AMD Sempron Processor 3100+ & ECS NFORCE3-A Motherboard for $80 at Outpost.com

[imported_tripp]

Originally posted by: furballi
1. Create a boot floppy.
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/flashAward.html

2. Download awardflash_826g_dos.exe and N325A826.BF from BIOSTAR.
http://www.biostar-usa.com/mbdownloads.asp?model=NF325-A7

3. Run and extract awardflash_826g_dos.exe. Copy AWD826g.exe and N325A826.BF to the floppy.

4. Set BIOS to boot from floppy and type A:\ awd826g.exe n325a826.bf at the prompt. Follow the instruction to backup and flash BIOS.

5. Shutdown PC after hitting F1. Disconnect power. Reset BIOS and reboot.

FSB is now adjustable up to 320MHz. Need to reload windows. Will lose SMART fan with this new BIOS.

Thanks furballi...

MY only question on these steps is that I am doing a totally new install on the machine. Since there is no OS on the drive I am using, Should I do this flash now or wait until I have everything running at the defaults?

 

[CuriousMike]

In your step 5, you say "Reset BIOS and reboot".

Why is it necessary to reset the bios when you've just flashed it ?

 

[homestarmy]

Anyone on the USB wake issue?

 

[furballi]

Have a USB mouse. System is set to TURN OFF monitor (standby mode) after 10 min. I can TURN ON the monitor if I move the mouse. I do not use HIBERNATE or STAND BY. Cool n Quiet is good enough for me.

I would cross-flash the BIOS PRIOR to loading windows. Reset the BIOS after shutdown ensures that you have the baseline settings loaded in the BIOS.

The ECS NF4 may be a better board for tweakers. The combo is also $80 from Fry's. I have no problem hitting 289MHz FSB. There's a bug in the BIOS that will not allow the PC to boot above 289. Course you can always use Clockgen to increase the FSB in windows (same as NF3). Was able to push the 2800 Sempron Winchester core up to 301MHz (Prime stable).

I have two gripes with the ECS NF4 754. First is the noisy NF4 chipset fan. Replace the 6000 rpm fan with the Zalman chipset cooler. Use lock-wire to secure the Zalman to the two retaining loops on the MB. DO NOT overtighten the lock-wire or you'll damage the MB.

The 2nd complain is the tight DIMM slots. It very hard to install/remove the memory module. Check out my review at the MB forum.

 

[homestarmy]

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I am speaking of waking from S3 sleep.

In my case it is important because I have used it in a couple of living room Media Center PC setups where the remote should be able to be used to put it into and take it out of s3 standby mode.

Thanks for your reply though!!

 

[furballi]

That option can be iffy with desktop PCs. Those options were designed for notebooks to conserve power.

 

[homestarmy]

I've mostly used Shuttle boards for this in the past. They have worked beautifully.

 

[imported_tripp]

Originally posted by: furballi

I would cross-flash the BIOS PRIOR to loading windows. Reset the BIOS after shutdown ensures that you have the baseline settings loaded in the BIOS.

When you say reset the BIOS, what exactly are you refering too? Loading defaults?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: furballi
@ Zap,

See if you can flash the BIOS of the NF4 754 using the floppy. Mine would only flash in Windows. Also check to for boot issue above 289MHz FSB and the USB 2.0 lockup. I don't have a high-speed USB HDD.

I just picked up the NF4 combo today. Came with 1.0b BIOS, my next step is to flash to latest 1.1a BIOS. My method for flashing is a small HDD that boots to DOS. I hook it up to my USB drive bay (never even put on the cover since I'm always swapping drives in it) and copy the flash stuff over. Then, hook it up to motherboard that's on my desk with just the bare essentials, then boot to HDD and flash.

May not get to that until Thursday actually, have a full day tomorrow with classes and stuff, plus my car will be going in for repairs AGAIN. On my drive home from Fry's it started losing coolant. :| Fix Or Repair Daily

 

[deadken]

Originally posted by: furballi......The ECS NF4 may be a better board for tweakers. The combo is also $80 from Fry's.......

