** Official EPoX 9NDA3+ Thread ** S939

[arswihart]

pantner - In a way I'm glad to hear that you also have the lower two USB disconnecting after reboots. I have the same problem, and I was wondering if it I just had a defective board. There are people on AOAforums who had similar problems with USB as well. Your revision is written on the corner of your motherboard.

UKnowWhat - I may be doing the same thing with my older Corsair XMS3200 modules. They were purchased several months apart and have different revision numbers (haven't looked lately so I can't say which ones they are). But regardless, I'm running them just fine in dual channel ddr400 1t 2-3-3-10.

It will be interesting to see how high I go with these old RAM sticks whenever I decide to really OC this Athlon 3200+ someday. Right now I'm holding steady at 2.4ghz cause I wouldn't notice any subjective difference in speed even I OC'd to 2.7ghz I bet. Everything's already as fast as can be, and I'm probably more limited by hard drive speed and video card at this point in my computer's life.

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: arswihart
and I'm probably more limited by hard drive speed and video card at this point in my computer's life.

Yeah, thats why i set up my RAID0 array....

at the moment, hard drives are the slowest part of the computer...and no amount of MHZ or GHZ can make up for it!

 

[hectorsm]

I am also seeing some wacky temerature reading with my board too. Upon reboot my temprature can jump or drop about 10C. Also, I am only getting 1 to 2 C higher under full load which is odd.

Other than that my 9NDA3J has been very good. It is a great board for overclocking and has good stability.

 

[tpicciani]

Ok, let me explain from the beginning:

The board had a good history of running stable since I purchased it in Nov. 2004 with the following exception:

The board hung on nearly every other boot. This was going on for 3 months. I tended to avoid reboots whenever possible of course.

After doing some web searches I found the review on Anandtech that had a blurb about the board hanging on boot nearly every other time. So I paid careful attention to the boot process and also began contacting EPOX for support.

Updated bios of course. No help.

Then I noticed something. The system would hang when the fan speed and cpu temp was being displayed at the bottom of the first boot screen. So I turned it off.

Boot problem solved but...

Bios would hang when I went in to check temps and fan speeds via the bios health check page. I don't do this often so I wasn't too concerned. I posted the info to EPOS who said they'd investigate.

4 weeks passed without reply. Sent a query and asked if they discovered anythng and also gave epox the link to the web page about the hanging boots. They said that boot problem was fixed months ago. They suggested I try new single sided ddr ram.

That's what makes me think that they just don't know what they're doing.

Tom P.

 

[arswihart]

tpicciani - What's your cpu voltage set at in the bios? Is your RAM matched pairs of TCCD (PDP, right?). What are your system specs and please give all your relevant BIOS settings so we can help you better. Are you overclocking? See, you really haven't given us much to work with. Your story alone doesn't give me anything to begin to systematically approach your situation.

Well, you think Epox doesn't know what they're doing? I think that begs the question, do you know what youre doing?

 

[UKnowWhat]

Originally posted by: arswihart

UKnowWhat - I may be doing the same thing with my older Corsair XMS3200 modules. They were purchased several months apart and have different revision numbers (haven't looked lately so I can't say which ones they are). But regardless, I'm running them just fine in dual channel ddr400 1t 2-3-3-10.

It will be interesting to see how high I go with these old RAM sticks whenever I decide to really OC this Athlon 3200+ someday. Right now I'm holding steady at 2.4ghz cause I wouldn't notice any subjective difference in speed even I OC'd to 2.7ghz I bet. Everything's already as fast as can be, and I'm probably more limited by hard drive speed and video card at this point in my computer's life.

Yeah, but people still claim that your Corsair is not "value" & "cheap" like my Kingston value to the bone DRAM. I am sure those DRAM module makers is laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[UKnowWhat]

tpicciani,

I suggest you do this

1) Get memtest86 and make a boot disk so you can test it at boot time. Do a Google search, you will find plenty of links and howtos
2) Remove all unwanted CDRs, DVDs hard drives that you don't need. This will lighten up your load considerably, if your PSU is marginal. I have a great respect for A64 power appetite and PSU manufacturers ability to exagerate their goods' efficiency.
3) Put your BIOS to fail safe.
4) Boot up then run memtest86. It takes quite a while to finish memtest86 so have a beer.

