The EPoX 4G4A+ seems very promising.

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: MistaEng

This XMS stuff has been overated crap so far.

Those are handpicked Samsung chips on Corsair PCB correct? Should be good ... I'm just waiting around for my RMA'ed GF4 Ti4200 to arrive. Then I'll see what my Samsung Original 512 can do . Are you sure it's not the chip that's limiting you?

I thought the same thing on the XMS, but it's no dice so far. The reason I think it's the memory is because I see the same trouble on threads on other motherboards. I want to try other memory to see for sure. Best Buy has a sale on Kingston PC2100, so I plan on trying that. Not the greatest brand, but it's all I have that's local.

 

[canadianpsycho]

Well I think I've reached the CPU limit on my setup.

Setup:

P4 1.6A @ 2367 (148 FSB)
Corsair XMS CAS 2 PC3000 (1x512) 4:5 ratio for DDR 370, Turbo, 2-6-3-3
Antec 400w PSU
4G4A+
Visiontek GF4 Ti4400

Voltage: 1.675 set in BIOS. Boot up shows 1.74-1.76V at times. WinXP shows 1.68, load vcore is approx 1.65. Vmem is 2.80.

Using the retail heatsink, load temps are about 55 degrees Celsius.

CPU wouldn't bench Prime 95 and 3dmark2k1 at 150 FSB, 1:1 and slower mem timings, so I'm pretty sure that's it for me. I'd like to keep this CPU for a little while, so I won't be crossing the 1.7 vcore barrier anytime soon. Without OCing my vidcard, I hit about 10950 3dmarks.

I'm a bit disappointed I can't get 2.4, but overall I'm pretty happy with this setup. Whips my old XP 1800+'s ass.

 

[GotoDengo]

The 4/24 bios is not the original. The earliest dated BIOS I've seen is 4/11, which I've been using with good success (1.6a @ 2.4ghz, 1.55vcore, corsair xms3200 @ 400mhz).

For those who might be interested, I've posted it for download here.



As for board revisions, the earlier ones, with "Epox" printed on the Northbridge heatsink perform poorly. The 'good' boards have the heatsink with fins and no Epox label, as someone pointed out earlier. Here for some info in French.

 

[88CRXHybrid]

I am running a 1.6a with a 1.7vcore but according to MBM5 (core 1 sensor) it is running a 1.68v idle and 1.60v-1.62v during prime 95. That is with a 520watt PSU(Prosource)!! What could the problem be? BTW my epox 4g4a+ has the logo writen on the northbridge. Should I RMA the mobo and get it replaced with the "newer" version? Does anyone else have this bad undervolt problem?

 

[JingHola]

GotoDengo, thanks for the info on Epox 4G4A+ MB from the French site. I don't read French but tried
to use the language translator site to translate the small blurp that I found at the link you gave us.
I really does not tell us much details on what the probs were and what the fix was on the older? Epox
MB with EPoX on the NB heatsink label and supposedly newer latest version of the board without
the EPoX logo on the NB heatsink. Since I have the older version board bought from NewEgg just last
week, I am feeling jipped now. Could you or someone who reads French fill us in on the details behind
your statements that there is a newer fixed and more stable board revision? Like what exactly was it
that EPoX changed to make it more stable? And stable for what running more DIMM DDR memory modules?
For overclocking higher FSB and DDR rates?
Also is it just a matter of they replaced the older NB EPoX labeled Heatsink with a better bigger heatsink
and that is why it is more stable? Or did they actually make circuit modifications or component changes
to higher quality components?

Please fill us in on the details if you can, because if it is true then I may want to RMA my 4G4A+ for the
fixed improved version. If it is just a matter of changing to a better NB heatsink, then I can just as well
keep my older version 1.0 board and get a bigger better heatsink or maybe just add some heatsink compound
like Artic Silver. No? Yes?

What?
Thanks!

 

[BlessidThug]

Pabster or anyone else with 4g4a Is it true that it has the builtin NIC?

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by: GotoDengo

As for board revisions, the earlier ones, with "Epox" printed on the Northbridge heatsink perform poorly. The 'good' boards have the heatsink with fins and no Epox label, as someone pointed out earlier. Here for some info in French.

