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

[Azkarr]

It is attached to the 3 pin molex. Using SpeedFan, it says the fan is going at a constant 3500 rpm idle. It's only quiet when its around 2800 rpm. I disabled all of the rpm control options in SpeedFan and only used the program to monitor the rpm. Using SpeedFan with CnQ is fine, but I was sure that CnQ would change rpms automatically.

 

[gfngfgf]

Originally posted by: SPQQKY
If your CPU fan is attached to the motherboard via the 3 pin molex, your fan speed will also be reduced using CnQ.............thus Cool 'n' QUIET

Taken from page 8 of Cool N Quiet manual from AMD:

"Required for noise reduction: Heatsink/fan capable of speed control"

The "Quiet" part assumes that you have a thermally-controlled fan. If you do, fine, but if you don't, then you need to enable SmartFan in order for the fan speed to be reduced.

 

[Davegod]

in PC Health section of BIOS there's Smart Fan Temperature, I set it to 50C. speedfan shows cpu fan (stock, 3700+) at around 1050rpm usually, though I'm sure it's never hit anything approaching 3500rpm even when cpu temp has hit 50C.

I've enabled CnQ in bios (set to Auto) but I dont see a reduced voltage or multiplier in CPUZ. Dunno if that's down to CnQ or CPUZ.

 

[servo101]

try everest to see if voltage goes down

 

[Azkarr]

Make sure that the CnQ driver is installed, and your power scheme in power options is set to minimal power management.

Is the stock amd hsf not a thermally controlled fan?

 

[SPQQKY]

Originally posted by: Azkarr
Make sure that the CnQ driver is installed, and your power scheme in power options is set to minimal power management.

Is the stock amd hsf not a thermally controlled fan?

Yes, all stock Athlon64 HSF's are thermally controlled.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

How does this board do with Corsair Value RAM? Any problems?

 

[teddyv]

Seems to work just fine in mine.

 

[swamyg1]

I've been trying to update my bios through Magic Bios for the past 2 days and I keep getting a connection failed error... anyone have any ideas on this?

 

[fueledbymetal]

Corsair value works fine in mine as well.

 

[Zerohm]

My first installs were very flaky. Things seem to be much better now after using 6.7 drivers straight from Nvidia, and disabling the Firewall and IDE software.

I have a question though, what effect does disabling the IDE drivers have on my DVD burner? The burner still seems to work fine, are the drivers just to increase efficiency or what?

 

[SnoMunke]

Just updated my motherboard from MSI K8N Neo4 Ultra (had the EEPROM battery design flaw) to a EPoX Ep-9NPA+ Ultra using the components in my sig... absolutely no problems...runs like a charm...much better than the MSI board...

 

[sgtdic]

congratulations glad you made the switch and welcome to this huge thread for the Epox NF4 Ultra.

 

[teddyv]

** WARNING ** WARNING ** WARNING ** WARNING **

I submitted a ticket for help last night to the new USA website, and when I tried to log into my mail this morning my Outlook crashed. Using Yahoo's Pop mail I see that I have over ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED RESPONSES from support@epox.com telling me my ticket has been submitted.

What a royal PAIN in the BUTT. I love the Motherboard but if this keeps up I am going to lose it!!!

 

[teddyv]

Well I finally got in touch with someone at Epox, they've brought down their mail server to find out what the heck is going on. And by the way, the total ended up being just shy of 3,000 e-mails - hello bandwidth surcharge for this month

 

[Fallengod]

What was your problem you had anyways? I have ALMOST no complaints about this board. It is rock solid and has every feature I would need.

My only problem is, all the reviews and people have stated this board should overclock pretty well. Does anyone else have any strange CPU vcore problems? This board is either the opposite of what reviews and people have said, or there is a vcore display problem. I think it just displays the incorrect voltage. I think its off by like either .050 or .1 volts. I guess It could possible be a combination of memory and the board holding it back. Thats the only other possibility.

I cant hardly OC at all on this board. I know for a fact its not my CPU nor is it my memory by themselves. I guess it could be a combination of this memory and the board. I would think its the vcore displaying incorrectly. To get just 2.4ghz on my 3200 E3 venice with good steppings, I need 1.55 volts. This is somewhat high for such a modest OC, also considering the previous owner of this cpu had it at 2.5ghz at STOCK volts. I am at 2.5ghz right now, but It wasnt "prime" stable untill I bumped 1.625 volts into it. Thats really high for just 2.5ghz... I would guess that 1.625 volts is really like 1.525 or something around there. I have yet to put a multimeter and test it but..... I dont know what else to do.

