Just got my 8rda+ today =)

[nucl3arboNg]

....now I need help setting it up please. This is my first epox board and my old gigabyte didn't have half the options in the bios that this does, so i'll just list some questions and hopefully i'll get some answers. Here are my system specs too as they'll help...

XP1600+ agioa "9" (just unlocked)
Epox 8rda+ (think it's rev 1.1)
2x256 OCZ 3500EL Duel Channel ca2
MSI Geforce 4 4400ti champion edition
Maxtor ata133 40gb fbd
Lite-On 16x dvd, Lite-On 40x cdrw (both black)
Enermax eg-465fc power supply.

1) Which bios right now should I upgrade too as my board came with the stock bios, and how do I install it? Do I just put it on a boot disk floppy like I would for any other bios?
2) What slots should I use my ram to use the duel channel controler? I have 1 in slot 0 and 1 in slot 2 now. Is that right?
3) Does the bios auto detect if i'm using a 4x agp card? I see there is only an option to enable 8x's support.
4) Which lan port is the best to use? I'm using the nvidia one and it seems to be working alright. Is the 3com one any better?
5) Will using a low cfm fan on the mobo headers do any harm?
6) Now i'll get to the bios settings, I'll list a bunch and please tell me the optimal settings for each....
-cpu internal cache
-external cache
-typematic rate setting
-apic mode
-msp version control of os
-os select for dram
-memory frequency (should I be running sync?)
-fsb and agp spread spectrum
-what should my agp aperture size be for a 128mb card?
-for agp frequency should I just set to 66 or set it a couple higher to give it a little zip, like maybe 68?
-cpu thrm-throttling
-the system and video bios cacheables should be disabled right?
-why are my cpu fans rpm's not showing in the bios, it just says 0?
-for the voltage everyone says might need to be modded, which is that exactly? vdd I think?


I think that's about it, the only other things are I just did a fresh install of winxp and am trying to install service pack 1, but it says I can't because i'm using an invalid cd key. Wouldn't that make it impossible for me to install the OS? My os is a winxp pro corprete copy. Thanks and hopefull someone will help me with this, because in the past when I've posted on this board I've got little or no help at all.

 

[nucl3arboNg]

Please all those experianced with this board help me. I have updated to the latest bios but found out my unlocking attempt failed so i'm messing around with it locked. What do you think the max voltage my 1600+ can take is? I running the memory in sync (1 stick bank0, 1 bank1) with the timings @2,2,2,6. I'm having trouble running over 170fsb@stock multiplier at voltages up to 1.9. Should I up it even more? Do you think I've found the limit to my cpu, because I was using it previously on a gigabyte 7vaxp w/1 512 corsair 3200 ca2 and couldn't run stably over 174fsb. Mind you my 3dmark scores are now much higher then they were previously even with lower fsb. Probably a combination of the new mobo and ram. Oh and will using all the fan headers on the board be bad? the one beside cpu fan called power fan, can I use one of my power supply fans on there? Another issue i'm having is that I can't get my rear speakers on my Logitech z-560's working with the nvidia sound. Just gives very faint static.

I hope someone can please help me I would hope that I can reach a higher clock speed and fsb with my new mobo and ram combo then this

 

[nucl3arboNg]

so you think that i've reached my limit with this cpu locked? My speeds are a lot faster at 10.5x170, then they were 10.5x174 on my old gigabyte 7vaxp and 1 stick corsair xms3200 512. I've gone from 12400 in 3dmark to 13200 with the same video drivers as before. Also my quake3 timedemo has gone up 40fps. oh and I tried unlocking my cpu and in the bios I have the option of all the multipliers, but when I try and use them I get an overclocking error. I thought if your cpu was locked you don't have the option to even choose the other multipliers? Or is this a thing with this board?

 

[Bagheera786]

I may not be the best person to answer your question, but I'll try my best. Though I'm no expert, from what I've been reading online, it seems like you have in fact reached the limit of your (locked) cpu. From all I've heard, corsair xms3200 will most always go beyond 170fsb, and since the agp and pci busses are locked, they shouldn't be causing any problems either. Only thing left that I can think of is the cpu. good luck with unlocking it.

second, I know that there is a bios guide out there somewhere that has all of those settings and descriptions and reccommendations - I'll see if I can find it.

third, there have been reports of problems with low and/or variable speed rpm fans - *if* you are experiencing problems, then try connecting those fans directly to the PSU. If not, don't worry about it.

Lastly, the sound on the 8rda+ is routed to other speakers via a software remap. I'm not sure exactly how this is done, but the first thing to know is that you're looking for software in windows, it's not a jumper or in the BIOS (as I understand it).

well, that's what my research has turned up - hopefully someone who actually owns a board will answer and give you more definitive answers.

 

[LastRide]

Make sure to run your nForce2 in synchronous mode (processor FSB and DDR speed the same i.e. 333 FSB processor and DDR 2700(333) memory) with two sticks of memory in banks one and three. Do this and you will maximize the chipset's potential.

 

[nucl3arboNg]

can the ram be in 1 and 2? Does it really matter as long as 1 is in the single bank? What kind of software is it that i'm looking for? The speakers worked fine on my old board with audigy. I just want to keep any pci cards out of the board because I will be getting a raid card,and installing a water cooler and want the room there.

 

[Aiden]

bios upgrade should be latest: think its c3117 if i can remember. many people had success with c31 bios. just go to epox site and download the latest,should work fine.

for what slots to use for your memory,check your manual. it shows you what slots to use. either bank 1 and bank 2 or bank 1 and bank 3

the board only runs in 4x/8x agp setting,so you want to disable the 8x agp.

Not really sure on the headers,although you should remove the northbridge and apply as3 to it, from what i have read,seen with my board.

cache: you want both caches on or you will suffer preformance loss

typematic-default
apic-default
msp-default/disabled
os select-default/disabled
fsb and agp spread-defaults/disabled unless you encounter EMI problems
agp apature-default
agp freq-66mhz or auto,prefer 66mhz as auto might make changes
cpu throttling-default

Cache bios/video- disabled/enabled. personal preferance really,i havnt seen a big problem with my video memory cached.
cpu fan- must be set on fan1 check your 3pin connector. if its connected to fan2 or fan3 it will show up under another area. if its connected to the psu it wont show up at all.

to get over 1.85volts on your cpu core,you must mod the board. otherwise the top voltage you can put through the 8rda+ is 1.85. mod at your own risk,some people have destroyed there mb doing it.

for the sound/lan ports,you need to install the drivers that came with the motherboard. should be a cdrom labeled with the epox label,insert that and run it. can find updated nvidea drivers by using windows update also.


not really sure about the overclocking issues. the settings i gave you are what im using on my 8rda+. looks like your using a palamino chip? if its a t-bred then the multipliers come unlocked with the 8rda+. if its a palamino,then you have to physically unlock it as i understand,with my limited knowledge of overclocking.