*** Official EPoX 8RDA/+ (nForce2) Thread ***

[Corsairpro]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=1027437

Please help

 

[SpideyCU]

Originally posted by: Killrose

Originally posted by: MARMADUKE
I use corsair..
crucial and kingston are not good with 8rda

I'm not having any problems with my (2) sticks of HyperX PC3500. Never had any problems with my (2) 128mb sticks of Samsung PC2700 in use with (1) 256mb stick either.

It's some of the ValueRAM that has issues, the HyperX stuff has always done great.

 

[Gabs]

Originally posted by: farscape
Said that I would get back when I got 2k up and loaded:

Let's see:

The good points:
On-board sound is great.
Fastest NIC I have ever had.


The bad points:
SSSLLLOOOOWWWW HD access - doesn't matter what ide driver is installed.
If I can get the burner to work - I smoke along at SINGLE speed. Plextor12/10/32, latest firmware update, latest Nero or Roxio
Won't let go of programs - hangs forever.

8rda+
AMD 2400XP
512 2700 DDR - MWave branded mem - passes memtest
40 gig WD 7200
10 gig WD 5400
12/10/32 plextor burner
Pioneer DVD
Enermax 350W PS
nforce2 mx 400

I've noticed it too. Western hard disks can give extremly crappy result with nforce2. Western is to blame. Sub 100 points in HDD-score in PCmark 2002. Tried the same disk first with a Asus A7N8X, same result, then with Abit NF7-S. Same result, even hooked up to the SATA-controller with Abits SATA-converter the result was an extremely slow HDD access. Disk was put back on the VIA based minboard. Now uses IBM and Maxtor with excellent performance.

 

[farscape]

Well, I'm stubborn:

Decided to stress the living daylights out of this thing for a while. Ran Prime 95 and 3DMark2001SE simultaneously for 3 hrs. - NO FAILURES - system stable.

Tried to get to the bottom of burning problem:

Reran the firmware update on the Plextor - had to disable the DMA settings, rebooted, ran the firmware update, rebooted, reset the DMA settings, rebooted. Tried a test burn w/Roxio - got a good 8x burn, disc to disc. Tried an album full of wav files - got a full 12x. Still can't burn through Nero though, but this is a lot better than before.

Noticed that after going through the reset of the DMA settings - things are a lot faster now than yesterday - no hangs, and responsive.

Will keep you posted.

 

[mste456]

whats the best bios to use with 256x2 corsair twinx LL 3200. i'm havin touble gettin to to 200 fsb mark. keep gettin a c1 error on the led. when i'm o/cin that high i 'm usin 2.77mem, 2,3,3,6.
xp2400
wd 80 se
asus ti4200 128
enermax 550w psu
oh yeah it's watercooled via my dangerden kit

 

[samyboy]

Got the mobo from mwave, does nothing other than post code FF. FF shows up as soon as I power it on, as if that's what it's wired to do. I changed CPU from my working PC and same result. The new CPU also works with the old system. Hence the board is bad. gonna RMA it today. I guess I will go with A7N8X instead.

 

[tcc2f6]

Hey, it's been a while since i built a computer and I'm unsure on a few things so I wanted to ask here.

The Processor (AMD 2200+) has a FSB of 266. On the mobo the highest i can set the FSB is 200.

The jumper on the board is in it's default setting (133/166mhz).

So then in the BIOS do i just set FSB frequency to 166 and then the multiplier to...? (if i do the math it says : x * 166mhz = 1.8 ghz; would make x equal to 10.8 something...so ...)

if anyone can help me out here i'd really appreciate it.

thanks
tyler

 

[SpideyCU]

Unless you're overclocking, don't set it to 166, leave it at 133. You can set it in the BIOS like you said, and the multiplier will be left at the default value unless you change it.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: farscape


The bad points:
SSSLLLOOOOWWWW HD access - doesn't matter what ide driver is installed.
If I can get the burner to work - I smoke along at SINGLE speed. Plextor12/10/32, latest firmware update, latest Nero or Roxio
Won't let go of programs - hangs forever.

