The EPoX 4G4A+ seems very promising.

[crapito]

for all those who have been following my Intel/nVidia/overclocking posts, I have some info that may help.

Q: is it better to run your system at the 4:5 RAM divider (ie 150FSB/375DDR) with the Intel drivers, or better to run at 3:4 ratio (ie 150FSB/400DDR) without the Intel drivers?

A: the 4:5 ratio with Intel drivers gives better overall performance.

details and benchmarks on my system...

4:5 w/Intel drivers: 150FSB/375DDR
CPU 16x150=2400 @ ~1.52v/+.1v; RAM 2/6/3/3 4:5 375 @ ~2.65v/+0.2v; nVidia 29.80 drivers @ ~1.49v/+0.0v AGP; Intel 4013 INF & 2.2 IAA
Prime95 2.14 torture test: completed, ~25hrs
Sandra2002 897: CPU 4672/2690; MM 9423/11806; RAM 2868/2875; C: 27008
SuperPI: 1:12
N-Bench v2: 1918/46.31
3DMark2001SE_b330: 7869

3:4 w/o Intel drivers: 150FSB/400DDR
CPU 16x150=2400 @ ~1.52v/+.1v; RAM 2/6/3/3 3:4 400 @ ~2.83v/+0.4v; nVidia 29.80 drivers @ ~1.49v/+0.0v AGP; no WinXP updates or Intel INF or IAA
Prime95 2.14 torture test: ok, 80 224k, ~12hrs
Sandra2002 897: CPU 4467/2924; MM 9445/11804; RAM 3024/3047; C: 24227
SuperPI: 1:12
N-Bench v2: 1866/45.73
3DMark2001SE_b330: 6550

I've posted this info to both the Abit BG7 and Epox 4G4A+ threads here on Anandtech, as I've personally experience this issue on both motherboards.

 

[Pabster]

What can I say? This board rocks.

2.26B running 2.72GHz, DDR400 (2.5-3-3-6), stock cooling (55C max full load)

My 3DMark2K1 Score, if interested

Benchmarks are very nice. About 3100/3100 on the RAM, 5000/3300 CPU (Sandra)

 

[Muadib]

Well, I was all set to call this board a pos, but that may be changing. I got up yesterday and slapped it togeter keeping everything stock. After about an hour of prime95, one of my ibm drives bit the dust. I'm still wiping away the tears as I had all my stuff backed up on it. I spent the next 2 hours trying to bring it back to life with no luck. It ruined my 4th because I didn't want to do anything but mope after that. My gf is still pissed at me, but I digress. I needed a pick me up, so I went ahead and tried to OC the board.
Nothing I did worked, nothing. I could boot to xp, but any test program I ran crashed, and broght me back to the desktop. After 3 hours of this, I tried doing it with the pci & agp buses unlocked.

This was much better because I was stable for hours with a slight oc. However, when I pushed it to 135 I would crash after 10 minutes. Today I've been rock solid @ 2343MHz using the 3:4 setting. I don't know how to get the 4:5 setting though. I can't seem to find it, so can someone tell me how? I have a 1.8 cpu, could that be why?

 

[P4spooky]

Muadib: You should remove jumper JP1 to be able to get the 4:5 divider in the BIOS. But you will loose the 3:4 divider.

 

[ahsia]

My EPoX 4G4A+ experience:

First, I haven't read through this LONG thread, so some questions might have been answered, so I apologize for asking repeat questions.

I bought the EPoX with the 1.6A today. I previously had the Gigabyte 8SRX with the 1.6A, it went as high as 2.2GHz with DDR360 (Mushkin PC3000) for stability. I was able to run the EPoX 4G4A+ at 2.4GHz right from the start, and even go as high as 2.53GHz at 160FSB. I know the CPU might have been the limitation with the Gigabyte board, the 1.6A I bought today seems to be overclocking higher. Here are my questions:

1. I have changed the voltage to 1.7 to run at 160FSB and 1.65 to run at 150FSB. Are these voltages too high?

2. I can't seem to find the 4:5 ratio. There is AUTO, 4:3, and 1:1.

3. The latest BIOS version on the EPoX's website is a March date, but the default BIOS on the board is an April date, are these two BIOS versions the same? Which BIOS version are you running?

4. How many of you are running your memory at turbo settings?

5. There have been a few times when I have changed settings in the BIOS, but when I attempt to save the settings and restart, the screen would freeze, and I would need to manually reboot. Anyone experience this?

