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

[pspada]

Ok, I got the 2700+ in today, and replaced the 2500+ with it. Currently running at 11.5x200fsb = 2305Mhz, stock hsf and voltage. I removed the stock hs from the northbridge, and went to put the "Crystal Orb" on -and the damn thing is a video chipset cooler, it does not fit. So, out I go to get a Vantec CCB-A1C, which installs just fine. Drops my nb by about 10c, to ~30c. I've yet to put anything on the sb chip, the nb stock hs needs to be modified to accept it, as it otherwise hits a component or two on the board. I just going to use the larger passive hs that came with the CCB-A1C for the southbridge.

Now, I'll put the cover back on, and start testing the LAN and Soundstorm to see if it still has problems.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: MARMADUKE
bjc112-enable ESCD

Whats ESCD?

The board is on its way to newegg as we speak...

But i am still curious to know as it could have been my fix...

 

[pspada]

Well, after all that work, my temps are just about exactly the same as before. So the only difference is that I'm now running a 2700+ (@11.5x200 thus far). And it still appears that a degree or two matters when running at 200, 'cause the sound and lan "go walkabout" when I close the case. Right now I have the front panel off, and a floor fan blowing in to force the heat out.

So, it appears I've been on the wrong track. I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow to buy a lawn blower to install..........:disgust:

 

[bjc112]

Bump for Marm.. .

(Even though its a stickey)

 

[WhiteKnight]

I'm sorry if this has already been discussed, but I'll admit that I didn't make it through all 12 pages. I ordered 2x 512 2700 Crucial from Newegg, but now I've heard that this ram has problems with the board. Is this true? If it is, what are my options as far as exchanges with newegg? Thanks very much.

 

[pspada]

I'd suggest getting pc3200 instead, no matter what. Better investment that will make you happier longer.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Any suggestions on the brand of 3200? I'm not sure that I can afford it at this point... :-\

 

[Megatomic]

WhiteKnight, are you going to overclock your system? If not, unless the CPU you are using is a 400MHz FSB chip then the PC3200 is overkill for you. PC2700 is fine. And from I remember reading a little while ago Crucial went with chips other than those by Micron and now their sticks work fine in nForce2 boards. Give the ones you bought already a shot, if they don't work out then RMA them.

Btw, you can check my rig for details. I use PC2700 with my Barton 2500+ and I have a really sweet overclocked system. I just bumped up the mult. to 12.5 and the FSB to 170MHz. Easy free o/c.

 

[WhiteKnight]

If I do oc at all it will be very moderate. I am planning on running a Tbred 2400+, so I guess I should be ok, right?

 

[MDP1965]

doesnt matter.

 

[pspada]

last week:

8RDA+
2500+ @ 10x200fsb = 2000Mhz, stock hsf, stock voltage
1.5 gig OCZ PC3200 (3 Dimms), @400Mhz, CL2 3-3-8 (Dual channel)

This week:

8RDA+
2700+ @ 11.5x200fsb = 2305Mhz, stock hsf, stock voltage
1.5 gig OCZ PC3200 (3 Dimms), @400Mhz, CL2 3-3-8 (Dual channel)

Of course you are welcome to get some measly 333Mhz PC2700, and run at 170fsb if you really want too.....

 

[CrowDog]

I plan on getting the 8rda+ and a 2500+ off of newegg soon. I now have an ecs k7s5a with 256 crucial pc2100 in it...can I just get another 256 pc2100 stick and still overclock fine? Or will I need to get faster/better ram?

I also have:

80gig wd se
radeon 8500 64mb retail
sb audigy

am I set on that stuff?


(sorry noob question, havent upgraded since this k7s5a was brand new)

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: pspada
Of course you are welcome to get some measly 333Mhz PC2700, and run at 170fsb if you really want too.....

If only we could all be as 1337 as you... I've done the PC3200 thing with this board. It just wasn't worth it. I had 2x256MB Corsair PC3200. When I went to 1GB I couldn't justify the price with the meager increase the system got in REAL applications from the extra FSB speed. The games just weren't faster by enough to be worth the 2x price premium.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: CrowDog
I plan on getting the 8rda+ and a 2500+ off of newegg soon. I now have an ecs k7s5a with 256 crucial pc2100 in it...can I just get another 256 pc2100 stick and still overclock fine? Or will I need to get faster/better ram?

I also have:

80gig wd se
radeon 8500 64mb retail
sb audigy

am I set on that stuff?


(sorry noob question, havent upgraded since this k7s5a was brand new)

You should get at least PC2700 memory so that you can run your Barton at it's rated FSB. If you plan on FSB overclocking, you'll need even faster memory. PC3200 should be the slowest you'd consider at that point.

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: CrowDog
I plan on getting the 8rda+ and a 2500+ off of newegg soon. I now have an ecs k7s5a with 256 crucial pc2100 in it...can I just get another 256 pc2100 stick and still overclock fine? Or will I need to get faster/better ram?

I also have:

80gig wd se
radeon 8500 64mb retail
sb audigy

am I set on that stuff?


(sorry noob question, havent upgraded since this k7s5a was brand new)

I would'nt buy PC2100 ram. Get some good PC3200 sticks at least for dual channel and high FSB overclocking when you get your new Epox. PC2100 has become nearly obsolete now.

 

[pspada]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: pspada
Of course you are welcome to get some measly 333Mhz PC2700, and run at 170fsb if you really want too.....

If only we could all be as 1337 as you... I've done the PC3200 thing with this board. It just wasn't worth it. I had 2x256MB Corsair PC3200. When I went to 1GB I couldn't justify the price with the meager increase the system got in REAL applications from the extra FSB speed. The games just weren't faster by enough to be worth the 2x price premium.

1337?

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: pspada
1337?

geekspeek for leet. It was all the rage for a while thanks to JeffK. from somethingawful.com. It was a joke.

 

[WhiteKnight]

I am installing my new RDA+ but I'm having a problem. When I power up, I get FF and the system stays on, but I don't get any video on my aging GF3. I tried moving the RAM around and checked all the connections. Any ideas?

 

[pspada]

try one stick of RAM, after clearing the CMOS.

 

[WhiteKnight]

No go

 

[WhiteKnight]

Ok, somehow I got it to post. Apparently one of my sticks of RAM is bad.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Now I'm having a problem with XP Pro install where it hangs at about 24 min remaining. The little graphic keeps moving in the lower right, but I let it sit for about 30 min and nothing changed. There was no CD activity during that time either.

 

[pspada]

Sounds like it still does not like the RAM. Try manually setting the RAM to DDR266, while the performance may suck, at least it may work.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Well the good news is that everything seems to be working now and I'm proceeding with windows update and drivers. Bad news is I don't know what I did to fix it. I just tinkered around in BIOS and it started working. Thanks for the suggestions.

Actually, I've started to get some BSODs. I'm not sure what's causing them and they go by too fast to read, because the system just reboots. I think that they are that driver something less than or equal deal.

 

[irabufan]

i need help deciding which board to get
i'm considering this one or the new 8rda3+, which is like at least $30 more expensive and the only differences are SATA (which i'll not use for a while) and official support for 400fsb
i just need to know how well are these boards hitting 400+ fsb? cuz planning to get a barton 2500+ and OC it, so not sure if i should go safe and get the more expensive board or just get this one and hope that it'll reach 400+ fsb
any help would be appreciated