I got one for my son's puter and it had the logo on the NB. It worked fine up to 163 FSb with Samsung, which is NOT on the recommended list for Epox boards. I would be suspicious of those accusations. Anyway, I am getting this board for myself now and it will be here tomorrow from Newegg. I'll let you know how the NB is labeled and how it does.

 

[lupohki]

Pabster or anyone else with 4g4a Is it true that it has the builtin NIC?

My 4G4A does not have a NIC.

Has anyone had o/cing problems with the 100Mhz setting? I can do 1.6@2.4 with the 133Mhz setting and 4:5 multiplier, but not with the 3:4 multiplier you get with the 100Mhz. The screen just stays blank right before the windows splash screen. I am using Corsair XMS32000, so 400ddr with the lowest cas settings shouldn't be a problem.


Also, are the intel application accelerator drivers necessary?

 

[BlessidThug]

Originally posted by: lupohki

Pabster or anyone else with 4g4a Is it true that it has the builtin NIC?

My 4G4A does not have a NIC.

lupohki: An earlier poster (Vsekh 06/23/2002 8:13PM) said that the 4G4a does have the NIC. It's only covered by the faceplate. Remove that and enable it in the Bios and you are good to go.

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by: JingHola Since I have the older version board bought from NewEgg just last week, I am feeling jipped now. Could you or someone who reads French fill us in on the details behind your statements that there is a newer fixed and more stable board revision? Like what exactly was it that EPoX changed to make it more stable? And stable for what running more DIMM DDR memory modules? For overclocking higher FSB and DDR rates? Also is it just a matter of they replaced the older NB EPoX labeled Heatsink with a better bigger heatsink and that is why it is more stable? Or did they actually make circuit modifications or component changes to higher quality components?

Please fill us in on the details if you can, because if it is true then I may want to RMA my 4G4A+ for the fixed improved version. If it is just a matter of changing to a better NB heatsink, then I can just as well keep my older version 1.0 board and get a bigger better heatsink or maybe just add some heatsink compound like Artic Silver. No? Yes?
Thanks!

Hey, just got my 4G4A+ from Newegg just a couple of minutes ago and the heatsink on the NB is beefy type sink w/o any logo on it. I will be setting the board up later today and I will let you know the outcome. I will be using one stick of 512mb Samsung CTL stuff which I know can o/c to 185 on the KR7A with max memory timings set.

What do you want to know specifically in performance? Do you want to know how high of FSB I can work stably?

This HS for the NB looks like it will do a better job of dissipating the heat. If you have the older HS on the board why don't try some very pro-active cooling on the NB HS. I mount a 120mm fan to the case crossmember bar to blow on the memory and NB area for additional cooling.

Here, take a look at my write on "How To" mod for a Vmem mod posted at TheNakedReview website. In the "How To", I have a picture of my case with the 120mm fan mounted so you can see the additional pro-active cooling that I am talking about. My case is an Antec 1040X.

 

[BlessidThug]

Originally posted by: Acer
I mount a 120mm fan to the case crossmember bar to blow on the memory and NB area for additional cooling.

Here, take a look at my write on "How To" mod for a Vmem mod posted at TheNakedReview website. In the "How To", I have a picture of my case with the 120mm fan mounted so you can see the additional pro-active cooling that I am talking about. My case is an Antec 1040X.

Acer: That one little metal bar is enough to keep your fan completely suspended? Wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it. Pretty cool.

 

[Acer]

Yes, the bar/bracket is very stable if you use No. 10x1/2" sheet metal screw like the type in the picture and then use a box wrench or wratchet to tighten it down. The bar/bracket is heavy duty so it won't wobble if you use the wrench or wratchet. Also use a lock washer or just plain washers when tightening the fan to the bar/bracket.

You can get the bar/bracket at the local hardware store. I also used a 1/2" standoff spacer between the bar/bracket and fan so allow adequate spacing between the side cover and fan. The 120mm fan can really rip some air over the NB and memory. You can also twist the bar/bracket to allow you to concentrate the airflow to a more specific area.

 

[Antoneo]

Hey, just got my 4G4A+ from Newegg just a couple of minutes ago and the heatsink on the NB is beefy type sink w/o any logo on it.