If everything is OK, start loading the machine back with your gadgets then run the memtest again. Now you're running somewhat full load (not quite yet). You can cut short by doing this thing first but if it fails, you have to do step2 above. This to test your PSU capability to run some loads in your environment, not other's. If your system doing all of this fine, then it's the time for you to check your hard drive and OS's driver etc. You might have a corrupt driver, defective hard drive etc. but at least the path to find your problem is much clearer. Remember when troubleshooting your problem, always put your BIOS to fail safe option. You need some assurances that your system should work at minimum requirement. And if you have a driver problem, you are in deep trouble because it's pretty tough to find which one cause it. Fastest way is to clean install or pay someone else to fix it for you.

 

[Goldenboy]

Wassup guys, got a little internet connection problem here with my epox 9nda3J. The problem is that I can't connect to internet. I have freshly installed WinXP Sp2. I have installed forceware 5.03 that came with my motherboard driver cd. Right now the I turned off the windowXP firewall/ICS service in the OS. Also, I have turned off the NV firewall in the network access manager. In the BIOS, I have set the NV Lan to "auto". It still can't get internet connection. When I type in ipconfig, it is read back ip: 169.254...mean it is not an valid ip address. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

System specs are as follow:
Epox 9nda3J version rev. 2.1
Retail A64 3200+ stock speed
2x512MB corsair VS DDR400
WD 200JBRL
BFG 6800GT OC stock speed
56x cd rom

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: gimper48
DO NOT BUY THIS BOARD. Their technical support is horrible... it is only by e-mail too. no phone support. They do not support Kingston memory either. I have kingston Hyperx memory and they flat out told me to buy new memory for this board. Corsair didn't work either. Their support team had to have everything and I mean everything repeated to them they didn't even bother to read the stupid case. This system fails after 7-11 hours on prime95 and that is on DEFAULTS!!!. I will never buy an EPOX piece again. I am going back to Abit, and ASUS. This company=bunch of hacks.

Fixed!
BTW, what makes you think ECS is significantly better then Epops?

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: Goldenboy
Wassup guys, got a little internet connection problem here with my epox 9nda3J. The problem is that I can't connect to internet. I have freshly installed WinXP Sp2. I have installed forceware 5.03 that came with my motherboard driver cd. Right now the I turned off the windowXP firewall/ICS service in the OS. Also, I have turned off the NV firewall in the network access manager. In the BIOS, I have set the NV Lan to "auto". It still can't get internet connection. When I type in ipconfig, it is read back ip: 169.254...mean it is not an valid ip address. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

System specs are as follow:
Epox 9nda3J version rev. 2.1
Retail A64 3200+ stock speed
2x512MB corsair VS DDR400
WD 200JBRL
BFG 6800GT OC stock speed
56x cd rom

I VERY MUCH DOUBT IT IS THE MOTHERBOARD that is causing your problem...
HOW do you connect to the internet? 56k internal/external, ADSL Router USB/Ethernet/Wireless???

That is not the motherboard causing the problem, you have not configured the computer properly in some way shape or form...

 

[UKnowWhat]

How many more (useless) posts I have to do so I can become an old man? I am just curious, I am not eager to become any old man in any shape or form

 

[gallo81]

Hi AndyBogard,

How about trying to first, Clear CMOS, after that, disconnect everything.

Now, take off your motherboard from the case, now you will test your motherboard without the case, so try to put on a box or wood, now before you turn it on, take off your memory and your CPU too and wait like 10 mins.

now reinsert just: CPU, Memory and Video Card. Clear CMOS again, and after that you can turn it on.

