Epox EP-9NDA3J vs Epox EP-9NDA3+

[Mattd46612]

What is the difference between these 2 boards? I couldnt find any and went with the Epox EP-9NDA3J. Hopefully I didnt make a mistake, but I didnt see anything to warrent the extra coin.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

The 9NDA3+ has additional SATA ports and Firewire.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
The 9NDA3+ has additional SATA ports and Firewire.

Yep, that's the only difference. The additional SATA ports are basically useless if you overclock because they aren't locked.

 

[Celeryman]

Well, after my experience with the board tonight, it is going into the junk pile. It is just about the worst overclocker I have ever had (this is the 9NDA3+). My recommendation would be to look at the DFI Ultra-D nForce3 motherboard instead. I will probably never buy another Epox board again. I can't get it to work correctly and it won't boot a 3000+ venice stably above 2.2 Ghz. I have two different types of relatively high performance memory also. I have 2x512MB Patriot XBL (TCCD) and also just got some 2x1GB Corsair Platinum XMS. Neither one really make a difference in either slots 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. Just for extra assurance, I have also tested the board with two different winchester 3000+ cpu's. Same results. I wish Abit made a good nForce3 board! I would jump on it in a heartbeat! :disgust:

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Celeryman
Well, after my experience with the board tonight, it is going into the junk pile. It is just about the worst overclocker I have ever had (this is the 9NDA3+). My recommendation would be to look at the DFI Ultra-D nForce3 motherboard instead. I will probably never buy another Epox board again. I can't get it to work correctly and it won't boot a 3000+ venice stably above 2.2 Ghz. I have two different types of relatively high performance memory also. I have 2x512MB Patriot XBL (TCCD) and also just got some 2x1GB Corsair Platinum XMS. Neither one really make a difference in either slots 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. Just for extra assurance, I have also tested the board with two different winchester 3000+ cpu's. Same results. I wish Abit made a good nForce3 board! I would jump on it in a heartbeat! :disgust:

Are you using a SATA hard drive? If so plug it into one of the ports next to the AGP slot. Also, just because a board doesn't overclock as well es you expect it to doesn't mean it's junk. Either you got unlucky or you're doing something wrong. My bet is you have a SATA drive hooked up to port 3 or 4. I've hit 300 HTT+ on my 9NDA3+ with my Raptors on ports 1 and 2 and my Mushkin Value PC3200 in slots 3 and 4.

 

[Mattd46612]

I sure hope its good. Id like to get my new 3000+ venice and Epox EP-9NDA3J cruisin at 2.5ghz or so tommorow night when I get it. Will start with 1 sata drive.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Mattd46612
I sure hope its good. Id like to get my new 3000+ venice and Epox EP-9NDA3J cruisin at 2.5ghz or so tommorow night when I get it. Will start with 1 sata drive.

Use one of the ports next to the AGP slot and you should be fine in that regard.

 

[Mattd46612]

Yeah, My only real worry is the stock HSF keepin me back till I buy a aftermarket. I had a A64 skt754 and I didnt think its HSF was that bad. But we should see what kind of temps I get and go from there. Im sure Ill be posting tommorow night.

 

[Celeryman]

Well MDE, I most be really unlucky. I have tried slots 3 and 4 (as suggested) with two different types of memory. I have my raided raptors using the sata ports by the agp slot. I have used 3 different CPU's to try to get any kind of stable overclock. I am running an Enermax 550 power supply, and I watch my temperatures.

I am a pretty seasoned overclocker. I have been doing for almost 10 years now and really don't remember ever having this much trouble. Even with ECS boards for socket A.

I guess it is possible that I screwed up the board somehow, but I don't think so.

 

[Celeryman]

Mattd46612, I hope I didn't influence your buying decision to much because I just went through a week fighting with my DFI NF3 Ultra-D and got tired of it. So I thought I might give my 9NDA3+ another try. Well, it must either be my power supply (likely culprit from the problems I have been getting), or it must be that I don't have a good cooling system, but suffice it to say that I am running at 2.7 GHZ on my 9NDA3+ typing this. I have not tested for stability yet but this is very suprising.

My lesson is learned. If you are have lots of problems with your rig overclocking, take out all but the necessary components. One other thing, I was running 2 74GB raptors in raid 0 before, but right now I am only running my WD 120GB PATA drive. The Raptors are unplugged.