That would be fine IF I could order it online.... I live in NY and there aren't any Fry's anywhere remotely near here.

I have just sold off the CPU + Mobo from my 'family rig'. Won't the family be surprised when I tear that down with no parts to build it up again! I am supposed to bring the parts to work on Thursday, so I would like some new parts by next week. Each of my kids have computers in their rooms, so it shouldn't be a major disruption. I am sure that someone will complain, but that will most likely end when I threaten to take the PC out of their room and move it to the living room.... :shocked:

What I need now is a S939 Combo. AGP preferred, but not a %100 requirement. Let's see what I can drum up in the forums. If anyone hears of a nice deal that is available online, please PM me.

-Thanks, Ken

 

[soccerballtux]

Newegg has some ASRock 939 Mobo that has both PCI-Express and full AGP 8x. Its ~65$. Also has a slot for a card that will take an AM2 processor.

 

[Tullphan]

I just got the mb/cpu today & found out I needed a m-atx! Dunno whether to just sell the mb & order a m-atx or what. Don't think I can find a combo deal in that price range w/a m-atx motherboard & a 3100 Sempron.
I guess I could order a case that'll handle this size motherboard, tho.

 

[Zap]

Did you get it from Fry's or from Outpost? Fry's has an A64 3500+ with ECS ATI chipset mATX board (with IGP and PCI-E 16X) for $180. The CPU by itself is about $205 on Newegg.

 

[furballi]

A64 3000 will give the most bangs for your $. Most will do 2.5GHz. The A64 3200 is better if your MB cannot run above 250MHz FSB. The A64 3500 is too expensive, and there is no assurance that it will overclock much above 2.5GHz.

If you want a good board with PCI-E 16x/1x that can easily hit 289MHz FSB, then wait for another Fry's $80 special on the ECS NF4 754/Sempron 3100. Easy 2.3GHz overclock and just a little slower than the stockA64 3500.

 

[robertk2012]

I have some HSF's for sale if anyone needs one

OEM opteron heatpipe. $18 shipped.

 

[deadken]

Ohhh well...... I bought another Combo today. I just couldn't resist and since I just sold off another Mobo/CPU (Shuttle NF2 and T-Bred 2400+) I will break pretty even (yes, even after ordering another AMD X2 H/S+fan from Ebay).

Hopefully I will have that computer up and running the same day I get the parts. I will certainly flash at least one of the two I now have over to the Biostar BIOS. I haven't had the time to do it to my Sons rig yet, and I might as well wait until I get the 'second' combo incase I have a 'bad-flash' and need to borrow the BIOS chip to get back up and running.

By next week I will be down to one AXP/NF2 combo in my house. I had four not 2 months ago. Now I will have 3 S754's! Sheesh... The pricing is just too good for me to pass up on these.

-Ken

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: Zap
Did you get it from Fry's or from Outpost? Fry's has an A64 3500+ with ECS ATI chipset mATX board (with IGP and PCI-E 16X) for $180. The CPU by itself is about $205 on Newegg.

Outpost...did the phone-in order from the link in the post.
After checking prices on combo's, I decided it'd be just as cheap to purchase a case by the time I went to the trouble of re-packaging, re-shipping & (probably) losing my original shipping costs...besides, I needed an AGP motherboard & i'm a cheapskate.

 

[neovan]

Fry's has a deal today for S754 A64 3000 + ECS NF3 mobo for $120

Is this a good deal? Seems like it and it should OC to at least 2.5Ghz

 

[HighBudget]

Is this deal still available at B&M?

 

[furballi]

Call your local Fry's to confirm. The A64 rig costs 50% more. I don't think this is a good buy since you should be able to overclock the 3100 Sempron up to 2.25GHz. Use Clockgen to boost the speed up to 2.4GHz will a decent chip.

If you don't want to use Clockgen, then wait for the ECS NF4 754/Sempron 3100 to go on sale for $80. The downside is that you will need to purchase a PCI-E video card. This board will easily hit 289MHz FSB.