If you still haven't signal video, just for curiosity, what monitor you have and what connector are you using it? if you have an LCD and you are using digital signal, try to use analog, if you're using analog when you turn on your PC try to hold insert button and press the DEL key in laps of 3 secs making it accessing to the BIOS. (try two times, one with the INSERT key holded, and the other without it).

hope this help, I had a lot of problems with motherboards, not just epox, but I always fix them.

 

[gallo81]

oohh I forgot it, Hi everyone, I'm glad to entered to this forums, hope I can help in everything.

Thank you all.

and Partner, there been some kind of problems with that board and the LAN, I suggest to try to contact EPoX directly.

 

[UKnowWhat]

I just played around with my Epox mb yesterday, 1st to familiarize myself with Epox's overclocking and 2nd, curiously to see how good my A64 3000+ and my Kingmax DRAM can overclock. The Kingmax DRAM purchased at Newegg's on sale lately can go to 225MHZ max (it locks up at 230MHZ) and my CPU can get up to 2.4Ghz with stock fan easily. I only increased the vcore value 0.05V more to make sure it's above the floor rating. I stopped overclocking the CPU once it's at 2.4Ghz. That's 30% increase in speed without much effort. Now, I am running everything at stock speed until there is a need to overclocking it.

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: gallo81and Partner, there been some kind of problems with that board and the LAN, I suggest to try to contact EPoX directly.

i assume by "PARTNER" you mean me????

its "PANTNER"...

nah, its all good

if you are reffering to my post in regards to Goldenboy's internet problems???

i work in a computer store (for almost 18 months now) and deal with those problems almost daily, and have never seen a faulty motherboard or NIC to be the cause of the problem...

normally, (depending on the modem) the DCHP server or client has not been configured properly...

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: UKnowWhat
I just played around with my Epox mb yesterday, 1st to familiarize myself with Epox's overclocking and 2nd, curiously to see how good my A64 3000+ and my Kingmax DRAM can overclock. The Kingmax DRAM purchased at Newegg's on sale lately can go to 225MHZ max (it locks up at 230MHZ) and my CPU can get up to 2.4Ghz with stock fan easily. I only increased the vcore value 0.05V more to make sure it's above the floor rating. I stopped overclocking the CPU once it's at 2.4Ghz. That's 30% increase in speed without much effort. Now, I am running everything at stock speed until there is a need to overclocking it.

yeah, nice...but you can go much higher...

i've had my comp up to 260x10=2.6Ghz, so the board can definetly go higher....think anandtech had theirs to 290Mhz...prolly the only problem you are gonna have is the RAM...if you wanna overclock more, you will need to

1.lower/loosen the timings of you RAM (helps get to higher clock speeds)
2.Increase the voltage of the RAM (helps with stability)
3.Lower the Ratio for the RAM (ie, CPU runs at 200Mhz, RAM runs at 166Mhz...then when you overclock, the RAM stays at a slower speed)
4.buy new RAM

 

[bbtaco]

I am thinking about getting this board or the MSI Neo 2. I need to use my 9800 pro a while longer. I have read this board doesn't monitor some voltages (12+) is this correct? Can the voltages be seen with speedfan or MBM? I also have 2x512 sticks of single sided Crucial CT6464Z40B.8T memory.I bought at Newegg http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-541&depa=0
Will this work in either board?

 

[Goldenboy]

Replying to Pantner:

I don't know what was the configuration problem for winXP network and nvidia lan. But played around the configuration with both. Still no internet connection. Then I uninstalled forceware 5.03 and installed forceware 5.10. In the installation process I choose the custom install option and installed every driver except the nvidia sound driver since I have the ac'97 audio driver already. Then all of sudden I can ping the network and get online. It was just weird how it suddenly works now. Hmmm...I heard on nforcershq.com that 5.03 was pretty good. I guess it just didn't work for me. Maybe because the motherboard revision issue duno. So far everything is looking good. I let you guys know if something comes up

 

[pantner]

