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

[sgtdic]

something just came to my mind as i read sixth's story about the reboot looping. back in august when my build was new, this happened to me. i don't remember many specifics of it but i do remember the main part. i guarantee that most of you installed that wasay backup utility, didn't you? well, it sucks!!! get rid of it now if you did. i lost so much data because of it. luckily, i was able to system restore and uninstall that ****** up program. sixth, since you are having "hard drive" problems, i bet this is it. especially since i also had bsod's and looping reboots. MY WARNING: DO NOT INSTALL THE WASAY PROGRAM ON THE MOBO DISK.

 

[Mem]

Look Mem, I know you are just reporting on your experience, but WE GET IT ALREADY!!! You have no problems, congratulations!!! Jeez, I have heard it a thousand times, but that doesn't help matters, you are not telling us anything new.



Since it is not just me, and Epox is working on a solution, it tells you that there is truly a USB 2.0 issue here, despite Mem's brilliant and special case. Maybe it isn't an X2 problem, I don't know, but the one thing I do KNOW is that Mem has no problems (or does he, maybe he wants to tell us again?) and that there are many of us who have this motherboard (at least) and who have USB 2.0 devices, who have their computers either FREEZE or give the BSOD.

Personally, I would get the Freezes more often than BSOD, and to whatever Mem was just referring to does not sound like the same issue. People have NO problems with USB 1.1 and PROBLEMS with USB 2.0, and Java and Nvidia Video drivers SHOULD NOT matter in either case!!!

Sorry to be so angry, but seriously, Mem, we get it, so PLEASE stop telling us about your magical board.

DrewCU
Hold on there !!!!!!!!!! If you remember few posts back you ask me to try it with a USB 2.0 LAN wireless adaptor and at the time I did not have one,I went out and got one with my own money to try it so I could report back on USB 2.0 network wireless situation for you,Jeez!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if anybody should be pissed should be me at you.

And if you read my last bit in my post I did report a problem that I had with Java and Nvidia drivers while web browsing at java sites,thought that might be useful for some people if they come across the same problem too and I know it is not a USB 2.0 problem but last time I looked at this thread it said Epox 9NPA+ ULTRA ,You need to calm down A LOT.

Remember this thread is for ALL info and problems on the Epox board not just your problems,If I find a fix for something that I had and think it can help other people ,great I will post the fix like I did.

 

[sixth]

thanks for the help ...serisously..its appreciated. But sadly i didnt/dont have that program instlaled on my system, or ever did. I instlall just the core programs needed.

I really upset, no more raid, USB devices locking up....tried everything. Thinking of dumping this board SOON. I have no idea what to get other than a DFI, or maybe a Asus, i know every motherboard has its problems. Just wish i could find something stable.

 

[teddyv]

the issue with the USB 2.0 is in fact related to X2's

Could be - I've only used the (front panel) USB2 for digital camera downloads but it works fine with my Venice 3000.

I did notice one thing, it is insanely faster than the USB1.1 on my old Dell

 

[Mem]

the issue with the USB 2.0 is in fact related to X2's

Hmmm not sure if that is true,however you guys with X2 CPUs & USB 2.0 problems,do you have the AMD X2 driver installed?

Btw having SMART disabled in BIOS that RideFree meantioned ,that frees up more bandwidth too from what I read.

For most users, the S.M.A.R.T. capability isn't really useful or necessary. In fact, all the constant S.M.A.R.T. traffic eats up some bandwidth. So, if you don't use S.M.A.R.T. aware utilities or don't need that level of real-time reporting, disable it for better system performance.

.

 

[Mem]

sixth WOW! using 8 HDs?...btw you getting same problems at default speeds not overclocked,how are your voltage rails?

 

[sixth]

acutally 10 hard drives when i was raid 0, now 9 cause i am on one sata. i have alot of storage default speeds has the same results and problems, voltage is rock solid with my awesome OCZ PS.....still has issues though, really sucks.

 

[RideFree]

Anybody with continuing USB 2.0 problems read the link originally posted by: Leporello ???
http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?PHPSE...7612d6&topic=57472.msg381397#msg381397

Since I recycled a couple of older cases (you can't hardly throw out a Lian-LI), I wonder if the front USB might have been USB 1.?
According to the post by Leporello, these/this connection(s) may well be the source of the trouble.
Anybody care to post their $.02 ???

