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

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L

LZ1GJD

Junior Member
Mar 1, 2006
8
0
0
I have tried so far, ide drivers from packages version 6.53, 6.70 and some unofficial downloaded from guru3d.com where the ide driver is a customized stable beta v6.24. Still when there is a high disk activity, like copying files, checking the disk for errors and at the same time I starta program to monitor the hdd status it would lock-up the PC. I found something interesting, when I start Speedfan the system freezes when it tries to determine the drive temperature:

Win9x:NO 64Bit:NO GiveIO:YES SpeedFan:YES
I/O properly initialized
Linked ISA BUS at $0290
Linked nVidia nForce4 SMBUS at $F800
Linked nVidia nForce4 SMBUS at $F400
Scanning ISA BUS at $0290...
Winbond W83627THF (ID=$90) found on ISA at $290
SuperIO Chip=Winbond W83627THF
Scanning nForce2 SMBus at $F800...
Scanning nForce2 SMBus at $F400...
F75121R found on SMBus at $37
SMART Enabled for drive 0
Found HDT722525DLA380 (250,1GB)
Found ACPI temperature (32,0C) // This is where it locks when using nv ide
End of detection
 
5

5t3v0

Senior member
Dec 22, 2005
508
0
0
That's a weird one. Why are you so adamant to use the nv driver? Just install the chipset driver & decline the IDE SW driver & use the Windows one instead.
 
L

LZ1GJD

Junior Member
Mar 1, 2006
8
0
0
Because, I would really like to use the NCQ feature that the MS drivers seem not to support. Also I am afraid the problem could be related to some mechanical damage to the motherboard.

Has anyone experienced such strange behaviour from this motherboard ?
 
L

LZ1GJD

Junior Member
Mar 1, 2006
8
0
0
Update :

Today I reinstalled Windows, installed latest nForce drivers, disabled NCQ and it worked ;). I have no more such troubles, and the system is running very stably.
 
5

5t3v0

Senior member
Dec 22, 2005
508
0
0
Originally posted by: LZ1GJD
Update :

Today I reinstalled Windows, installed latest nForce drivers, disabled NCQ and it worked ;). I have no more such troubles, and the system is running very stably.
Click to expand...

Nice one. F---ing Windoze.
 
J

jmdeathsquad

Senior member
Feb 23, 2006
643
0
0
yeah i just had a similar problem as LZ and fixed it in similar fashion... it tried to boot from cd everytime I started my comp. I'm not sure if it was b/c I had service pack 1 installed at the time or b/c I had the nv ide drivers installed... but I formatted and opted against using the ide drivers and it works great (after installing service pack 2 of course)
 
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tjpark1111

Senior member
Oct 5, 2005
287
0
0
didn't we just say that NCQ is not beneful unless you're doing server work? I guess he got caught up in the marketing crap.... highly improbable anyone would try to do server work on this board, although I guess there's nothing wrong for some light stuff.
 
A

Allio

Golden Member
Jul 9, 2002
1,904
28
91
Originally posted by: Orcishhuman
lol, I'm suspecting that mine actually reports temperatures LOWER than the real ones, In the Prime95 stress test, SpeedFan gives me 45°C with a 3500+ O/Ced to 2500mhz with 1.475v, stock cooler (with the thermal pad EXTREMELY messily put on)...?: (
Click to expand...

I think mine does too. It's definitely not overreporting - 3200+ @ 2.55ghz on 1.5V and I'm at 42 degrees full load with the stock cooler and stock thermal goop. It's not even a cold day!
 
T

tjpark1111

Senior member
Oct 5, 2005
287
0
0
so the problem is underreporting temps? Any w/ a temp. probe can confirm?
How many fan headers does this board have? Do all of them work?
 
T

tjpark1111

Senior member
Oct 5, 2005
287
0
0
dunno heard some random probs w/ other boards w/ some fan headers not working, the same one for 90% of users. Can't remember which one, just making sure. whoo sweet, thanks for the info.
 
