EPoX "EP-9NPA+Ultra" NVIDIA nForce4 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard

[IlluminiX]

I have only ever heard anyone mention they froze up with a USB HD or a USB wireless card, so if one's Net connection is running at below USB 1.1 speed, I doubt one would freeze up with a wireless card. Has anyone out there frozen with something OTHER than a USB HD or wireless card?

Just heard from USA Epox, and they told me that TW Epox was going to contact TW Shuttle to see what was changed.

IlluminiX

 

[Libel]

Hey guys I just received a new bios for the SLI version from Epox Taiwan. It has been sent to me regarding my complaints of the USB2.0 issue.

Message from Epox:

"Please try to use this beta bios ( 9sli6209.bin ) for USB 2.0 issue check and let me know the result."

I'll upgrade my bios as soon as I get home and let you know if it fixed something. FYI, my USB2.0 issue is related to the use of an external hard drive.

See you later all

Lib

PS: even if this bios doesn't fix the problem, kudos to Epox for this new bios since I only sent them 2 emails in 4 days.

 

[IlluminiX]

It is very possible that their next BIOS will fix the problem if they were able to steal the solution from Shuttle. But if you have been following this issue, I would say that Epox has been anything BUT fast to fix this (8 months since X2 came out), despite their ability to reply to an email. Hopefully this THIRD time's a charm for their solution to the USB freeze issue.

Oh and by the way, with my wireless adapter plugged into the motherboard, one of two X2 cores, and USB 2.0 enabled, everything has been STABLE for a day so far which makes me think that the IRQ sharing of the VIA USB PCI card caused the freezings before.

IlluminiX

 

[elbyped]

I was emailed a non-sli version of the new bios (9npa6209.bin) that seems to have fixed the problem. I've been putting my external HD through its paces for a few hours now and there's no signs of instability.

It looks like this issue might finally have been put to rest.

 

[curran]

elbyped, do you have the 9npa+sli or ultra? I was also sent the bios for the ultra board & am afraid to try it on my SLI.

 

[reynrv]

Wonder when they'll put this up for everybody to try. Who did you send an email to in order to get this new BIOS?

 

[curran]

send a message to support@epox.com & put ATTN: Mike in the subject. I emailed him a few minutes ago & got a reply already.

actually i think his personal address is mike.vo@epox.com

 

[Libel]

So far, after having transfered like 15Go to/from my USB hard drive I haven't experienced any freeze. I will continue to test this new bios to make sure it has nothing with "luck"

@Illuminix: I agree with you for the first X2 owners, it hasn't been fast at all.

 

[IlluminiX]

Just got the Beta BIOS and am now using it...

So far so good, but since I use a wirelessG card, my freezings can happen anytime --when transferring data or even when I am idle. So if I make it overnight, then this issue can finally be put to REST!

Here is the quote from the email I got with the BIOS:

This is a quote from our BIOS programmer....
"...We'll try to check the chippost.asm. And he
also tell me that's not CPU BIOS core issue. That's Chipset BIOS core issue...."

If anyone wants they can PM me and I'll forward you the BIOS, and you can flash it at your own risk. No problem for me, but I'd probably wait for the final version just so your behind can be covered.

IlluminiX

 

[elbyped]

Originally posted by: curran
elbyped, do you have the 9npa+sli or ultra? I was also sent the bios for the ultra board & am afraid to try it on my SLI.

From Libel's post it seems that there're two version of this bios. I'm using the 9npa+ultra, which corresponds to 9npa6209.bin, you should probably try to get the same one that libel was using, 9sli6209.bin.

 

[Libel]

If some of you own a SLI motherboard, here a link to get this beta bios:
9sli6209.bin

 

[Shadmere]

I just built a system with this board, and I'm planning on overclocking it eventually.

One thing, though. Are all the SATA slots locked? Or only 3 and 4?

I thought I plugged it into number 3, but it was number 2. (I was looking at it upside down.)

If I do need to change it to 3 or 4, will this mess anything up? Or is it just as simple as switching the connection and booting?

Thanks. =)

 

[reynrv]

Would someone mind putting the non-sli bios up for download as well? Thanks.

 

[elbyped]

Originally posted by: reynrv
Would someone mind putting the non-sli bios up for download as well? Thanks.

Sure: 9npa6209.bin

 

[wayliff]

i just ordered mine from chiefvalue...EXCITED!

 

[Fallengod]

Chiefvalue is great. Best price around and free 3 day shipping. Thats where I got mine from as well.

 

[IlluminiX]

How is everyone's BETA testing system doing? I have been stable with my USB adapter plugged in USB2/X2 mode since 2pm...

Doing a quick CBROM of the previous BIOS and the BETA one, it appears they changed the ACPI table and awardext.rom, but I don't know what they did exactly.

 

[curran]

Looks like we might have a winner. Have downloaded about 3 files around 1 GB each directly to my USB HDD using my USB wireless adapter. I've got another download at 500 MB right now. This I think is the 1st time in 6 months I've gotten past the 200 MB mark w/ wireless.

 

[Ultralight]

This is great news indeed! Hope to hear how non-SLi boards are doing with this BIOS.

 

[Fallengod]

Its about time they fixed it.

 

[IlluminiX]

Non-SLI doing just fine [so far]

If I make it through the morning without a freeze (Knock On Wood), then I give their fix a thumbs UP!

 

[gfngfgf]

Thanks for sharing the beta BIOS. I e-mailed them about two weeks ago and they sent me a beta BIOS dated 1/23, but I've been too busy to really test it out. I'll test out this new one (I guess the date is 2/09?) over the weekend.

 

[Libel]

So far with the SLI beta bios I didn't encounter any errors with my external hard drive (moving files from 1go to 4go). I'll do more extensive testing over the week-end.

 

[IlluminiX]

WHO said the USB freezing issue couldn't be fixed by a BIOS change???? I just made it overnight with my USB adapter plugged in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think this all may FINALLY be over!!!!!!!!! So glad I called Epox so many times and they FINALLY listened to me and found out from Shuttle what they did to fix this same EXACT problem in their SN25P model!!!!


:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[kayos]

How do I use the 9npa6209.bin to flash my BIOS?

I don't have a floppy drive. I put the bin file on a CD, unenabled the floppy in the BIOS setup and set the first boot drive as CD and tried ALT F2 at boot up but nothing happened.