Sorry for the abundance of questions. I like this board so far, but I have barely started overclocking this board. Still have installed Windows yet, and I know how high my 1.6A will really overclock is yet to be determined. Thanks for you time!

 

[linster]

1. I think 1.7-1.75 V is max for the P4.

2. To get the 4:5 ratio, you need to remove the jumper on the motherboard that sets it to 133 mode.

3. Get the Epox website version of the BIOS. The correct date is June something.

4. Run the memory at the fastest setting it'll run at. This means manual setting.

5. The latest BIOS will fix this problem.

 

[ahsia]

June BIOS? Can't seem to find it. Sounds like someone you are using the default BIOS that came with the board.

A few more questions:

1. Memory voltage, how high can I push it? +.3v? I have Mushkin PC3000 DDR.

2. Single-sided vs. double-sided, how do I know what I have, and is there a specific DIMM slot I should put my memory in?

Thanks!

 

[crapito]

you can download the latest June 17th BIOS here and also here, even though the date states 3/8/2002. you can also get it from EPoX-UK.

I am still using the original BIOS, 4/24, cause it works fine for me.

 

[ahsia]

So which BIOS is newer? The June BIOS with the 3/8/02 date, or the default BIOS that came with the board that has the April date?

 

[anazoal]

Does anyone know how to get the heat sink fan to stop when the PC goes to standby?

 

[ahsia]

Flashed the latest BIOS, it shows a June date, so I think I am good there. Right now just installed Windows XP, question for you all. What is this Intel Chipset driver I keep reading about? Should I installed them? When should I installed them? And where can I find them? Thanks!

 

[NFS4]

Is anyone running two double-sided DIMM's in their 4G4A? I have one stick of double-sided Samsung DDR333 that I got from Russ at CompuCheap and I was thinking of ordering a second stick.

Do you all forsee any problems with this setup (other than the fact that one DIMM slot will be rendered useless if I use a second doubled-sided DIMM)?

 

[ahsia]

Okay, so far, here is what I have experienced:

First of all, I re-flashed the BIOS to the original one that came with the board.

I have gotten as high as 2.4GHz (150x16) at 1.65v, DDR400 at +.03v with Mushkin PC3000 at the relax timing settings. Windows XP boots in just fine, but when running SiSoft CPU and memory benchmarks, the display gets distorted (I am using Intel's onboard video, Radeon 8500LE coming tomorrow). I can finish the benchmarks just fine, but the display looks very weird.

I can boot running at 160FSB, but Windows XP refuses to load even when I increase the voltage to 1.7. I don't dare to try 1.75v.

Need to know what you guys think. I have the Dynapower 320w PS, dunno if that might be holding me back. What else should I try? My Mushkin seems to only want to run on relax timing settings, I will not be able to run at DDR400 at Turbo settings.

4G4A users, what else should I try?

 

[Grumpycrab]

Originally posted by: ahsia
Okay, so far, here is what I have experienced:
...but when running SiSoft CPU and memory benchmarks, the display gets distorted (I am using Intel's onboard video, Radeon 8500LE coming tomorrow). I can finish the benchmarks just fine, but the display looks very weird...

I had the same "problem". It must be related to the onboard graphics. Since I added a separate card, it hasn't happened. I think the onboard 3D graphics are very poor - but I didn't buy the board for them. Running my 1.6@2.4 stable with 1.675Vcore. It gets a bit warm but I need this Vcore. It "dips" as low as 1.63V under load. I haven't played with my DDR333 memory yet...
--
Grumps

 

[audscott]

I've been convinced almost exclusively by the merits of this thread to go with the 4G4A+.

My BD7II-RAID has allowed me to achieve 2.65 on a 1.6A, 1.725 (+15%) V-core, 2.7 V-mem. The actual readings in MBM have been consistantly less than settings, as reported in numberous forums.

The 845G memory controler is most interesting to me, set on the 133 bus, the 4:5 divider looks like a true winnner, assuming my CPU will reach 165 FSB with the Epox board.

Please, I beg you guys to continue posting - most interesting and infomrative thread!!

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by: ahsia
Okay, so far, here is what I have experienced:


I can boot running at 160FSB, but Windows XP refuses to load even when I increase the voltage to 1.7. I don't dare to try 1.75v.