 

[RideFree]

This EPoX truly runs like a champ.
The last one I had was quite a while ago and sported a 1989 Intel A80486DX2-50
This was overclocked from 50MHz to 72MHz and spent years in my basement as a Linux server. Never a hiccough. Clogged with clumps of dustbunnies - nary a hiccough. Blew it out every couple of years whether it needed it or not. Bulletproof!

 

[mrza]

Here is a screen of my voltages as reported by the Epox USDM. Do I need to decrease my chipset voltage to 1.4 and my vdimm voltage to 2.5?

 

[DrewCU]

RideFree

The USB 2.0 prob isn't really related to the front connectors for me at least. I currently have USB 2.0 enabled with a case cable going to my motherboard and all is well since I don't have any higher-speed devices plugged in to any of my motherboard ports (only a 2.0 PCI card). Thanks for trying tho!

I honestly believe that this is not really a software problem or a case problem, but an nforce4 or Epox problem. I do like this board for reasons that I have already posted on this board, and don't think it's worth the hassle of dumping this board for something more expensive that may or may not be any better (like DFI). Maybe DFI can overclock a bit better, but I am pretty sure I would HAVE to keep that chipset fan on there, and frankly, they make too much noise for my tastes

 

[technogeek36]

Just to add my $.02, I've got the USB 2.0 problems you mention. I returned the board for an exchange and still have it. The latest Dec. BIOS didn't help. It can take a while for the BSOD or freeze to show up, but since I backup to an external USB 2.0 drive, I hit it quite frequently.

Had to move on with my life, so I bought the PCI USB 2.0 board and am getting by.

X2 3800+ FYI

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: DrewCU
RideFree

The USB 2.0 prob isn't really related to the front connectors for me at least. I currently have USB 2.0 enabled with a case cable going to my motherboard and all is well since I don't have any higher-speed devices plugged in to any of my motherboard ports (only a 2.0 PCI card). Thanks for trying tho!

I honestly believe that this is not really a software problem or a case problem, but an nforce4 or Epox problem. I do like this board for reasons that I have already posted on this board, and don't think it's worth the hassle of dumping this board for something more expensive that may or may not be any better (like DFI). Maybe DFI can overclock a bit better, but I am pretty sure I would HAVE to keep that chipset fan on there, and frankly, they make too much noise for my tastes

What about s.m.a.r.t. then?
Besides, It's not that you do or don't have anything plugged into the ports, front or rear.
It is the 9th wire, adjacent to the key on the M/B's USB connector.

I have seen this problem on three other nForce4 M/Bs.

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: technogeek36
Just to add my $.02, I've got the USB 2.0 problems you mention. I returned the board for an exchange and still have it. The latest Dec. BIOS didn't help. It can take a while for the BSOD or freeze to show up, but since I backup to an external USB 2.0 drive, I hit it quite frequently.

Had to move on with my life, so I bought the PCI USB 2.0 board and am getting by.

X2 3800+ FYI

I'm getting set to use 800 Firewire...1394b.

 

[Mem]

Here is a screen of my voltages as reported by the Epox USDM. Do I need to decrease my chipset voltage to 1.4 and my vdimm voltage to 2.5?

Looking at your voltages I would bump the cpu one up a little,I too have a x2 3800+ but at 1.42v not 1.37v,see if that helps at all on stability.

 

[Bxerkr]

What is the most stable overclocker's RAM to use with this board? Is it true that this board has issues with Corsair TWINX models?

 

[Mem]

Bxerkr:

Read this thread[/b]

 

[techfuzz]

I haven't been keeping up with the specifics of the USB problems, but I do occasionally read this thread. Maybe it will help you all narrow down the problems or find a commonality if you have my specs too.

I do NOT have any issues with my USB. I have a Venice 3000+, Win64, and have a bunch of USB 1 and 2 devices hooked up to the rear USB ports on the motherboard only. I *think* I connected the front USB headers on my case to the motherboard, but I'm not sure as I don't use them at all. I am also currently running the BIOS released in Oct/Nov the preceeded the most recent Dec BIOS.

