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

[bwanaaa]

Now , has anyone gotten this board to start from an OFF state with a usb kb? I know a ps/2 kb can do it. And I know my usb ports have 5 v even when the pc is shut down (my razer copperhead stays lit!)

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: shrimpsiumai
What ram do you guys prefer around the $110 price range? I plan on using it for gaming (BF2 , fear, etc...)

512MB? 1GB? 2x512MB? Can you narrow down the possible answer scope for us before we answer?

techfuzz

 

[shrimpsiumai]

Originally posted by: techfuzz

Originally posted by: shrimpsiumai
What ram do you guys prefer around the $110 price range? I plan on using it for gaming (BF2 , fear, etc...)

512MB? 1GB? 2x512MB? Can you narrow down the possible answer scope for us before we answer?

techfuzz

Well, I think eventually i'd want 2 gb of ram. In that case, I know having 512 sticks will be faster but is there a need to save the extra 2 slots if i go 2 X 1gb = 2gb instead of 4x512. thanks

 

[SPQQKY]

My board wouldn't boot with Patriot in slots 1&2 but ran great on 3&4. I can run both sets of Corsair in any configuration. It may be more difficult to run 4 x 512 depending on what RAM you get, but for $110, your best bet is to get a good 2 x 512 set, you can always sell it when it's time for 2 gigs. And as always, I recommend Corsair XMS, best bet out there.

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: shrimpsiumai
Well, I think eventually i'd want 2 gb of ram. In that case, I know having 512 sticks will be faster but is there a need to save the extra 2 slots if i go 2 X 1gb = 2gb instead of 4x512. thanks

I had a similar thread going on about memory makers and which ones to go with over here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=1694631

You might find it useful to read the suggestions.

I would suggest sticking with the major players: OCZ, Corsair, Crucial, Mushkin, etc...

techfuzz

 

[funks]

Originally posted by: MadMax

I paired this board with an X2 CPU and 1GB of OCZ PC3200 Gold, 2-2-2-5 and I have had lots of issues with this board.

I'm currently using the 9npa5629 BIOS and the 6.37 platform drivers (came on the bundled CD).
At first I tried the 6.66 platform drivers, but they were flaky. Should I "upgrade" to the 6.39 or 6.53 drivers from Nvidia's website?

Why don't you try backing down oon the RAM a bit?

try 2.5->3->2-8 and see if it stabilizes..

I have 4 gigs of OCZ Platinum (2 sets of 2x1GB DUAL Channels OCZ PC3200 Platinum EL)
which are rated at 2-3-2-5.. My 9NPA+SLI did not become stable until I backed off the SPD timings a bit (to 2.5-3-2-8).

 

[catofnine]

Hi there,

I just built my first computer with this board--it's awesome! I'm never going to buy another prebuilt system again. I do have a newb question about the audioports though. Is there any way to have both the back audio ports and the front audio port working at the same time? As in I'd like to be able to plug my speakers in the back, and the headphones in the front. Right now I only have the front port working (removed the yellow jumpers).

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[funks]

catofmine - mine does that..

it depends on the front audio cables that you have though - at least it works that way on my Centurion 5 case - the way the front audio cables hookup, it leaves it jumpered and just taps off the jumper.

 

[techfuzz]

catofnine - When you have headphones plugged into the front, the audio from the back will be disabled. Here is the relevant section of the manual:

CFPA: Front Panel Audio Connector
When the jumpers are removed this connector can
be used for front panel audio. The front panel
phone jack should have ?normal close? switch.
Without phone plug inserted, the rear panel audio is
enabled. With phone plug inserted, the rear panel
audio will be disabled.

Settings:
Pins (5-6) & (9-10) Short (default):
Only the onboard rear panel audio
jack can be used.
Pins (5-6) & (9-10) Open:
Only front panel audio jack can be
used.

techfuzz

 

[catofnine]

Thanks for the quick response guys.

Funks: I'll check my front audio cable port when I get home. I'm pretty sure I had to remove the jumpers to make it fit, but I'll double check again.

Techfuzz:
Okay so in my current configuration I should be able to use both ports but can't have both speakers and headphones plugged in the different set of ports at the same time. Got it.

Another newb question regarding your post...what exactly is meant by the pins being "short" and "open"? Does "open" mean not jumpered? It was that part of the manual that kinda confused me when I read it.

Thanks again.

 

[RocketsFan]

catofnine,

"Open" means the pins aren't jumpered.
"Short" means they are jumpered.

