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

[techwanabe]

What is the best modestly priced memory to put in this Epox mobo? I just purchased it yesterday along with an XP 2500+ Barton. I would like to be able to get it up to 2200 mhz... so I'm planning on PC3200 DDR.

What memory should I avoid?

 

[quincy2002]

Well, I bought some Kingston HyperX PC3700 and it would only run at 166 Mhz. Others have had similar problems. I recommend not getting that. I just installed some Buffalo PC3200 I bought from Marmaduke. Running at 200 MHz right now with moderate settings. Haven't had any time yet to tweak with the settings though.

 

[techwanabe]

Some folks are recommending Winbond memory - which the Buffalo chips (LOL) at Newegg are. Looks like I'll get some.

Now I just gotta decide if I can afford a 512 stick or just go with 256 to start with.

 

[quincy2002]

techwanabe - 2 256 sticks should be better than 1 512 stick. 2 sticks will enable the MB to run in dual channel mode, which is faster than a single stick of mem.

 

[techwanabe]

Thanks,

I just did some checking on the issue in the General Hardware forum and got some answers about this. Two different people said I would be fine with a single stick. Apparently the dual channel performance issue is most pronounced with on board video, which I won't have. One guy said the perf gain would be negligible...

So I'm gonna stick with a single 512 mb stick... probably a better idea cause if I do want to go dual channel later, I can get another 512 mb stick and have a gig of dual channel. But for now, a single 512 will be very good and give me a good mem upgrade option later... I want to pay off my current hardware purchases right now!

Cheerio

 

[Skillet38]

Well, I've been lurking these boards for a while, but I'd like to take a moment to announce that I've finally read this entire thread ! YES, it only took a couple o' days. Gettin ready for my 8RDA+ which is on the way from NewEgg. I appreciate this treasure trove of info.

I'm a tad concerned about the RAM I'm planning on using, currently installed in my IWILL XP333....
good news = it's Corsair 2700
bad news = Value :wine:

anyone had any experience with these sticks ? I've got 2 512s.

ciao

 

[Megatomic]

Hi Skillet38. I haven't heard of any bad experiences with Corsair Value memory on the 8RDA+. I think you will be ok. I am using Kingston HyperX PC2700, so far I have run my system at up to 180MHz FSB reliably. I don't dare go higher (I fear data corruption). Hopefully I'll get some PC3200 soon and see if I can get my Barton up to 200MHz. Good luck.

 

[Skillet38]

Glad to hear it Megatomic, Thanks.

Next question. I picked up a Volcano 7 (not the +) on Ebay for a pittance. Now that I've read some reviews on it, I understand that people have complained that the variable speed fan doesn't increase it's RPMs in well-cooled cases, thus allowing the CPU to get warmer than it should.

I'm wondering if disabling the temp sensor will let the fan run at it's higher rate..... anybody know ?
thanks again, I'll prolly keep em comin :music:

 

[helloguy]

hie,i own the rev 1.1 board,but in the BIOS i can see there's a VDD Voltage Regulator there,when I change the value from 1.6 to 1.8 or 2.0,the actual voltage doesn't change at all....tried bios version of 3609 and 3716,both cannot get the actual voltage changed,what's wrong ??

 

[Megatomic]

Nothing is wrong helloguy. Your board, like mine, contains the circuitry to readback Vdd but it lacks the circuitry to adjust it. You will have to modify your board physically to raise Vdd.

 

[helloguy]

argh....it made me so happy at first coz I thought I can adjust the vdd to 1.8v in the hope of getting 203 or more....now I'll just stick to 202

btw,anybody with experience wif kingston valueram ddr3200(mosel vitelic T5) chipset??
thanks megatomic

 

[Megatomic]

I had trouble with Kingston ValueRam PC2700 (Infineon chips) but I have never used their PC3200. I have not heard of anyone having trouble with it though, I say give it a shot.

 

[Crass]

Hey guys. I just put together my new system saturday evening.
8rda+
2800+ Barton
256mb PC3200 Xtreme ddr
Radeon 9700Pro
Maxtor 160gb 7200rpm 8mb
300w psu

I got the system up and loaded WinXP with no problems at all and it worked with no issues until this morning. I wet to power it up when i woke up and it will not post. FF on the display. I have tried moving the ram, using the ccmos jumper, booting with the insert key depressed, removing the cmos battery, and swapping out the keyboard. When the system powers up, everything comes on, but no post. I also noticed that the keyboard lights keep flashing. Not fast, just blinking on and off over and over again. Does anyone have any ideas? I am running everything as stock.