If someone wants me to test some USB configuration (of my components) out for them, I'll be happy to if you just let me know.

techfuzz

 

[sgtdic]

i'm curious, but i don't have much knowledge in this area. what does S1 and S3 or any combination of, do to USB devices? i'm thinking it would have some effect on certain devices after the pc goes into "standby", powersave or whatever. lately, i have had to reboot to uh....burn a dvd using my external usb drive. i shouldn't have to do that.

 

[mrza]

Originally posted by: Mem

Here is a screen of my voltages as reported by the Epox USDM. Do I need to decrease my chipset voltage to 1.4 and my vdimm voltage to 2.5?

Looking at your voltages I would bump the cpu one up a little,I too have a x2 3800+ but at 1.42v not 1.37v,see if that helps at all on stability.

Aren't these the stock voltages -

CPU - 1.35v
Chipset - 1.4v
VDimm - 2.5v

In power bios I have the option of setting the vdimm to 2.5v but the lowest the chipset can go is 1.5v.

 

[brzrkr0]

This is currently the only USB problem I am having. My USB mouse will occasionally stop working momentarily. I'll go to move the mouse, and the pointer just stays in one spot as if I weren't moving the mouse at all. After maybe one or two seconds, the mouse operates normally again. This is particularly annoying when playing first person shooters online, as I try to aim my gun but it just stays pointing in the same direction. I notice this problem about once per day.

This is using the USB port on the back of the computer. Enabling and disabling USB 2.0 in bios made no difference. When I had my APC UPS connected via USB and the Powerchute software installed, this problem was MUCH worse. The mouse freezes were longer and far more frequent. As soon as I uninstalled Powerchute, the problem mostly went away, but not completely.

I have a Venice 3000+ @ 315x8. I don't remember if I have SMART enabled, but I'll check on that.

 

[Mem]

Aren't these the stock voltages -

CPU - 1.35v
Chipset - 1.4v
VDimm - 2.5v

In power bios I have the option of setting the vdimm to 2.5v but the lowest the chipset can go is 1.5v.

Mine is on default settings,my ram is at auto default of 2.7v (2.6v for 1GB sticks of Crucial at their website)but Epox boards always give bit more juice unless you set it manually.
Having little more voltage won't do any harm to the PC,infact better to have bit more then not enough.

Yes 1.4v is default,but mine still shows 1.42v in Bios on auto,AMD default spec is 1.35-1.4v for 3800+ x2.

Anyway are you having any problems if not don't worry about it.

 

[curran]

Andrew,

well I've also begun wonder about it being some sort of freak X2 issue...i'm assuming if it were more common, both epox and AMD would have a lot more to say about it. However, what gets me is that it's completely stable w/ usb 1.1 (even under prime95), and whether or not that is enough to rule out a faulty CPU...I have no idea. I've put off RMA'ing the CPU since it would take several weeks...that & AMD doesn't support Epox boards, so it'd be tested on something else.

Although Epox mentioned possible NF4/X2 combination problems, AMD says there shouldn't be. What type of RAM & power supply do you use? Have you tried others? I was wondering if maybe I need to use better RAM since both brands I've tried have been their valueRAM. However, the freezing frequently occurs under no load, and epox & corsair have said it should be compatible.

I've always considered it may be the PSU, but don't really see the connection unless the usb 2.0 controller is more sensitive to voltage fluctuations. When starting a prime95 test the Vcore usually drops by about 0.05V (according to ghost monitor) no matter what the starting voltage is...is this normal? Does yours do this? I'm using an XCLIO 450W...a fairly decent unit which I guess should be fine.

Curious to know if you've tried other RAM & PSU's so I could rule those out. Have you tried another CPU? I'm at wit's end with this as I'm nearing the end of things to try...don't know what I did to deserve this. Well I'll keep you posted if I find anything out. thanks

-curran

 

[Mem]

curran did you install the AMD x2 driver?.. As to 0.05v variation that should be fine...just keep the minimum voltage at 1.35v or above under load.

 

[curran]

mem,

hey yeah I have the x2 driver installed...but if I remember correctly it has also frozen w/out the driver. About the voltages, I've tried several but normally have to decrease to the lowest setting in the bios to get it to reach 1.35V at idle so that it won't run so hot under full load. Think I might have used too much thermal grease in the last install. It is normally about 1.4V or slightly greater on auto. thanks

-curran