 

[Dagon]

Well, I RMA'd my mobo the other day, and I look forward to the replacement that they will sending back to me. The worst part about this is that my internet has been down for 3 weeks, making it very difficult to order/RMA and check my shipping status'. Yay for newegg and epox, boo for landlord.

 

[Azkarr]

I have a question about Epox's RMA service. I bought the mobo off of ZipZoomFly, so I can't return it to them. I asked Epox tech what I need to send back, whether I'd receive a new or refurb or OEM board back, etc, but all they told me is that there's a 2 year warranty, their T1 is having problems, and that I need to call them. Has anyone here returned a board directly to Epox? If you did, what was their RMA process like? Thanks in advance.

 

[SPQQKY]

I got an 8KHA+ back from them within a week of them receiving it (my fault for the damage). I only sent the mobo and that is all I got returned (I had heard horror stories about people returning retail Asus boards in full and only receiving the mobo back in a white OEM box). This was pretty fast service if you ask me, but that was a few years ago, I've never had to RMA an Epox board since then.

 

[funks]

Originally posted by: techfuzz
catofnine - When you have headphones plugged into the front, the audio from the back will be disabled.

If you have a centurion 5 case, you'll know that this ain't the case..

It's front lead cable leaves the connectino shorted (jumpered) - it basically just taps off the jumper. If you have one of those cases that leaves it open, then I guess only the front port will work (instead of a tap).

My monitor is hooked up to the onboard audio port (green - back of the pc)

And my headphones is hooked up to the front port of my centurion 5, and both work simultaneously (eq. playing bf2 and have sound coming out from the monitor, and the headphone at the same time).

 

[Avrojet]

Has anyone tried the newest Epox 9NPA+ Ultra Bios version?
9npa5a03.bin (03 Oct 2005)

http://www.epox.nl/downloads/bios/?obj_product_id=271

Anybody know if Ntune Monitor works with these newer bios versions? The July and later ones didn't work with it AFAIK.

 

[SPQQKY]

Currently using it, but I never use nTune anyway as it messed with my system and is well documented to screw a lot of systems over.

 

[gfngfgf]

Avrojet: I'm also using the 10/03 BIOS, and nTune still doesn't seem to work. Like SPQQKY, though, I don't really use nTune.

 

[Avrojet]

Okay, thanks for the info.

Does this BIOS Version set the RAM Speed to 166Mhz automatically if you change the CMD Rate from 2T to 1T?
I recall some of the older ones doing that.

 

[Azkarr]

Originally posted by: Avrojet
Okay, thanks for the info.

Does this BIOS Version set the RAM Speed to 166Mhz automatically if you change the CMD Rate from 2T to 1T?
I recall some of the older ones doing that.

My old BIOS used to do that, but not sure about this one. But you can just manually select the memory speed.

 

[teddyv]

Anandtech's review says:

"The back panel also includes PS2 mouse and keyboard, 1 standard Firewire (IEEE1394a), Parallel port, 1 serial port, 4 USB, and one RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet. "

Looking at the back panel pictures I can't find the Firewire port - is it there and I am missing it or is AnandTech wrong?

Thanks!

 

[sgtdic]

you are right and wrong. the back panel does not have a firewire port built in, however, the ultra boards come with a pci slot adapter(2 port cable) that has 2 firewire ports on it that connects directly to the motherboard. the standard epox nforce4 board does not come with this.

 

[teddyv]

One quick question - does the board come with Norton Antivirus? The Euro Epox site (still cannot get through to Epox's US website!) mentiones it is in there. If so, is it a full product with the 1-year subscription or just like a 30-day thing?

Thanks!

 

[catofnine]

Thanks guys, I got my sound issues resolved. I did have the front audio cable hooked up right...it was an issue of that Realtek sound manager not recognizing the audio plug in the back. I updated the drivers, rebooted and the sound manager finally recognized the rear audio jack. And oddly enough, despite what the motherboard manual says...both the front and rear jacks do work at the same time now. And I ain't complainin'.

Teddyv: Yes, the board comes with Norton Antivirus...it's bundled with their "security suite" so you'll get their firewall software with it as well. However, it's not a full product at least in my case...it was for a 90-day trial.

 

[sgtdic]

i'm still a little confused about the memory thing. i have 2 x512 sticks in slots 1 and 2. if i put the same in 3 and 4, will there be issues and why? wouldn't it still run in dual channel with 4 x 512 in?

what happens with 3 sticks in? does it go to single channel and default to the slowest speed? like if i decided to get a 1 gig stick instead of another 2 x 512 for future upgrade.