epox 9npa+ supports OPTERON 146/148, right?

[MTDEW]

Im still dtermining how the 170 will run, i have it at 2500mhz / 1.4v and afraid to go hogher since the temps are getting up to 55c at load.
So im looking for better cooling before trying to push it harder.

These dual cores run HOT once you start overclocking them!

 

[imported_PRAETORIAN]

Its a shame I could only buy a 146, It's a single core. The opteron 165's and higher are the dual cores. I hope it still performs well. It is a (CABYE 0540). So basically I have a single core that can perform 64 BIT process right? Is this still good? Does duel core make a severe performance gain?

 

[Meuge]

Originally posted by: MTDEW
Im still dtermining how the 170 will run, i have it at 2500mhz / 1.4v and afraid to go hogher since the temps are getting up to 55c at load.
So im looking for better cooling before trying to push it harder.

These dual cores run HOT once you start overclocking them!

Get the XP-90 with a decent 90mm fan. I just have a simple L1A Panaflo, at only 30CFM or so, and it still keeps the CPU below 50 at load... in silence.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: PRAETORIAN
Hi MTDEW, Listen, I sure appreciate your help. I'm going to remove MB (make sure no ground), clean CPU (reapply artic silver-reseat chip), and then re-hook this baby up. I cannot believe that it cannot "see" the chip to access BIOS. VERY frustrating! I would be delighted if custiomer support could understand the delemma. I cant be the only EPOX owner fighting this front. I would have had the above done save my starter moter died, and I froove my butt off replacing it in 23 degree weather. I cant feel my toes yet!

I live in Lancaster PA. How about yourself?
Hey thanks for the help man!!!

Hey, I'm from New Holland, where in Lancaster do you live?

 

[imported_PRAETORIAN]

LOL...man your not gonna believe this!!!!! LEOLA!!! you probably drive past my house! Hey, as Ive been working on my red saab convertable in like 23 degree weather for 4 days now, and even until 3pm last nite..you might have even seen me! Across from the fulton bank. TOOOOOOOOO funny . I tell you synchronicity and the smallness of the universe is bizare! So MTDEW (aka the man in my book). Has generously donated me a cpu to have epox board recognize BIOS. You wanna hook up and get my 'puter whirling right?

 

[lyssword]

my 146 is on the way, lol I hope it post with dfi nf4 dagf (vanilla nf4)

 

[imported_PRAETORIAN]

SOOOO, how many people have put thier Opteron in the EPOX 9NPA+, AND HAVE RECOGINIZED IT???

 

[MTDEW]

PRAETORIAN,
You got a PM!

 

[Maluno]

I've had success.

 

[JakeTheAlbatross]

I got an EPOX 9NPA+ SLI with an Opteron 165 and the thing smokes!

Opteron 165
EPOX 9NPA+ SLI
2 x 1GB OSZ 3200 platinum
WD Raptor 74 GB
Zalman 9500
2 - PNY 7800 GT
600W Ultra X-Finity PSU
Lian Li V1000 Black w\ Window



One HUGE problem, though...

I have 2 PNY 7800 GT's slotted and the forceware drivers refuse to use them in SLI. Both are recognized and show in the device manager as 7800 GT's, but instead of a check box to enable SLI (in the advanced diplay properties), I get "You must remove any graphic cards that are not compatible with NVIDIA Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology before you can enable SLI."

I spent 2 HOURS on the phone with a very nice PNY support person as I swapped the cards around, installed drivers, and did just about everything we could do. Both cards appear to be working fine, and like I said, both are seen in the device manager, just no SLI. I've updated the MB bios and the cards seem to have the same video bios.

This is driving me insane! I'm about a day away from returning the epox board (taking a 15% restock hit) and picking up a A8N deluxe and seeing if that works for me. I am very happy with the board otherwise, but I need this SLI to work.

If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears and would appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Jake

 

[thesurge]

i have an epox 9npa+ but i cant get my chip to run over 2.6 prime stable. i guess my opt 144 wont have it. i've been fiddling around with it, and changing ram timings and even lowering the mulitplier and raising the fsb but to no avail. i suppose i'll have to live w/ an 800 mhz overclock. i guess it's not too shabby considering it's at stock volts and stock air and the load temp isnt a smidgen over 41. but damn, those extra seconds on super pi wouldve been sweet.... ... <- note emphasis on ellipsis.