Chiefvalue has the retail A64 3000 939 for $109.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: neovan
Fry's has a deal today for S754 A64 3000 + ECS NF3 mobo for $120

Is this a good deal? Seems like it and it should OC to at least 2.5Ghz

If it is a retail Venice chip, then it's a good deal. My Venice 3000+ is sitting pretty at 2.7 GHz. Not on this board though...

 

[deadken]

Tic.. Toc.. Tic.. Toc.. I am just waiting for DHL to deliver this package... I was at work Thursday and ended up calling home and having my Wife order this combo. When checkout time came, it was a few dollars more then I expected. It automatically came up with the 2nd day shipping and I figured that it was easier to leave it that then try to explain to back up and change it to Three day. I had hoped the with 2nd day, I might get it on Saturday (two days after Thursday). So a three dollar gamble seemed worth it.

Well, I lost. I'd bet it'll be here on Monday. I will most likely get everything together Monday night. I was hoping to have the weekend to tinker around, but no go.... It does however give me time to post mindless rants on the internet to pass the time.... I guess this still deserves to be more near the top of the Hot Deals section since this is the best deal on a CPU/Mobo out there right now!

 

[furballi]

Still the best deal if you already have an AGP card. If starting from scratch, then the ECS NF4 754 is a better buy at $80. The cheapest PCI-E card will cost around $45. Note that you will need to spend $3 for a passive Zalman heatsink to cool the NF4 chip. The stock factory fan spins at 6000rpm. It will probably fail within one year.

It is possible to go back n forth between the BIOSTAR and ECS BIOSes. Use AWD826G.EXE in the command line, followed by the desired BIOS. It's best to load the BIOS PRIOR to installing the OS.

Also saw the Abit AX8 939 on sale at TigerDirect for $65 plus $8 shipping. Final price is $43 AR. I have this board (purchased last year). No problem running at +275MHz FSB. Wait for the A64 3000 to hit 80 and you'll end up with a nice 939 rig for $120.

 

[deadken]

If I could get a ECS NF4 754 online, then I certainly would. As far as I know Outpost hasn't offered that combo, only Frys. I tried finding a S939 combo (I went as far as opening a WTB thread), but people are nuts as to what they think they are worth. I can buy a BRAND NEW A64 3000+ (E6, SSE3, Etc..) from Newegg for $111 Shipped and I linked to that in my WTB Thread. I also said that I have seen S939 Boards selling used for about $50 on the forums and that I would have no problem spending more on better parts. Nada... What a waste of my time. No one had realistic prices. I even had one guy trying to sell me his Re-furb motherboard for more then I could buy it from Newegg for.... Sheeshh...

I am stuck w/S754 for now and still loving it. I got $125 for my Shuttle AN35N Ultra (I paid $50 after MIR over a year ago (maybe over 2)), a 2400+ T-Bred with a Thermalright 900U (one WICKED Pure COPPER HS) and a 90mm Zalman fan. So, for $89 (2nd day shipping (again... a waste for me)) + $18 for a stock AMD X2 Heatpipe HS/Fan I still walk away with a HUGE smile on my face. I know that this is an ECS board, but I still expect decent life from it. As for performance, it will still beat out that AXP 2400+ by a decent amount.


Please let me know if I am mistaken and that I can get a NF4 board from Outpost for a nice price.

BTW: The guy I sold my combo to has been bugging me for combos for a while (that was the 3rd I sold him). He never overclocks and I hated selling him that 2400+ since it ran @ 2.3Ghz (11.5 x 200, not bad for a 133 FSB CPU) at super low voltage.

 

[furballi]

The NF4 754 deal is limited to Fry's...nothing yet on Outpost due to limited quantity. ZAP has one and should post a review soon. I gave this board a good workout. The BIOS is a little touchy for overclocking (need to reset CMOS if pushed too far). However, when properly configured, the board is stable and fast up to 289MHz FSB. Can't boot above 289MHz in BIOS due to a bug (need to use Clockgen in windows above this limit).

Hopefully, ZAP will not be able to re-create the USB 2.0 lockup issue related to the NF4 chipset. I don't have a high-speed HDD to run this test.