Need to know what you guys think. I have the Dynapower 320w PS, dunno if that might be holding me back. What else should I try? My Mushkin seems to only want to run on relax timing settings, I will not be able to run at DDR400 at Turbo settings.

Just to give you some feedback on the Vcore, I am using the Iwill P4R533 (Rdram) with a Vcore and Vmem mod. I have the Vcore set at 1.98. I have not seen any degradation, but on the other hand I am using the Volcano 7+ HSF with the fan RPM set to high (6.4K). Temps are 47-50C idle.

 

[Lance22]

I went out and I got a 431w enermax powersupply, but now I am having a problem with heat...when i play WAR3, my temp jumps up to 60C and im only running at 125 fsb, 3:4..

How much artic silver 3 do all of you use on your heatsinks to rub into it? I think that I may not have used enough...


Also, when I looked at my board from the side, right after i put my heatsink back onto it, its bending inwards, its a pretty drastic dip, and I didn't think that the heatsink would cause that...how are all of your boards doing?

 

[ahsia]

Just to give you some feedback on the Vcore, I am using the Iwill P4R533 (Rdram) with a Vcore and Vmem mod. I have the Vcore set at 1.98. I have not seen any degradation, but on the other hand I am using the Volcano 7+ HSF with the fan RPM set to high (6.4K). Temps are 47-50C idle.

WOW! Isn't that pretty high? I want to have a processor, but I want my processor to last. Are you sure it is safe to run at that kind of voltage? How about at 1.75v, which is what I need to run my 1.6A at 2.4GHz with good stability.

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: Acer

Originally posted by: ahsia
Okay, so far, here is what I have experienced:


I can boot running at 160FSB, but Windows XP refuses to load even when I increase the voltage to 1.7. I don't dare to try 1.75v.

Need to know what you guys think. I have the Dynapower 320w PS, dunno if that might be holding me back. What else should I try? My Mushkin seems to only want to run on relax timing settings, I will not be able to run at DDR400 at Turbo settings.

Just to give you some feedback on the Vcore, I am using the Iwill P4R533 (Rdram) with a Vcore and Vmem mod. I have the Vcore set at 1.98. I have not seen any degradation, but on the other hand I am using the Volcano 7+ HSF with the fan RPM set to high (6.4K). Temps are 47-50C idle.

How long have you been running it at such a high voltage?!

 

[Lance22]

Now my problem is major, My temp is at 59 C when I have a load, and my cpu is clocked at 1.6 with stock voltages...

I just cleaned my cpu and heatsink and reapplied artic silver, following the directions at the arctic silver site very close, i didn't apply any to the p4 core, just to the heatsink, and it didn't help at all, is there anything that anyone could recommend? Maybe I just need to ditch this heatsink and get an alpha?

Thanks in advance!

 

[wizz0bang]

Thanks for all the great info on this thread... keep it coming. I just orderd a 4G4A+ from mwave, can't wait to see how far I can push a 1.6a! I decided to spend the extra $13 by going through Mwave (tax too) over the cheapies due to resellerratings.com... some of the cheap dealers on pricewatch have TERRIBLE reports on resellerratings by users who had to return motherboards... OUCH! $133 shipped isn't bad considering I had to fork over 7.25% to help pay Grey Davis' power blunders of last year (way to use the state surplus jerK!) Could have got it $120 shipped from some fly-by-nights in NY or NJ.. but decided not to due to uncle Guido's return depot. hehe

 

[Sukhoi]

I just cleaned my cpu and heatsink and reapplied artic silver, following the directions at the arctic silver site very close, i didn't apply any to the p4 core, just to the heatsink

??? The Artic Silver directions specifically say to apply it to the CPU core!

 

[gsethi]

the directions for AS3 says to first apply on the heatsink.....then use the one remaining from the heatsink on the CPU core and then wipe the heatsink with a lint free cloth. Apply AS3 directly on your CPU core and you might see the difference.

 

[Lance22]

oh god, thats my mistake....on the site, it says that its applied to the integral heat spreader, the metal cap that covers the cpu core...I was thinking that it didn't want me to put any on the cpu, and only on the heatsink, which i thought was the "integral heat spreader, the metal cap that covers the cpu core." Sorry for the lame question, but thanks a lot for the answers!

 

[kgraeme]

LOL! Just be glad that the P4 is forgiving enough to let you live and learn.