This is a problem inherent in all nForce 2 motherboards (the bad HD performance and VERY HIGH CPU usage. I can't remember exactly where, but in one of the Abit NF7-S threads I read about this issue awhile back (apparently it's even worse in the NF7-S). MechBgon or someone else posted a link to a small update file from Microsoft which seemed to help.

I don't have the link for the thread, but the file I got from Microsoft's website is called "Q815411_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe" so do a search on their website for the Q815411 update and see if that works for you.

 

[Colombo]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: farscape


The bad points:
SSSLLLOOOOWWWW HD access - doesn't matter what ide driver is installed.
If I can get the burner to work - I smoke along at SINGLE speed. Plextor12/10/32, latest firmware update, latest Nero or Roxio
Won't let go of programs - hangs forever.

This is a problem inherent in all nForce 2 motherboards (the bad HD performance and VERY HIGH CPU usage. I can't remember exactly where, but in one of the Abit NF7-S threads I read about this issue awhile back (apparently it's even worse in the NF7-S). MechBgon or someone else posted a link to a small update file from Microsoft which seemed to help.

I don't have the link for the thread, but the file I got from Microsoft's website is called "Q815411_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe" so do a search on their website for the Q815411 update and see if that works for you.

Not sure if this is the fix you're talking about.....doesn't really look like it....

Link

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Colombo

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024

Originally posted by: farscape


The bad points:
SSSLLLOOOOWWWW HD access - doesn't matter what ide driver is installed.
If I can get the burner to work - I smoke along at SINGLE speed. Plextor12/10/32, latest firmware update, latest Nero or Roxio
Won't let go of programs - hangs forever.

This is a problem inherent in all nForce 2 motherboards (the bad HD performance and VERY HIGH CPU usage. I can't remember exactly where, but in one of the Abit NF7-S threads I read about this issue awhile back (apparently it's even worse in the NF7-S). MechBgon or someone else posted a link to a small update file from Microsoft which seemed to help.

I don't have the link for the thread, but the file I got from Microsoft's website is called "Q815411_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe" so do a search on their website for the Q815411 update and see if that works for you.

Not sure if this is the fix you're talking about.....doesn't really look like it....

Link

That's the fix right there. Microsoft rewrote the page with a more technical explanation but it's the same. Give it a try. It fixed my system and many others' as well.

 

[MARMADUKE]

farscape
forget that stupid microsoft download, I think it is a crock of chit!
I set up about 7 8rda so far and will be doing another 1 this Wednesday, I have never had a problem yet! ( I think it is WD and configuration problem )

This is what I would do with your set up (I would get rid of the WD HDD'S they are chit!, even WD will tell you to cut wires to make them work? this is a WD defect not nforce2..UNREAL! )

ok..
IDE 1-should be WD 7200 with NO jumper on the pins, set as master on the cable, now connect the burner to IDE 1 also and set as slave. (say bye bye to the second HD you had here!)

IDE 2-set the DVD drive as master (this is your source drive and you can burn with nero on the fly, but you will need the latest nero software or you will crash very fast! )

Now boot to cmos setup and check you devices and enable ESCD save and exit and boot to windows!
You should have no more problems!

 

[Megatomic]

I don't even own a WD drive. The high CPU utilization problem extends beyond the WD drives. This file DOES fix this problem whether or not you choose to believe it.

 

[Amorphus]

question - what do you all think is the best BIOS for the 8rda+?

3129 (with the corsair fix hack) sounds good, what else? (because I don't really want to use that one for reasons I'm keeping to myself =/ )

 

[farscape]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Marmaduke, from what I've been picking up on the web, I think that it may be a WD problem also.

Megatomic's suggestion of high CPU utilization looks good also, but I'm using W2K, and the MS article seems to pointing to XP as the culprit.

I've got the burner fine working thru CD Creator, but so far Nero has been a bust - even with the latest update - but I'm not ready to give up on that yet. I know that there is a workaround, and I'll find it.
All is running better now that I reset the DMA settings after redoing the burner's firmware update.

MX 400 card is holding scores back in 3dMark 2001SE - (2450 yuck) know that I got to get someting better than that. Heck - not any better than my Voodoo 3000 on my 8hka (not OC'd).

Will keep in touch - 'scape

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: farscape
Megatomic's suggestion of high CPU utilization looks good also, but I'm using W2K, and the MS article seems to pointing to XP as the culprit.