I was just wondering what kind of OC's anyone else gets on this and/or if you have experienced any odd high vcore bumps to get it?

 

[teddyv]

What was your problem you had anyways?

The red light in my MS Optical Scroll mouse refuses to go off when I shut off the computer. The only way to make it go off is to shut off the PS. I was wondering if I was missing a bios setting or jumper.

 

[servo101]

Originally posted by: modempower
My only problem is, all the reviews and people have stated this board should overclock pretty well. Does anyone else have any strange CPU vcore problems? This board is either the opposite of what reviews and people have said, or there is a vcore display problem. I think it just displays the incorrect voltage. I think its off by like either .050 or .1 volts. I guess It could possible be a combination of memory and the board holding it back. Thats the only other possibility.

i have some vcore issues as well, i set vcore at 1.65v, but display is only at 1.62-1.63v according to Everest and CPU-Z.

 

[SnoMunke]

Originally posted by: teddyv

What was your problem you had anyways?

The red light in my MS Optical Scroll mouse refuses to go off when I shut off the computer. The only way to make it go off is to shut off the PS. I was wondering if I was missing a bios setting or jumper.

From the manual...

JUSB:
Settings:
1-2: Connect (S3 enabled)
2-3: Disconnect (No S3)
USB S3 Wake up Jumper
This jumper disconnects 5V standby
voltage to USB devices. This means USB
devices will not be able to wake-up the
system from S3 (Suspend to RAM) power
saving mode.

 

[teddyv]

It was my first build, I read the manual cover to cover (several times.)

It is a PS/2 mouse (I tried the USB Power & 5v Bios and Jumper settings anyway, no love.)

 

[SnoMunke]

Really? That didn't work huh? Maybe try USB rodent? (or buy PS/2 to USB mouse adapter)

 

[Fallengod]

I have that exact same problem. The mouse is always on 24/7 even when its powered off. Its a logitech ps2 mouse. Ive just been turning the psu off at night to fix it. I went through the bios thinking it would be a "wake on" setting but I couldnt find anything that turned it off.

 

[teddyv]

I talked to Epox Tech folks about it, they said there is nothing that can be done and that being on 24/7 shouldn't hurt the mouse.

By the way, here is (I hope!) the culmination of the flood Teddy with E-mail saga...

Well after receiving a total just shy of Five Thousand e-mails in 24-hours it appears Epox has finally fixed the problem. The cause was apparently some kind of software failure on the Epox USA Mail Server.
Costs to me-
Hefty Bandwidth surchage for 4,944 e-mails at 4k a piece.
Hours of bounced personal e-mail after ISP shut me down when bandwidth limit was reached.
Multiple (not toll free) Long-distance phone calls to Epox and ISP.
Time (hours) spent with Epox, ISP, and monkeying around with Outlook to straighten it all out.

My last conversation with Epox:
Epox: "We screwed up, sorry."
My response, "Well make it right, this cost me a lot of time and money."
Epox famous last words: "Yes, it is unfortunate, is there anything else?"

Amazing board, worst customer service I've experienced yet.

 

[Zerohm]

Wow teddyv, Epox tech support is looking like a well oiled machine! They care enough to check on you, 5000 times! I've pretty much come to expect no tech support from PC products. Unless it says Sony or Dell on the side, the manufacturer is just trying to squeeze out every penny they can to sell the cheapest part.

... and if it DOES say Dell or Sony on the side you are screwed by parts only compatible with other Dell or Sony parts so go figure.

 

[Mem]

I've just ordered my Epox 9NPA+ ultra board & parts(full PC build ),my nForce 2 is showing its age now ,so wish me luck on my build.

Parts I ordered all in stock .

Epox 9NPA+ Ultra
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ dual core.
2 GB Crucial PC 3200 ram
Hiper Type R 580W ATX2.2 PSU.
Audigy 4 OEM
Leadtek 7800GT 256mb Extreme edition.
Maxtor MaxLine III 300GB SATA HD OEM.
LG GSA-4167BRL DVD burner Retail black
Samsung SH-D162 DVD-ROM OEM black
Mitsumi floppy drive black.

I have all latest drivers and bios downloaded already .