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

[tjpark1111]

any other probs other than the firewall in the nvidia drivers? I remember reading in this thread there was a prob with the IDE/SATA drivers too...

 

[sgtdic]

i think the ide driver is updated now, but it did cause me major pains with corrupted downloads and messed up burnt cds. just a forewarning if you get these probs, this might be why. i reinstalled it today, but havent downloaded/burnt anything.

 

[Mem]

any other probs other than the firewall in the nvidia drivers? I remember reading in this thread there was a prob with the IDE/SATA drivers too...

Only problem you might get is slow bootup with NCQ enabled if you use SATA HD with Nvidia SW IDE driver,I just use the Nvidia SW IDE driver with NCQ disabled,never had any problems in the last 4 months of use with the Nvidia SW IDE driver.

 

[RideFree]

In case you were wondering why some things have been sooo slooow at EPoX, lately...

Second-tier motherboard maker Epox Computer was under investigation for alleged involvement in fraudulent transactions and embezzlement of the company's funds, according to sources at the Prosecutors Office in Panchiao City, northern Taiwan. Officials of the Prosecutors Office on March 15 raided Epox for evidence and also summoned company chairman Steve Hsiao to report the company's transactions with its overseas subsidiary, E-Kong, the Chinese-language Economic Daily News reported today.

DigiTimes

 

[sgtdic]

you mean like how they havent released a bios (like that beta) since jan. 3? yeah

does anyone know if disabling the primary ide slave channel cause a performance hit or anything? ex. just leaving the hdd hooked up to the master. i figure if youre not using any or all the other channels y not disable them right?
thanks

 

[RideFree]

Of course, there is the issue that it's still BETA.
And yes, even that had to be pried out of them. The problems it solved for many go back over half a year.

Edited: Yes, you can disable any of the IDE configurations without any problems. I've done about every combo that I can think of as I have made the switch over to SATA.

 

[sgtdic]

thanks ridefree

im still trying to figure out why my system freezes, sound loops, and i get disconnected from a bf2 server when i hit the join game button. its baffled every one i know. it usually only happens after a reboot but works when i load the map again. its just so frustrating. i emailed ea support today but i doubt they will have a legitimate answer for me. i have reinstalled the game, drivers, and a few other things like trying my onboard sound with no luck.

 

[RideFree]

I know nothing about games but what you describe sounds exactly like an IRQ conflict.

 

[sgtdic]

yeah i already checked that. i thought that was the case, but now im not using all of them nor are any sharing.

 

[swamyg1]

Do you think downloading the beta bios (9npa6209.bin) from here is a good idea?

http://www.lejabeach.com/Epox/9npapultra/9npapubios.html

Does anybody have a link to a legit beta release? Thanks.

 

[IlluminiX]

swamyg1 - I actually uploaded that Beta Bios to the site's moderator, and he verified its integrity, so it is fully legit. I know why you might be hesitant because it's not from an Epox site or person, but you can download a program called "modbin6" and open the Bios before you flash to see. If you are unsure of whether you need the Bios, then that's a different issue. Don't bother unless your system freezes up when you have high-speed USB 2.0 devices (wireless adapters or HD's) plugged in. Epox seems to have fallen asleep over there in Taiwan because they released the Beta Bios over a month ago, but have not released a Final version for whatever reason.

IlluminiX

 

[RideFree]

For what it is worth, i have the SLI version posted.
I only got around to installing it about a week ago, although I've had it available for a month or two waiting for the "final" if any.
If you notice about a dozen posts ago or so, it may explain why things are apparently "backed-up" at EPoX.

 

[swamyg1]

I'm not having any problems at all since I put in a PCI usb card... I need it for the additional ports too... but my last bios is from September, do you think there is anything I'm missing that I could probably use in the newer bios?

