Epox EP-8RGA+ & EP-8RDA+(nForce 2) info up at their site!

[Mem]

Link to the Epox nForce 2 board info (EP-8RGA+),seems like we are waiting ages for these boards,



EP-8RDA+ info .

 

[eplebnista]

 

[tryanasaurus]

Yippppeeee!!

 

[jandaman]

Can't wait but what does this mean:

Network 2 x Nvidia Nforce2 10/100Mbps (1x) & Realtek RTL8201L/ICS1893AF (1x)

??? It has 2 nics?

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: jandaman
Can't wait but what does this mean:

Network 2 x Nvidia Nforce2 10/100Mbps (1x) & Realtek RTL8201L/ICS1893AF (1x)

??? It has 2 nics?

Yep, looks like it indeed has two NIC's. One controlled by a Realtek chip and one by the Nforce itself...

 

[RanDum72]

Epox still has the ATX power connector at a bad spot in the mobo. I'm waiting for an Asus nforce2 borad.....

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: RanDum72
Epox still has the ATX power connector at a bad spot in the mobo. I'm waiting for an Asus nforce2 borad.....

Everyone harps on that... I really don't understand it. Optimally, the closer you have the ATX connector to the boards power supply components, the better. When Asus and others put the connector way on the other side of the board, it has to pull the voltage through all those little traces to get to the power supply components. It's much better to have the ATX connector closer, and IIRC, AMD even suggests it.

The complaint is always the ATX power connector gets in the way of the HSF...I have never had this problem. I just run it in between the HSF and the PSU and it's fine. If needed I use a zip tie to keep it out of the way. I personally care more about clean power regulation than a little extra time tying some wires out of the way...

 

[RanDum72]

It not only gets in the way of the HSF, it also gets in the way of the exhaust fan at the rear of the case. Asus and Abit have made mobo's that deliver enough juice and the ATX connector is at a nicer spot. The placement of it has nothing to do with power delivery; Epox had that design for a while and I remember they have more problems with lesser PSU's than other boards.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: RanDum72
It not only gets in the way of the HSF, it also gets in the way of the exhaust fan at the rear of the case. Asus and Abit have made mobo's that deliver enough juice and the ATX connector is at a nicer spot. The placement of it has nothing to do with power delivery; Epox had that design for a while and I remember they have more problems with lesser PSU's than other boards.

No it doesn't. If you have any skill at all in running the wires, it blocks neither. The only Epox board that had power issues with certain PSU's (Enermax) was the 8K7A series since it used a cheaper bi-phase design.

placement of it has nothing to do with power delivery

I 100% disagree. If that is the case, why don't they just put the ATX connector down near the bottom of the board? Can we say trace lengths?

 

[RanDum72]

Sure but in actual practice, does it make a difference? Asus and Intel boards have their connectors behind the memory slots and they are the most stable boards around. My Epox 8KHA+ has very low voltage readings with a Sparkle 300w PSu, while a KR7A is right on. So I don' t think it makes a difference at all.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: RanDum72
Sure but in actual practice, does it make a difference? Asus and Intel boards have their connectors behind the memory slots and they are the most stable boards around. My Epox 8KHA+ has very low voltage readings with a Sparkle 300w PSu, while a KR7A is right on. So I don' t think it makes a difference at all.

First of all, Intel and AMD boards are a whole different ball game. Most Intel boards, for the P4, have a seperate +12v connector, that is almost always right on top of the power supply components. The P4 draws a ton of +12v while the Athlon draws a ton of +5V, which is why the +5V rail is the one that is always the lowest...especially under load. Ever wonder why Intel has a seperate connector supplying more juice for the specific rail the CPU needs most?

As far as Asus and Abit being "more stable" well, that's your opinion. I seem to recall, and will dig up, the Epox 8KHA+ being voted the most stable 266A board above Asus and Abit. Your whole reasoning seems to be since Abit/Asus do it, it must be right....

The Epox boards have consitently been the best o/cers as well, usually beating or matching the Abit / Asus offerings...


Regardless of your opinion, it seems kind of silly to not consider a board because of something trivial like ATX connector placement...

But whatever....

 

[Mem]

Asus and Intel boards have their connectors behind the memory slots and they are the most stable boards around. My Epox 8KHA+ has very low voltage readings with a Sparkle 300w PSu,

Hmmm I`ve a Epox 8KHA+ board using an Enermax 431w(never had any voltage problems),and my conclusion is it`s probably the best KT266A board every made,Asus now are overated IMHO and their stability and quality is not like it use to be,also the Epox 8KHA+ came top in the most reliable socket A board last week,beating contenders from Asus,Abit,MSI,ECS etc not bad hey rating was like 95% or so.I see if I can find the link again.

