok if I buy the CPU, GPU, mobo and RAM in America but the rest (case, psu etc..) in France? Sorry if it's a stupid question (I do this because prices in America are a lot cheaper than those in France).....

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

How well does the EP-9NPA+Ultra do with the Socket 939 single-core Opteron chips? I ordered an Opteron 148 from Monarch. Should I expect any problems? Since I ordered the Epox at the same time from ZipZoomFly, would it come with the newest BIOS? Anyone else running an Opteron on one these?

Has anyone mounted a Thermalright 90 on here? Any problems? Would a Big Typhoon or Thermalright 120 fit?
1. It looks like all the latter BIOS will handle Opteron. I'm running 148.
2. While I got my +SLI from NewEgg on Monday, it had a Sept BIOS and the newer BIOS was apparently not on the tw site. While I looked at the dates on all the BIOS i.e. Ultra +Ultra & +SLI on Monday, I only saw anything newer on the European sites - probably not "official" IMHO. I'd stick with the "official" from Taiwan, if it were me.
3. TR 90 or 90C as well as Big T & the XP120 will all fit any of these boards (subject to the size of the case & P/S orientation). I'm intimate with all three that you mention.
You might need some nimble dexterity for the Big Typhoon, however.

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: Orcishhuman
I was just wondering, is it ok if I buy the CPU, GPU, mobo and RAM in America but the rest (case, psu etc..) in France? Sorry if it's a stupid question (I do this because prices in America are a lot cheaper than those in France).....

There should be nary a problem.
Besides that, we have an expression over here, "Buy American, Bub!"

 

[sgtdic]

no, i'm not an OP. if there was one, it would probably be SPQQKY. i know he has stated earlier that the boards are very different, though i'm sure most of us in here don't mind discussing the things that are common with them, including me. i just thought i would mention it because this is the thread specifically on the ultra. i'm not saying to stop your posts, just take this into consideration. anyone seen SPQQY, or know where he is? i, myself, don't know the specific differences between the boards, other than the obvious.

 

[Orcishhuman]

Ridefree,

O.k, thanks !

 

[Mem]

Orcishhuman,be careful buying from USA,I know in UK you can end up paying extra for custom duty,not nice when you get a package from the USA and you have to pay extra like 20 quid or so on top at your front door,happened to my brother quite a few times.

 

[Ultralight]

Okay, I was reading as many posts concerning this board as possible but 647 posts is a bit much! I am finally getting into the 21st century by creating a new build (last one was 6 years ago). I have been debating between the Epox 9NPA+Ultra and the Asus A8N-E NF4 Ultra for my mid-range system (can't afford SLi). I never really knew much about Epox but this board has received good reviews over at hardocp.com.

I really did try to gain more research on the Epox but it wasn't until I came here that there was such a wealth of information. Here is the thing, since I am back in the game I might as well be a noob because there is so much to learn. Nevertheless I have spent more hours these past 6 weeks in research than I can count. So for a new build what do you think about 9NPA+Ultra for a noob (I hate that term) as compared to the Asus I mentioned? I need this PC for three things: a) gaming, b) videoediting, burning, etc., and c) regular Office work. So stability is important. I have never OCed but I would like to learn without having the need to have my RAM, et.al. at warp speeds. My other hardware specs (remember, this is a mid-range system):

1) ThermalRock Eclipse Case
2) Antec True Power 500W PSU
3) Seagate Baccucuda 160 gig HD w/8/mb buffer
4) AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice
5) 2x512 Crucial Ballistix PC3200 RAM (someone gave it to me as a gift; how does Epox and Crucial RAM get along?)
6) connect3D X800 GTO vid card (can unlock to 16 pipes)

Lastly, what fan would you recommend for the CPU? Thanks for reading this.