Thanks

 

[RideFree]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

 

[sgtdic]

i have a couple issues, maybe someone can help. something with my ram config. i now have 4 x 512. when i run 3dmark i get a lower score than i did with 2 x 512. why is that? is there something i need to change?

second, when i try to run memtest, it gives me this message: Your version of Windows limits the amount of RAM a single program can allocate. You will need to run two copies of Memtest, and tell each to test 846 MB of RAM. why cant it test all of it together? whats the deal? i have ran two and they tested fine. also, my timings are all the same with 4 as i had with the 2. i dont see any advantage, but atleast my bf2 freezing went away somehow.
thanks for any advice.

 

[Mem]

second, when i try to run memtest, it gives me this message: Your version of Windows limits the amount of RAM a single program can allocate. You will need to run two copies of Memtest, and tell each to test 846 MB of RAM.

sgtdic:
You using Memtest86 or Memtest86+?...I suggest the latter,version 1.65 is the latest I believe .

 

[sgtdic]

i have the regular memtest86. i found the + but it is a .iso. im not familiar with the use of it. do you have a link to the program itself, to run from the desktop?

 

[Mem]

Link for Memtest86+

Download it,there is a readme file included on how to use it.

I suggest the v1.65 pre compiled bootable ones,either floppy or cd ISO version.

 

[sgtdic]

still dont get it. and there is no readme file(other than an unknown file type). y cant it just be easy.

 

[Mem]

read below,

Windows Installation

For windows installation begin by downloading either the Pre-Compiled Windows package to build a boot-able floppy disk or an ISO (zip version) to create a boot-able CDROM. After the file is downloaded an extract must be done to uncompress the file(s). To extract right click on the downloaded file and select the "Extract All" option. The extract option will let you choose where the files will be extracted to. To build a bootable floppy go the the folder where the files were extracted and click on the Install icon. The floppy disk will appear to be unformatted by Windows after the install is complete.

To build a boot-able CDROM use your CD burning software to create an image from the un-zipped ISO file.

Since Memtest86 is a standalone program it does not require any operating system support for execution. It can be used with any PC regardless of what operating system, if any, is installed. The test image may be loaded from a floppy disk or may be loaded via LILO on Linux systems. Any Unix, Windows or DOS system may be used to create a boot floppy or bootable CDROM

 

[Mem]

Taken from the readme file.(one I posted above is for memtest86 but very similar to this one).

How do I get it to run?

There are several ways to use memtest, which are described below:

+ Run from floppydisk

Memtest86+ is directly executable by any modern x86 compatible machine, by
writing the bootable binary to a floppy disk one can boot from the disk to
run memtest.

Simply download the appropriate package, the Pre-Compiled Bootable Binary
(.gz) package for Linux users and the Pre-Compiled package for Floppy (DOS
- Win) for Windows users.

For Windows, unzip the package into a directory like C:\memtest, insert a
blank floppy into your a: disk drive and run the install.bat file. As the
install prompts you, to use memtest directly, leave the disk in the drive
and reboot your machine.

For Linux, unpack the package into your home directory, insert a blank
floppy into your floppy drive and execute 'dd if=~/memtest+-1.xx.bin.gz
of=/dev/fd0 conv=osync' replacing 1.xx with the correct version number of
the memtest86+ you downloaded. To run memtest immediately reboot your
machine.

Your machine should now boot from the disk, display the word Loading
folowed by a series of periods and then show a screen much like the
screenshots on the memtest86+ web page. The test is automatically started.

If your machine simply boots back into Windows/Linux you will most likely
have to configure your BIOS to attempt to boot from floppy disk on
startup, refer to your computer's/mainboard's manual how to do this.

When you are done testing simply remove the floppy and reset your
computer, if ever you want to execure the test again simply reinsert the
disk and reboot/start your computer.

+ Run from CD

Memtest86+ is directly executable by any modern x86 compatible machine, by
writing the iso to a CD one can boot from the CD to run memtest.

Simply download the appropriate package, the Download - Pre-Compiled
Bootable ISO (.gz) for Linux users and the Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO
(.zip) for Windows users.