 

[5t3v0]

Originally posted by: thesurge
i have an epox 9npa+ but i cant get my chip to run over 2.6 prime stable. i guess my opt 144 wont have it. i've been fiddling around with it, and changing ram timings and even lowering the mulitplier and raising the fsb but to no avail. i suppose i'll have to live w/ an 800 mhz overclock. i guess it's not too shabby considering it's at stock volts and stock air and the load temp isnt a smidgen over 41. but damn, those extra seconds on super pi wouldve been sweet.... ... <- note emphasis on ellipsis.

thesurge,
my opty 144 overclocking success (or lack of it) on the 9NPAJ SLi was similar to yours but I've had to increase my vcore right up to 1.6v get 286HTT. I had it at 289HTT on 1.65v but was too nervous running this high for long. My temps are fine at 31C/46C (idle/load) thanks to decent cooling but I just cant get prime95 stable any faster without more volts. Pity.

One thing I did notice is that the vcore fluctuation seems excessive, dropping 0.3v when under load and overvolting 0.2v at idle. Not sure if this is the mobo or the psu at fault here. This is the reason I have to run such a high vcore - to compensate for the drop in volts when under load.

I also have had limited success with overclocking the GTO2 & wonder if that's down to the mobo or just an unlucky card. It makes you wonder with 2 less than average overclocks in the same system.

Still, I'm generally pleased with the board which was one of the cheapest SLi boards @ £80 here in the UK.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: 5t3v0

Originally posted by: thesurge
i have an epox 9npa+ but i cant get my chip to run over 2.6 prime stable. i guess my opt 144 wont have it. i've been fiddling around with it, and changing ram timings and even lowering the mulitplier and raising the fsb but to no avail. i suppose i'll have to live w/ an 800 mhz overclock. i guess it's not too shabby considering it's at stock volts and stock air and the load temp isnt a smidgen over 41. but damn, those extra seconds on super pi wouldve been sweet.... ... <- note emphasis on ellipsis.

thesurge,
my opty 144 overclocking success (or lack of it) on the 9NPAJ SLi was similar to yours but I've had to increase my vcore right up to 1.6v get 286HTT. I had it at 289HTT on 1.65v but was too nervous running this high for long. My temps are fine at 31C/46C (idle/load) thanks to decent cooling but I just cant get prime95 stable any faster without more volts. Pity.

One thing I did notice is that the vcore fluctuation seems excessive, dropping 0.3v when under load and overvolting 0.2v at idle. Not sure if this is the mobo or the psu at fault here. This is the reason I have to run such a high vcore - to compensate for the drop in volts when under load.

I also have had limited success with overclocking the GTO2 & wonder if that's down to the mobo or just an unlucky card. It makes you wonder with 2 less than average overclocks in the same system.

Still, I'm generally pleased with the board which was one of the cheapest SLi boards @ £80 here in the UK.

I have the exact same story as you... Check my posts w/ pics in this thread to see the vcore issues. I can only hit 2610Mhz Prime stable too.

BTW, my post about vcore should be near the very end.

 

[5t3v0]

Hey Maluno, cheers m8. Nice to know I'm not the only one although it's a shame for you naturally. I guess all Opterons are not made equal. It does look suspiciously like the Epox boards might be to blame for the voltage fluctuation. Do you think running at 1.6v (1.62 idle / 1.58 running Prime95) is too high long term?

I'm impresed with your 3dmark05 score with that 7800. My GTO2 is another disappointing overclocking story. I dont seem to have any luck with harware.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: 5t3v0
Hey Maluno, cheers m8. Nice to know I'm not the only one although it's a shame for you naturally. I guess all Opterons are not made equal. It does look suspiciously like the Epox boards might be to blame for the voltage fluctuation. Do you think running at 1.6v (1.62 idle / 1.58 running Prime95) is too high long term?

I'm impresed with your 3dmark05 score with that 7800. My GTO2 is another disappointing overclocking story. I dont seem to have any luck with harware.

1.6v is what I'm thinking of trying. what cooling are you using? Im on stock air but my temperatures never break 38C. I've heard from others that these epox boards tend to undervolt, and the people that test them with voltmeters say they are about .025-.05v off. I dunno about 1.6 for long term though, I don't think I'm comfortable with that, but maybe just for some benchies or some suicide screens...

 

[imported_PRAETORIAN]

Well after a long and grueling fight to get my epox9npa+ to recognize either a athlon 3200 or an opteron 146, It turns out that the FF code was an issue of the reset switch not working. THIS might help some ppl with FF code errors, as epox support was a waste of time.

Super special thanks to MTDEW for his generosity and patience!!!! BTW how are your specs on the water cooled opty 7800gt?

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: PRAETORIAN
Well after a long and grueling fight to get my epox9npa+ to recognize either a athlon 3200 or an opteron 146, It turns out that the FF code was an issue of the reset switch not working. THIS might help some ppl with FF code errors, as epox support was a waste of time.

