**Official** Epox 8RDA+ Nforce2 Thread

[mechBgon]

By the way, Insane3D, if you have the original Unreal Tourmament, would you try this quick benchmark:

• Copy all the files from Unreal Tournament Disc 1 to a new folder on your primary hard drive
• Use WinZip 8.1 to compress the folder. Right-click on the folder, choose Add to Zip file..., and on the panel that appears, select Maximum compression, then start timing as you click Add and stop when the progress panel disappears.

My time, with an overclocked 1600+ at 166/166 on KT333 with 256Mb of RAM, was 2 minutes 54 seconds. I'd be really interested to hear how yours does.

 

[Technonut]

So it runs at 195fsb, 5mhz slower than the 200mhz of the other board. So what? It still blows it away in terms of actual performance.

If you are using Sandra 2003 to compare memory performance, I dropped my 8K5A2+ down from 200 to 195, and scored 2793/2604. (Some background apps running) Pete's came in at 2973/2776. I personally do not consider that margin blowing the 8K5A2+ away.

 

[RanDum72]

I don't think Sandra is the only benchmark for performance nor is it the best. Try gaming or application benchmarks

If you are using Sandra 2003 to compare memory performance, I dropped my 8K5A2+ down from 200 to 195, and scored 2793/2604. (Some background apps running) Pete's came in at 2973/2776. I personally do not consider that margin blowing the 8K5A2+ away.

The difference is 180/172. Still a big chunk nonetheless.

 

[Technonut]

I don't think Sandra is the only benchmark for performance nor is it the best. Try gaming or application benchmarks

Sandra is a synthetic benchmark, but still has it's place as a comparison point between systems. As for the memory score difference, It would not be noticeable in everyday use. I had the AT7 that would score over 3000 when OC'ed to 200+. My 8K5A2+ feels just as fast. This all will be a moot point when the KT400A hits the streets though.. As I posted before, with the new 4-in1's being close to par with the Nf2 on the KT400, the KT400A could only be better. The new 4-in1's will be a blessing for existing KT400 users.

For now, I can say that VIA has done a good job patching up one of the sore spots I found on their KT400 chipset. They are now competitive with NVIDIA on every benchmark that we have thrown at it. That leaves NVIDIA in a spot to once again think of a way to overtake the performance champion position.

EDIT: I am not bashing the Nf2..... If I HAD to upgrade or build another personal system today, it would be what I would go with. I don't have to though, and really think that VIA will turn the tables with Dual Channel DDR400 on the KT400A that will actually run in sync with stability @ 400+.

EDIT: Insane3D has the 8K5A2+ also.... I would be interested in his personal view comparing everyday use between the boards.

 

[Cybordolphin]

Got mine in yesterday...
I am supposed to wait until Christmas to open the box!!!?? Ummmmmmmmmmm no.

 

[Mustanggt]

You think we might be able to get some info on how the boards are working out from people that allready have them? instead of bashings and arguments.

 

[SpideyCU]

But flaming is in the true spirit of an online thread.

Anyhoo, I'm also interested in hearing what anyone else's experiences are with this board - especially if anyone's experienced the strange lock-up problem in the BIOS settings that I described quite a few posts ago. I've been running at 166 FSB no problem, but I dare not push it too high mainly because I'm only running PC2100 Crucial memory, not PC2700 or higher.

 

[chrisfrog]

Originally posted by: Cybordolphin
Got mine in yesterday...
I am supposed to wait until Christmas to open the box!!!?? Ummmmmmmmmmm no.

hehe , i'm gonna order this board and a 2400 in the next few days and if they think i'm waiting for christmas day, they're on crack...

also, i'm looking at getting 512mb of ram...

which brand/speed do you guys prefer?

 

[Mustanggt]

I have been over at AOA and people are not having good luck with this mobo alot of problems. The main one is checksum error when pushing FSB to high, Hope they get some bios updates to fix these problems, not good when you are tring for 200+ FSB and you get checksum error and your board wont boot back up without a new bios chip.

 

[Bagheera786]

wouldn't you prefer to have it running in sync with memory at ddr400 at let's say 10.5 x 200 instead of 11x195 ?

This confuses me. I thought that ddr400 was just a standard - sort of a quality control point for memory manufacturers to shoot for and market at. If this is correct, then how could there be a gain from running at 10.5x200=2100 instead of 11x195= 2145? If the memory is synchronous, then obviously, it will be running 5 MHz higher in the former case, but would that truly give a performance gain when it comes at the cost of decreasing the CPU speed by 145Mhz? If so, why? Is 200Mhz FSB a magic number (other than it's obvious cool factor, since round numbers are always cooler)?