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[pspada]

Try reseting the CMOS via the jumper. Or you could try holding down the ins key while booting. But when your keyboard is blinking like that, you need to pull the power plug for 10 sec or so.

Also, my Ti4600 has problems when trying to boot to Mandrake Linux 9.0 install, the keyboard lights start blinking like that. I have to do the install in text mode.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: pspada
Also, my Ti4600 has problems when trying to boot to Mandrake Linux 9.0 install, the keyboard lights start blinking like that. I have to do the install in text mode.

I noticed that too with my Ti4800SE. Do you know why this is by any chance? For the record, RH9 didn't have this problem...

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: soundforbjt
How come my Samsung memory works so well?

System specs: Stable as a rock in Prime 95 and memtest

Athlon 2100+ Tbred 12x200=2.4ghz
Heatsink Thermalright AX-7 Y.S. Tech adjustable
Epox 8RDA
512MB Samsung 2700
ATI Radeon 8500 64MB
Leadman 500W PSU
Windows XP

Luck lol

 

[ChalPhut]

I need some help making audio connections for the front panel on my case.

I have two sets of 4 wires:

• The first set is labelled MIC-IN, GROUND, Return L & Return R

• The second is labelled MIC BIAS, GROUND, Spkout L & Spkout R

I have connected a 4.1 audio system into the rear connectors.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[pspada]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: pspada
Also, my Ti4600 has problems when trying to boot to Mandrake Linux 9.0 install, the keyboard lights start blinking like that. I have to do the install in text mode.

I noticed that too with my Ti4800SE. Do you know why this is by any chance? For the record, RH9 didn't have this problem...

It appears that our cards don't support what I can only assume is a standard video mode in France?

 

[SpideyCU]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
I had trouble with Kingston ValueRam PC2700 (Infineon chips) but I have never used their PC3200. I have not heard of anyone having trouble with it though, I say give it a shot.

Add the "Kingston" brand chips to that (or is that Kingston's name for Infineon?) to the list of troublesome sticks. I myself haven't tested the Winbond, though, and people seem to like that. Either way, too much of a hit for miss for me. I can say only good things about the Buffalo PC3200, which techwanabe mentioned. I originally had some Kingston HyperX, like you, Mega, but Marmaduke was selling the Buffalo for less, so I returned the HyperX to BestBuy and got some from him. It's an amazing thing to actually have RAM, you know, run at spec!

 

[techwanabe]

How can I tell which rev of 8RDA+ I have... does that show up at bootup or is it printed somewhere on the board?

 

[Crass]

It's printed on the edge of the MB. Can't get a peek at it right now, but i think it's on the corner the power connector is on.

hey guys, i see where soemone said the nforce ide drivers should not be loaded.. is this true? If so, how can in get the correct (better?) drivers loaded?

 

[SpideyCU]

What you probably read was the IDE SW drivers shouldn't be loaded. When running the nVidia unified nForce driver installation program, there's a separate prompt asking you if you want to install these "high performance" IDE drivers - decline. The "regular" IDE drivers are what you want.

 

[techwanabe]

Ah,

There it is... it says Rev: 2.1

It is printed in the corner with the WOL and Game header... and PCI slots... hope that is a good one!

 

[Megatomic]

Well guys, I'm abandoning you all for Abit land. I have an NF7-S Rev. 2 on the way to go with my PC3500. If anyone wants to buy an 8RDA+ on the cheap let me know. I'm gonna sell it for $65 shipped in the FS/FT forum. It will come preloaded with BIOS 3609, the NB cooler is modded with ASIII, and the SB is cooled by a passive cooler.

It's been fun.

 

[Wag]

Got my Buffalo pc3200 chips, and I managed to hit 200/200 2.5-3-2-5 on a 2500+ non-vdd moded FIC AU11 mobo.

Damn. Unstable. I can't even seem to do 190/11.5 stable. Oh well.