Drat! I've gotten a EPoX labeled Northbridge HS 4G4A+ from Mwave.com last week. Guess that french source was right . Well keep us posted on how far you go ocing stable (perhaps default voltage) .

 

[terminalmind]

Acer What is the revision # of the new board you got? The revision # is printed on the lower
left corner of the board to the left of the bottom PCI slot.

 

[anonmouseuser]

Welp, after weeks of dicking around I think I've finally reached a stable overclock. Numbers are as follows:

1.6A@2.5 / 4:5 / 160FSB / 1.7 vcore / 2.7 vdimm / 2.5, 6, 3, 3 / 38C idle / 48C load

3DMark: 10,611 w/eVGAGeforce Ti4200 / 280mhz core / 500mhz mem

Sandra: 5006 CPU / 3023 mem

All in all, this is board rocks.

 

[mcveigh]

has anyone replaced the northbridge heatsink with a better one, maybe with a fan?

 

[terminalmind]

mcveigh I replaced mine with a Thermaltake Tiger and Arctic Silver 3.
Newegg has it for $9 +$6 shipping.

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by: terminalmind
Acer What is the revision # of the new board you got? The revision # is printed on the lower
left corner of the board to the left of the bottom PCI slot.

My rev is 1.0. I will Post a couple of pics of the HS that is on the NB. Right now I am trying various fsb's to see which is JUST stable for Windows XP. Right now 151 is my limit because I am using a 2.4B chip (18X) and Samsung PC2700 CTL which is notorious for not liking to high of Vmem. I know this module can work to 185 FSB at max memory settings when I used it on an AMD board, KR7A. So, everthing has to do with the memory controller and cpu. I am attempting to manually set the timings to see if I can get anything better.

I'll let you know tomorrow along with the pics.

 

[krazisoljahz]

I replaced my northbridge heatsink with this Zalman NB heatsink

 

[terminalmind]

Originally posted by: Acer

Originally posted by: terminalmind
Acer What is the revision # of the new board you got? The revision # is printed on the lower
left corner of the board to the left of the bottom PCI slot.

My rev is 1.0. I will Post a couple of pics of the HS that is on the NB. Right now I am trying various fsb's to see which is JUST stable for Windows XP. Right now 151 is my limit because I am using a 2.4B chip (18X) and Samsung PC2700 CTL which is notorious for not liking to high of Vmem. I know this module can work to 185 FSB at max memory settings when I used it on an AMD board, KR7A. So, everthing has to do with the memory controller and cpu. I am attempting to manually set the timings to see if I can get anything better.

I'll let you know tomorrow along with the pics.

My motherboard had the old style heatsink and it is also revision 1.0. I assume this means the only change Epox has made to the board is the Northbridge heatsink. Thanks for the info.

 

[wizz0bang]

I posted this on the CPU forum with only one response. I have been trying to overclock my P4 1.6a with many problems. I still cannot get it stable beyond 1.6Ghz. Since I'm using a 4G4A+ maybe you can help. I've read this entire (!) thread and tried most of your suggestions. But perhaps there is something else I can do to overclock this chip. Here is my rig:

Epox 4G4A+
P4 1.6a CPU (Costa Rica 6/04/02 pack date SL668 1310A823-1374)
ASII well applied
Zalman copper heatsink
2x256mb Crucial PC2100
GeForce3 TI200
Seagate Barracuda 80gb
TurboLink 420watt dual fan PS

Even with 1:1 memory settings, AGP/PCI locked, and increasing the vcore all the way to 1.70, the system isn't stable under long term testing with any frequency beyond the default 1.6Ghz. I can't even boot at 533mhz bus of 133*16=2.12Ghz. Windows won' t load at anything higer than 120*16=1.92Ghz and long term stability isn't achieved with anything over 1.6Ghz.

The system temps are in the mid 40s (usually 45-47)C with the system at 1.5vcore and 1.6Ghz. At 1.92Ghz and 1.6vcore the temps are around 50-52 after long term testing. But it will usually fail in an hour or so or while playing video games at 1.92Ghz. Interestingly enough, Prime95 will go a long time, but my games fail rather quickly. I haven't had one problem with gaming all day or prime95 all night with the default 1.6ghz and 1.5vcore.

I originally had an Antec PX303 300watt PS, so I replaced it with the 420 on the theory the old one wasn't good enough (it was from pre P4 days)... but I notice no difference with the new PS.