Placement of the ATX connector is not a big deal in my opinion however Epox always make sure the power quality is more then adequate especially since most of their boards are designed for OC,probably why they are no.1 in that department also the position is not a big deal especially if you`ve a Enermax PSU,their leads are so long you could probably make a rope out of it .

Reliability survey link . (Not in English but figures speak for themselves)

 

[Insane3D]

Translation of Mem's link...

Some weeks ago we have 3DNow on planet! a reliability data base for base A Main board furnished. It is part of our purchase consulting section. The reader can deliver a detailed feedback there to his Main board, was as content he, which problems there were, as became it solved uvm. As opinion pool for an interested customer, who intends detailed experiences for one board necessarily, an inestimable source of information. In addition each reader also still another Voting can deliver to his Main board. The highly transparent question: "would you buy this Main board retrospectively again?" After meanwhile over 800 contributions in this category it becomes time for a first balance. In the case of the Main boards, for which to date at least 10 Votings were delivered, the following picture results:

95,7% => EPoX EP-8KHA / 8KHA+
94,7% => EPoX EP-8KTA2 / 8KTA3(+) / 8KTA3(+) Pro
94,4% => Abit KR7A / KR7A-Raid
93,8% => Abit KG7 / KG7-Raid
90,9% => Shuttle AK31
88,9% => Abit KT7(A) / KT7(A)-Raid
88,2% => Soyo SY-K7V Dragon / -Plus
86,4% => MSI KT3 Ultra-ARU
85,7% => Asus A7A266 / A7A266-E
83,3% => Abit KX-333 / KX-333R
81,0% => Asus A7V266 / A7V266-E / A7V266-EX
80,7% => EPoX EP-8K3A / 8K3A+
77,9% => ECS K7S5A / K7S5A2
76,9% => MSI 745 Ultra
76,5% => Asus A7N266 / A7N266-C / A7N266-E
76,1% => Asus A7V333
75,0% => ECS K7S6A
73,3% => Asus A7S333
66,7% => Gigabyte GA-7VR / 7VRX / 7VRXP
65,5% => MSI K7T266 Pro / -R / Pro2 / -RU
64,1% => Asus A7V / A7V133 / A7V133-C
63,6% => Asus A7M266
56,5% => ECS K7VZA

Therefore the VIA KT266/KT26Ã Main board EPoX Ep-8kha(+) is at most estimated Main board with the readers of planet the 3DNow! Naturally both feedbacks, and Votings can be further delivered. We will draw balance also in the future in loose order always times again...

Hmmm...that Asus A7V333 is kinda low down there...

 

[RanDum72]

I did not even say that the epox board that I had was unstable (it was actually stable), I just said that ithad low voltage readings with a 300w Sparkle power supply compared to another motherboard using the same PSU. Now if you use it with a higher powered PSU (like the mentioned 431w Enermax), then maybe the reading would be fine. The argument here is that the power connector is at a less then ideal location and the counter argument was that in helps in 'better power delivery', which I highly doubt makes a difference at all since other boards with much better placements of the power connector can be found. The 3D planet 'survey' samples basically readers of 3D planet (which personallyI haven't really been to) and is not representative of the actual number of mothebroard owners. Its even in German for crissakes! I think there are many more ENGLISH SPEAKING motherboard owners out there than German, don't you think?. How many motherboards does Epox make/sell in comparison to Asus and Intel? Here at AT alone, what motherboard maker has the most number of users? And was the survey a 'satisfaction' kind of survey (did they actually specify if there was any problem with their boards?)? I mean, this could be a bunch of OC junkies gushing over their boards. Ws there a definition of 'reliability' on the survey? Maybe its more on user errors and ease of setup kind of survey (Asus board do have more dipswitches and jumpers)?

The bottom line is, the darn power connector is at the wrong spot and Epox could just EASILY redesign it without any effect on stability and power delivery. I think the primary reason for them leaving it as is is simple: it costs more for a redesign. Why waste all those nice PCB's that they already have in hand? But not to offend Epox fanboys, its still an awesome maker maker of motherboards.

 

[Mem]

The bottom line is, the darn power connector is at the wrong spot and Epox could just EASILY redesign it without any effect on stability and power delivery. I think the primary reason for them leaving it as is is simple: it costs more for a redesign

Board layout is down to the individual so you`ll get different answers on right position even with other things like floppy connector position,power connector position is not something I worry about,if you want to get picky it`s about time Asus got rid of dip switches,no need for them nowadays .