Super special thanks to MTDEW for his generosity and patience!!!! BTW how are your specs on the water cooled opty 7800gt?

Ummm... FF means fully functional in my experience with the board.

???

 

[5t3v0]

Originally posted by: Maluno
1.6v is what I'm thinking of trying. what cooling are you using? Im on stock air but my temperatures never break 38C. I've heard from others that these epox boards tend to undervolt, and the people that test them with voltmeters say they are about .025-.05v off. I dunno about 1.6 for long term though, I don't think I'm comfortable with that, but maybe just for some benchies or some suicide screens...

I'm using an Arctic Freezer 64 Pro on the cpu plus I've got an Arctic cooler on the graphics card which exhausts hot air from that straight out the back & 3 case fans, 2 side intake & 1 rear exhaust. The system is well ventilated and as a result cpu temps are 30C idle and 41C under load. I dont think that's too bad for 1.6v. That's Scottish winter temps mind!

I tried lower voltages on the cpu at the start but had very disappointing results. At the supposed stock 1.4v, the pc didnt even POST! One thing I notice with this board is that it overvolts at idle, up to 1.627v, and then under load, when you need it most, it drops to as low as 1.583v. Very poor. I'm going to keep going with 1.6v until I read someone has fried their cpu. That person could be me of course!

 

[5t3v0]

Originally posted by: Maluno

Originally posted by: PRAETORIAN
Well after a long and grueling fight to get my epox9npa+ to recognize either a athlon 3200 or an opteron 146, It turns out that the FF code was an issue of the reset switch not working. THIS might help some ppl with FF code errors, as epox support was a waste of time.

Super special thanks to MTDEW for his generosity and patience!!!! BTW how are your specs on the water cooled opty 7800gt?

Ummm... FF means fully functional in my experience with the board.

???

In the Epox manual it says FFh = Boot Attempt (INT 19h). Its the last of all the POST codes. When the OS is running, the display is supposed to show the cpu temp. I've noticed with my 9NPAJ SLi that it often sticks on FF after the OS has booted, while other times it shows the cpu temp. Seems dodgy but I can't notice any faults.

 

[5t3v0]

Correction to my message above. The display seems to sit at FF for several minutes after the OS has booted then it switches to displaying the cpu temp. I guess that is normal.

 

[imported_PRAETORIAN]

Here is the answer to what does FF code really mean from EPOX support, as it is only described in a sentence in the code section of manuel:
"Dear Sir
The error code FF ,in pc boot up was mean the board with processor or some thing have error,in system work was for nothing.

Thank you for your interest in EPoX products and contacting our support
department. If you reply ensure to include all previous E-mail text. It will
prevent unnecessary delays and guarantee the fastest possible response.

Best Regards, EPOX support"
Luckily after weeks of reading MANY sites with FF code problems, and vast help from MTDEW, there was an issue of my reset switch either "stuck" or non functional.
I can tell you this...It sure makes you appreciate when you see the LCD cycle through the codes and BIOS posts

 

[5t3v0]

Epox were a lot of help then! Did they write that in Taiwanese & run it through a dodgy translator I wonder?

So how did you fix the reset switch issue or did you just disconnect it?

 

[5t3v0]

Guys
have you been following this forum? I'm definately considering lowering my vcore. If you consider my maximum vcore is 1.63v due to the poor regulation on the mobo, then I am 20% over the 1.35v lower end of the range recommended for the 90nm Opteron. That just seems too risky. Its not like I'll keep this chip for much more than 18 months but at this voltage it could be toast in less than 6. I'm less than impressed with this Epox board's ability to regulate the cpu voltage and am considering getting shot of it. Is this problem common on other board mfrs?

 

[imported_PRAETORIAN]

I just pulled the reset wire for now, at least shes whirling
Ill let you know more, as I get OS up and running. I'm going to try Suse linux 64 bit as Anandtech posted a good review. I hope i can game FAR CRY on it soon.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: 5t3v0
Guys
have you been following this forum? I'm definately considering lowering my vcore. If you consider my maximum vcore is 1.63v due to the poor regulation on the mobo, then I am 20% over the 1.35v lower end of the range recommended for the 90nm Opteron. That just seems too risky. Its not like I'll keep this chip for much more than 18 months but at this voltage it could be toast in less than 6. I'm less than impressed with this Epox board's ability to regulate the cpu voltage and am considering getting shot of it. Is this problem common on other board mfrs?

Wow, that was a great read. A lot of brains in that thread, and good info all around. I believe that I am going to stick at 1.5v and 1475Mhz for the time being.