I have tried removing one of the DIMMS and leaving only one DIMM in slot 2, per the advice given here, no difference. I've tried different memory timings, no luck.

I'm running the 4/24/02 Bios from Epox... I've read several posts here that advised against upgrading to the newer one.

Is there anything else I can do? Do I just have a dud CPU here? Could it be the board? I _really_ wanted to run 16*133=2.12Ghz I'm almost tempted to sell this CPU and order a 1.8a and give it a try. But if it's my board that is the limiting factor, I'd be just as screwed.

Thanks for all your help here! This isn't my first overclock by any means, but it is giving me the most trouble!

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by: krazisoljahz
I replaced my northbridge heatsink with this Zalman NB heatsink

Your link pretty well approximates what the new HS they are using on the NB. The Epox one is aluminum. It has both wide and narrow fins like. I will post my pics in about 30 minutes.

It looks like my cpu which is a 2.4B (18X) is holding me back. Can't get above 150 FSB. The same stick of Samsung worked on my son's 4G4A+ (with old style HS for NB) up to 163, but he had a 2.26 (17X). His limit for the cpu was 2770 and mine strangely enough is 2770. So it seems my 2.4 is a strectched out 2.26! This kind of ticks me off!!

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by: wizz0bang
I posted this on the CPU forum with only one response. I have been trying to overclock my P4 1.6a with many problems. I still cannot get it stable beyond 1.6Ghz. Since I'm using a 4G4A+ maybe you can help. I've read this entire (!) thread and tried most of your suggestions. But perhaps there is something else I can do to overclock this chip. Here is my rig:

Epox 4G4A+
P4 1.6a CPU (Costa Rica 6/04/02 pack date SL668 1310A823-1374)
ASII well applied
Zalman copper heatsink
2x256mb Crucial PC2100
GeForce3 TI200
Seagate Barracuda 80gb
TurboLink 420watt dual fan PS

Even with 1:1 memory settings, AGP/PCI locked, and increasing the vcore all the way to 1.70, the system isn't stable under long term testing with any frequency beyond the default 1.6Ghz. I can't even boot at 533mhz bus of 133*16=2.12Ghz. Windows won' t load at anything higer than 120*16=1.92Ghz and long term stability isn't achieved with anything over 1.6Ghz.

The system temps are in the mid 40s (usually 45-47)C with the system at 1.5vcore and 1.6Ghz. At 1.92Ghz and 1.6vcore the temps are around 50-52 after long term testing. But it will usually fail in an hour or so or while playing video games at 1.92Ghz. Interestingly enough, Prime95 will go a long time, but my games fail rather quickly. I haven't had one problem with gaming all day or prime95 all night with the default 1.6ghz and 1.5vcore.

I originally had an Antec PX303 300watt PS, so I replaced it with the 420 on the theory the old one wasn't good enough (it was from pre P4 days)... but I notice no difference with the new PS.

I have tried removing one of the DIMMS and leaving only one DIMM in slot 2, per the advice given here, no difference. I've tried different memory timings, no luck.

I'm running the 4/24/02 Bios from Epox... I've read several posts here that advised against upgrading to the newer one.

Is there anything else I can do? Do I just have a dud CPU here? Could it be the board? I _really_ wanted to run 16*133=2.12Ghz I'm almost tempted to sell this CPU and order a 1.8a and give it a try. But if it's my board that is the limiting factor, I'd be just as screwed.

Thanks for all your help here! This isn't my first overclock by any means, but it is giving me the most trouble!

You haven't said anything about where your Vmem is set. I would suggest 2.8-3.0 as a working value and push the Vcore to 1.75. You should see better results.

 

[Acer]

Here is the new NB HS that Epox is now putting on all rev 1 boards:

VIEW 1

VIEW 2

 

[krazisoljahz]

It looks like my cpu which is a 2.4B (18X) is holding me back. Can't get above 150 FSB. The same stick of Samsung worked on my son's 4G4A+ (with old style HS for NB) up to 163, but he had a 2.26 (17X).

By any chance did you run the memory at 4:5 ratio and turbo settings? Cause i'm about to get the samsung on samsung pcb and thats the specs that i would like to run on. Thanks