 

[mechBgon]

I think you're right. If the AGP is locked at 66 and PCI is half of that, then the memory and CPU should be free to run synchronously at whatever FSB x multiplier the user chooses.

 

[chrisfrog]

hey guys,

i can't remember if it was this forum, but i think it was... i saw a thread that had like 4 places to buy this board. I think i may buy it from cnetpc.com

i've also noticed that alot of places are already out of stock on this board.

also gonna order a 2400+ and 512mb pc3200 corsair xms from googlegear tonight

 

[SpideyCU]

chrisfrog, I think you mean this thread. I should know since I started it. And, you're right, it is out of stock in a lot of places.

Now, if there's anyone who has this board (seems Insane3D is the only other one in this thread) and would like to discuss certain things, I have something else that's come to my attention. My board doesn't have options to boot from USB devices (USB-Floppy and such). Now, my old 8K7A did, so, I present this question - is it something that won't change? Or will support for it be introduced in a future BIOS update? I'm asking because I got rid of my floppy drive a while back and have been using a USB pen drive when I need to boot from something other than the hard disk or CD-ROM drive.

 

[gsan]

Does EPoX 8RDA+ sopports PCI bus locking? And when a 166MHz FSB Athlon overclocked to 200MHz FSB, is that the PCI still running at 33MHz ? THanks.

 

[chrisfrog]

thanx spidey

 

[gsan]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Ok guys, I know you have all been waiting for some results on the new Nforce2 boards. I just got my Epox 8RDA+ today from Mwave, and I will likely be building tomorrow. The system will consist of the following...

Epox 8RDA+
Athlon XP 2400+ (2.0ghz)
512mb Corsair PC3200 C2
80gb WD SE
128mb Radeon 8500

The 2400+ is running @ 2.2ghz, 200mhz FSB (11 x 200), default vcore right now in my Epox 8K5A2+...

I'll keep this thread updated with relevant links and information, and I should have some perfomance and o/c results after I build tomorrow..

Does EPoX 8RDA+ supports PCI bus locking? And when a 166MHz FSB Athlon overclocked to 200MHz FSB, is that the PCI still running at 33MHz ? Thanks.

 

[Mustanggt]

I will be getting my board end of week I will post my results then.

 

[austonia]

just FYI guys I got this mobo from Newegg. The serial on the box (sticker) doesn't match the one on the board itself (also a sticker). I don't know if that's normal. Also the box I got did not come with round cables, as the one in the anandtech review did. I havn't fired it up yet.

 

[SpideyCU]

austonia, I didn't get rounded cables either. I ordered mine from GameVE, so it's not a NewEgg issue. Maybe Epox just wanted to butter Anandtech up.

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: SpideyCU
austonia, I didn't get rounded cables either. I ordered mine from GameVE, so it's not a NewEgg issue. Maybe Epox just wanted to butter Anandtech up.

I've read articles that actually showed poor data transfer problems with round cables as opposed to flat ribbon cables. Maybe this cropped-up and Epox put a stop to it?

 

[justshawnf]

I had my 8rda+ up and running for a while. I pushed the FSB up to 200 almost right after I got the Corsair memory installed. Had to bump the voltage a little to get it stable. After a little burn in period, I bumped up the multiplier on my 2400+ to 11 (again bumped the voltage a little). Is all running very smoothly.

Check the benchmarks here.

Let me say, I LOVE this board. I'm using the onboard sound and it is very close to, if not the same quality as, the Audigy I had in the old setup. I'm gonna put the Audigy in another system. I'm also using the onboard NIC which has worked flawlessly.

 

[KingNine]

Well I've taken the plunge. I ordered in the Board from PCRapid as they were the only place I could find that still had it. (any one had a good or bad experience with them?) I have Newegg sending me the following:

Atlon 2400
2 sticks of Samsung PC2700
WD 80GB HardDrive special edition
Maxtop case with two fans
Sparkle 350watt PS

I want be able to put it together untill Christmas though. I'm very excited to get this up and running. I'm still using my PIII 700 oc'd to 950. I'm sticking with my geforce 3 TI450 untill later because I've maxed out my budget.

 

[Mustanggt]

I recieved mine today hope all goes well wait till i get my CPU and Ram before I set it up. Has anyone been getting the round cables with it mine dosent have them???

 

[datamage]

Hello everyone.

I too have ordered the Epox 8RDA+ .. In fact, I should be receiving it tonight (though it seems FedEx isn't going to make it.)

Anyhow, I'll share the Epox love this weekend when I get a chance of putting everything together.

- D.

 

[SpideyCU]

For you fellas that are getting the board in droves now , I'd be very interested to hear if any of you have "hanging" issues when you're adjusting BIOS settings. It could be something particular about my setup.