For Windows, unzip the package into a directory like C:\memtest. You will
now see a file called memtest86+-1.xx.iso in this directory. You will need
to burn this file to a CD with a CD recording program. Do note however
that you should not make a regular data CD on which you for instance write
your text documents and holiday photographs. Instead the iso file is a so
called image of a CD, it is a direct copy of a CD. Your CD recording
program will most likely have a feature called burn image or something to
that effect which you should use to burn the CD.

For linux, unzip the package into your home directory. and execute
'cdrecord dev=<your burner> ~/memtest86+-1.xx.iso' where you replace <your
burner> with the scsi address of your CD burner and replace 1.xx with the
correct version number of the memtest86+ your downloaded.

When the burning completed your drive will most likely have ejected the CD
and you should have a bootable memtest86+ CD. To run the test directly
reinsert the CD and reboot your machine.

Your machine should now boot from the CD, display the word Loading folowed
by a series of periods and then show a screen much like the screenshots on
the memtest86+ web page. The test is automatically started.

If your machine simply boots back into Windows/Linux you will most likely
have to configure your BIOS to attempt to boot from CD-ROM drive on
startup, refer to your computer's/mainboard's manual how to do this.

When you are done testing simply remove the CD and reset your computer, if
ever you want to execure the test again simply reinsert the CD and
reboot/start your computer.

 

[RobbyG]

Originally posted by: sgtdic
i have a couple issues, maybe someone can help. something with my ram config. i now have 4 x 512. when i run 3dmark i get a lower score than i did with 2 x 512. why is that? is there something i need to change?

second, when i try to run memtest, it gives me this message: Your version of Windows limits the amount of RAM a single program can allocate. You will need to run two copies of Memtest, and tell each to test 846 MB of RAM. why cant it test all of it together? whats the deal? i have ran two and they tested fine. also, my timings are all the same with 4 as i had with the 2. i dont see any advantage, but atleast my bf2 freezing went away somehow.
thanks for any advice.

When you run 4 slots of memory it changes the Command Rate to 2T (from 1T with 2) which could explain why your 3DMark is slower. You should also check your memory timings because they might have changed when you added the new sticks. If you are using the AUTO setting it will use the SPD values from the slowest stick, so if the memory you added is rated lower than the ones you had, that would also explain why your 3D Mark is slower.

For the Memtest issue, it sounds like you are using Memtest for Windows and have 2GB of memory, so yes what it is telling you is true, the program cannot allocate a large enough block of memory to test so you have to run 2 copies. If you have Prime95 you can run it and then go into Task Manager and see that it is not testing all of your available RAM either. Just follow what Memtest is saying and run 2 copies if you want to test all of your available memory.

Good luck.

 

[sixth]

I have another issue with this board, everything esle has been steller, (bios finally fixed USB issues with my X2!), my chipset fan on my motherboard has DIED. I tried contacting Epox but i had nothing returned, can anyone recommend a replacement fan? I looked on newegg and i couldnt find ANYTHING worth the replacement. What do you guys recommend? I called epox three times, and sent two emails, no response. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[gfngfgf]

sixth: I've got a zalman nb47j on my chipset. It feels hot to the touch and doesn't feel very secure, but it works fine (haven't had any crashes which I can trace to chipset overheating). You might have issues if you've got a big video card cooler, since the zalman is pretty tall, but then I seem to remember people in this thread saying they haven't had problems.

 

[LZ1GJD]

Hello, I am having a weird issue with my config and would like you suggest a solution to it.

The problem is that I can not get the 2 banks of 512mb SuperT CL2 memory to run at 1T, not even at SPD (2 3 3 6 @ 200Mhz). When I test with PC Mark 04/05 at the memory write test 8MB or 16MB the system locks-up or I get a BSOD. When I set timings to 2T or use only one of the sticks, the system passess the test without any problem.