Originally posted by: bbtaco
I am thinking about getting this board or the MSI Neo 2. I need to use my 9800 pro a while longer. I have read this board doesn't monitor some voltages (12+) is this correct? Can the voltages be seen with speedfan or MBM? I also have 2x512 sticks of single sided Crucial CT6464Z40B.8T memory.I bought at Newegg http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-541&depa=0
Will this work in either board?

absolutly no idea... and no one will be able to tell you...even if they have the same EXACT sticks and motherboard.....no 2 pieces of hardware are IDENTICAL...so they may work in one computer, and not work in another even if the whole computer is EXACTLY the same....get what im saying??

and yes, the ONLY rail this motherboard monitors is the +5v Rail...the 3.3v and 12v are not supported by the BIOS...and no other program will be able to read them...
get this board...much better then the MSI...have you seen the MSI thread??? very long, with many people having major problems...

 

[arswihart]

yeah, msi's one of those mb makers that has a bad reputation that has been well earned over the years

 

[UKnowWhat]

I like this board. I was looking at many MBs before deciding on this one. Many have things I don't need and some have things I don't like. Even I don't OC my board but the ability to OC easily is always #1 or #2 on my priority list. It's probably the best value board for socket 939 today.

 

[UKnowWhat]

I have tried to set up a 2GB memory with this MB unsuccessfully. I have (4) 512MB modules: (2) from Kingmax CL2.5 and (2) from Kingston Value Ram CL3.

1) I can mix (1) each module from 1 brand with another brand successfully.
2) I can run 2 modules either from slot 1 & 2 or slot 3 & 4. I have not tested running them in slot 1 & 3 or slot 2 & 4 because I don't think it would serve my purpose.
3) I cannot run more than 2 modules. It doesn't matter if it's 3 or 4 modules and I have manually set-up the Kingston Ram parameters first because it's the slowest, before inserting the Kingmax modules.
4) No OC.

That makes me think there are some BIOS or design issues with this MB in term of memory accessing and I like to know if there is anyone in this forum using more than 2 memory modules with this MB. And before you tell me that it doesn't work with different types of memory module please read #1 above.

Yes, there might be a possibility of a bad CPU but I think it's the lowest probability.

 

[pantner]

@arswihart, actually...i quite like MSI...it was just that specific board i was talking about...their 875P NEO, 915P NEO2 and K8T NEO are very good boards IMO (have used all of them)

@ UKnowWhat, i'd be surprised if this board WORKED with 4xDIMMS of 512mb of RAM....EVERY A64 S939 board i have seen, has had some problem with running 4 DIMMS of RAM....ESPECIALLY at DDR400...

try booting with 2xSticks of RAM, then go into the BIOS, and force the RAM to run at 166Mhz, then shut down, and put in the other 2 sticks and turn it on...although 2x512@400 is faster then 4x512@333, its interesting to see what happens...


now, i've also contacted EPoX about this board, mainly talking about the USB Ports Dropping out, the undervolting and the position of the 2 SATA ports near the AGP Port....here is their reply

Dear Sir
About your question reply as below.
1.About the USB port issues ,please try to use other usb device to check.If the port connect too loosed,please send your board to dealer for check .
2.About the voltage too low ,because on board sensor check opint have difference,but voltage support is normal.
3.The SATA port too close the agp card's fan,you can try to use the right angle sata cable to connect the port.

 

[ezorn33]

although 2x512@400 is faster then 4x512@333

Is this true??

 

[pantner]

yep...there aren't many programs currently that will take advantage of RAM over 1GB, well, IMO anyway...so there is all this extra RAM sitting not getting used, and the RAM is also transferring data at a slower speed...

*EDIT*
you can also see it in the A64 CPUs...most of them are still only 512kb L2 Cache (i know some are 1mb...I WANT ONE ), where-as the Intel P4 6XX series now has 2mb L2 Cache...the Speed is much higher with the A64s, because of the intergrated Memory Contorller(s), so they don't need as much...