That does change things... I guess I missed that tidbit of info somewhere in these pages.

 

[Blooz1]

Just for the info...I'm running Win98SE and not having any of these problems! WD600JB is gettin' about 32K in Sandra bench....

 

[AkumaX]

i've tried flashing the 3402 bios TWICE and both times it resulted in bootblock bios. used the bare floppy disk method (tried resetting cmos, holding ins tapping del)

both times i never even had the chance to go into bios to set defaults, it would just go into bootblock mode.

and the worse part is it wouldn't flash back to the original bios, claiming the checksum doesnt match/no checksum...

argh, no bios flashing for mE!

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: MARMADUKE
farscape
forget that stupid microsoft download, I think it is a crock of chit!
I set up about 7 8rda so far and will be doing another 1 this Wednesday, I have never had a problem yet! ( I think it is WD and configuration problem )

This is what I would do with your set up (I would get rid of the WD HDD'S they are chit!, even WD will tell you to cut wires to make them work? this is a WD defect not nforce2..UNREAL! )

ok..
IDE 1-should be WD 7200 with NO jumper on the pins, set as master on the cable, now connect the burner to IDE 1 also and set as slave. (say bye bye to the second HD you had here!)

IDE 2-set the DVD drive as master (this is your source drive and you can burn with nero on the fly, but you will need the latest nero software or you will crash very fast! )

Now boot to cmos setup and check you devices and enable ESCD save and exit and boot to windows!
You should have no more problems!

Actually, u are wrong, the patch works on ALL AMD based platforms running WINXP.

Using HDtach, my CPU utilization on my 8rda+,wife's k7s5a,Sons8kha+ and at least 5 that I tested at work Nforce1 platforms went from an AVg of 35-40% util. to under 10% in EVERY instance. Saying it is a crock is flat out WRONG!!!!!

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: AkumaX
i've tried flashing the 3402 bios TWICE and both times it resulted in bootblock bios. used the bare floppy disk method (tried resetting cmos, holding ins tapping del)

both times i never even had the chance to go into bios to set defaults, it would just go into bootblock mode.

and the worse part is it wouldn't flash back to the original bios, claiming the checksum doesnt match/no checksum...

argh, no bios flashing for mE!

You made sure u werent overclocng AT ALL when flashing right?
Also, u are using the correct bios wether it be for the 8rda or 8rda+ right?

Figured u would answer yes to both, but u never know

I am running the 3305 bios with no issues at all.

 

[EGGHplayer]

A while back there was reference in this thread to Nero CD burning problems. I have Nero InCD loaded in my Windows 2k pro system, and I have had a hard time getting it to work. Computer at first would not recognize the drive at all when a CD-RW disc was loaded, would go through motions to format the disc but then would not recognize it, and finally would either hang the system or crash it. Have reflashed the CD drive operationg system, installed the latest software version from NERO, and after numerous calls to Yamaha Service Dep't (who manufatured the drive) finally turned off the Mt Rainier system and now have the drive at least able to format CD-RW discs and then having them recognized by the system and accepting and reading packet writing. In other words, it works -- sort of. But my system still crashes when I unmount a CD-RW. Anybody out there with any ideas as to what would cause this? I have no other CD burn software on my computer that I know of . . .

 

[roncarter]

how do you know which version of the bios you have?

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: roncarter
how do you know which version of the bios you have?

When your computer boots, it will give u the bios date ( or check it in SANDRA). The bios names/files themselves are the dates they were released. So my Bios dat is March 5 2003 hence the bios filename of 3305

 

[m1ke101]

Just ordered a board from newegg, will have it tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how well it overclocks

 

[BoberFett]

Are the additional USB headers powered? I have a Skyhawk Enterprise case (sort cheaply built, but a decent case for $40 including a 300W PS) with the USB headers plugged into the front panel. I can plug a mouse into either of the front USB ports and it works. But when I plug in my SmartMedia reader which doesn't have a power supply, the light on the reader doesn't come and Windows won't detect it. Plug it into any of the rear ports and it works just fine.

I'd assume since other devices work, that it's hooked up correctly. But if you could enlighten me otherwise I'd be grateful.