J

jazmann

Member
Mar 24, 2005
44
0
0
Since this apears to be the official 9npa post, i'd like to post a problem i'm having. I have had a problem getting this board to connect to the net. I no longer have the disk that came with the board. I've spent hours on the phone with my isp with no resolution. The drivers at epox site might work if i knew how to install them. I was able to get my winxp to finally see the nforce but for some reason it will still not connect. I would like to reinstall the drivers for this board, but am not sure where to start. Could someone who knows guide me through driver reinstall from the drivers obtainable from epox.com. I will even paypal some money to you. I'm at my wits end with this first build. Thanks for looking at this post and not calling me an idiot. I've done that to myself over this time and time again.
 
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sgtdic

Member
Jul 17, 2005
139
0
0
i take it you havent read through this thread. first thing i would do if you havent is uninstall the nvidia activearmor and firewall from the add/remove programs. then reboot and it should connect.

or you could try typing this from your command prompt: ipconfig /release , then type in ipconfig /renew after having hit enter after the first one. if you have a driver all you do is double click the .exe file and it will install it.
 
J

jazmann

Member
Mar 24, 2005
44
0
0
Thank you for replying so quickly. I looked through the add/remove and could not find activearmour or the firewall, i know the firewall is there as i disabled it while in a 4 hour attempt with verizon to resolve this problem. Ipconfig /release renew was tried multiple times as well with no success. I am able to d/l zips from epox. Which ones would i need to do a complete reinstall of my nforce ethernet controller, the support at epox.com is a bit confusing.
 
J

jazmann

Member
Mar 24, 2005
44
0
0
It worked! I'm able to connect to the net, now. Thank you for that. Now I just need to figure out why I get the "unable to start 3d acceleration" message. I'll search the boards for a solution. Thanks, again sgtdic.

Edit:
Well, i figured it might have been an older bios problem, so i got the latest bios from epox. Still no luck. I have the latest drivers from Nvidia for my 6800gt. Every time i try to start World of warcrack, I get the "unable to start 3d acceleration" msg. I installed directX 9.0c as well.
 
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sgtdic

Member
Jul 17, 2005
139
0
0
your welcome jazmann.

i need a reply pretty quick. i just ordered a second 2 x 512 kit for this board to make it 2 Gig. do you think i will be fine or what? i hear skepticism about 4 x 512. help please.
thanks
 
F

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
5,908
19
81
Its the same mobo man. They just moved the atx power connectors slightly. Removed firewire and round cables and some accessories and knocked $15 off the price. So if you didnt need firewire and accessories, might as well get the 9npa3ultra. It does have better atx power position. The one the 9npa+ultra "might" be a problem for certain cases and/or heatsinks.
 
B

BOLt

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2004
7,380
0
0
Originally posted by: modempower
Its the same mobo man. They just moved the atx power connectors slightly. Removed firewire and round cables and some accessories and knocked $15 off the price. So if you didnt need firewire and accessories, might as well get the 9npa3ultra. It does have better atx power position. The one the 9npa+ultra "might" be a problem for certain cases and/or heatsinks.
Click to expand...

There are no overclocking differences or changes to the chipset design or performance? Hmm. Well, the EP-9NPA+Ultra has been great to me. Maybe I can sell it and get the EP-9NP3ULTRA to make some money on the side. I don't need FireWire, so maybe I should just look to the EP-9NP3ULTRA for a better fit.
 
B

boeki

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2006
19
0
0
@sgtdic

you'd have to set command rate to 2t. i think only the dfi sli dr-expert are the only ones who can handle 4 sticks at the same time and that is only if you're using the right kind of rams.
 
M

Manuwell

Senior member
Jan 19, 2006
900
0
71
This is my current 2 variables equation: Mobo + Cpu = $350 Max

These are my options:

Mobo's => EP-9NPA3 Ultra $86.50 shipped from ZZF OR EP-9NPA+ Ultra $98.00 shipped from ZZF (sorry Newegg; I live in NJ and tax/ship. kills it)

CPU's => $350 - $98.50 (at the most) = $251.5. What would I get to fit in one of the two Epox (I don't know why, but I love Epox)

All suggestion/advice highly welcome.
 
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