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

[IlluminiX]

Hey all,

Haven't posted for awhile and felt like saying something...

Made a discovery (I think) as to why my computer was still freezing even after the USB 2.0 issue fixed BIOS, and that was because of IRQ sharing between the 3rd PCI slot filled by my TV capture card and my video card in the PCIE slot (both sharing IRQ 18). The freezings were much less often (every couple days) than with the USB issue, so I was not annoyed enough to scrap the motherboard. I was sort of limited as to where I could put the capture card because of the rather large Arctic Cooling cooler on my 7800GT, so once I decided to dump that cooler and go for the Zalman VF900 (a much better cooler anyway), I could move my TV card over to the middle PCI slot. Since then I have had no more freezings nor IRQ sharing! SOO as it turns out the freezings that I was complaining about months ago were coming from TWO sources (!!) - the USB problem and the IRQ sharing.

But I wonder if anyone uses the bottom PCI slot (and obviously everyone has a PCIE video card with this board) and DOESN'T have IRQ sharing with a regular setup of Windows where IT decides where to put the devices?? Maybe each setup of Windows varies as to what IRQ it assigns for each device, but perhaps not... I don't know. It may be that my video card and TV card just don't like sharing an IRQ, but let's say a sound card and video card are just fine sharing one. Kind of too bad if this will happen no matter what devices share because that essentially knocksout my only free PCI slot (the 3rd one). The video card cooler takes up the top, the TV card the second, and the 3rd appears to be responsible for freezings (for me at least).

Any reports on success with the use of that slot, either with IRQ sharing or without it?

Thanks!

IlluminiX

 

[sgtdic]

i guess i'm a perfect example. i recently installed a second sound card in the bottom pci slot to compare it to my other one, which i disabled. i noticed the other day that it and my vga are sharing IRQ 18. i am having no problems whatsoever though. i'd say it was because you had two video type devices on it.

 

[vsonerud]

I have just ordered an EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra board together with an AMD X2 3800+ CPU for my system upgrade.

Now I am looking for a suitable PCI-E graphics card to install on this board. Since I am planning on reusing the PSU from my old system I would like to use a graphics card with the lowest possible power consumption.

I have been adviced to buy a GeForce 7300GS card since this apparently is one of the cards with the lowest power consumption.

Because I also would like a graphics card which is passively cooled, the only 7300GS card (non-low profile) available here seems to be the Gainward GeForce 7300GS 256MB DDR2 card.

Does anyone know if this card will fit on this motherboard without problems, or have any experience to share regarding the use of this graphics card in combination with the EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra board?

 

[IlluminiX]

@sgtdic - Thanks for the reply. If it is true for everyone that the bottom PCI slot shares the IRQ with the PCIE slot, then that is strange engineering by Epox... While it is nice to know that other PCI cards won't freeze my computer (most likely), you'd think there are enough IRQ numbers out there for each individual slot on the board. Glad that someday I can try a Creative X-Fi card in that bottom slot and it shouldn't interfere with the video card, but maybe that one will since it is so powerful, I don't know.

Also, Epox finally decided to push out another BIOS version dated 8/11/06 FYI, but this one doesn't seem to do anything of great importance. Strange that this one just was released on 8-30 or 8-31 (I think), and it is dated 8/11, but I guess Epox felt bad that it hadn't released any new BIOS's for the board in FOUR months. Oh well...


BIOS FILE NAME:
9NPA6811.BIN

Boot Title:
08/11/2006 For nForce4 Chipset


Workaround :
1.fixed Maxtor diamonMax 10 HD can`t detect issue.
2.Added 'Drive strength item' and '32 Byte Granularity' item.


I see no reason to upgrade, but maybe someone has a Maxtor 10 drive...
IlluminiX

 

[Mem]

Just updated to latest BIOS ,had to reboot PC again after flash, as XP detected new hardware etc ..and asked for reboot,but no problems to report.

vsonerud: card should fit fine length wise,if it is too wide then you might lose a PCI slot as worst case scenerio.

 

[ingeborgdot]

What is the largest processor I can put on this board? Can I put an X2 4400+? I hope so or I have to get a new board.

 

[Mem]

Can I put an X2 4400+? I hope so or I have to get a new board.

Yep you can,just remember to buy Socket 939 version .


Btw more info below,

CPU Socket

* Support Socket-939 based AMD Athlon-64 / Athlon-64 FX / Athlon 64 X2 up to 4800+ with 2.0GT/s Hyper Transport

.

Link.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Where does it say that it will support up to the 4800? On their site it says 4000. That's why I ask.
Oh, I see the link.

 

[ingeborgdot]

I see the info about it taking 4800. This is for Europe. Does that make a difference? But when I go to the USA site it won't let me on. I go to the English site on world and it takes me to their main site. It says no where about the info here. It only goes to 4000. Any ideas why this is?

 

[Mem]

I see the info about it taking 4800. This is for Europe. Does that make a difference? But when I go to the USA site it won't let me on. I go to the English site on world and it takes me to their main site. It says no where about the info here. It only goes to 4000. Any ideas why this is?

USA probably have not updated their info for a long time,the board is the same regardless of country.

You can use a 4400+ or 4800+ with no problems.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Well, you would know. Great. Cause I was getting the 4400 whether I had to get a new board or not. Thanks.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Hey, since you know so much about this, will my Zalman 7000 fit over my new 4400+?

 

[Mem]

ingeborgdot:I don' know to be honest, you can ask that question in case/cooling forum.

If you do go X2 dual core remember to install the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer and AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver1.3.2.16 ,link.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Do I install that first or after installation?

 

[Mem]

ingeborgdot:After installation is fine.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Maybe a new BIOS would fix my RAM-gaming problem.

 

[imported_dareino]

Can someone tell what the latest version of the chipset driver for this exact MB? I am currently running nForce4_amd_6.70_winxp2k_international.exe..The NVIDIA website has me cornfused!!!
thxs
dareino

 

[sgtdic]

6.86 is the latest; released july 06. only the latest drivers come up on the search. if you have 6.70, what are you confused about? it shows the number at the top after you select nforce/nf4 amd/winxp, Go.

 

[imported_dareino]

Ok I got that figured....I guess cuz it showed amd/x16 intel...anyways I went ahead and used Magic Bios to install the latest mb bios and I see it also installed the chipset bios. A few issues, first of all, on boot up it nows shows the EPOX splash screen. I am able to enter the bios but I no longer see the entire boot up process ( mem check, bios ver, cpu info etc...) How do I fix that? Also once it boots to Windows, the Found HW " screen comes up looking for the Parallel ATA Controller, when I point it to the NVIDIA folder , it ask for the SRCDATA disc to be inserted? Help please
thxs
dr

 

[Mem]

on boot up it nows shows the EPOX splash screen

Go into BIOS and disable "show full screen logo show",in advanced BIOS features.


SRCDATA info I believe is in the System32 folder,if it cannot find it ,try reinstalling the Nvidia chipset drivers.

 

[imported_dareino]

ok, cool....thxs....when I updated my bios it wiped out my o/c settings....I think I got it tho.

dr

 

[Ultralight]

To follow in dareino's footsteps I need to ask some simple questions that are noobish in nature but it has been over six years since my last build so I am having to relearn things as well as learn new steps.

My new rig is only 4 months old with the 9NPA+Ultra. I want to update the Chipset. Is it simply going into the Add/Remove and unistall the Nvidia drivers and then install the latest? Are there any steps inbetween like uninstall, reboot and then install? Or can I simply uninstall and install without rebooitng?

Speaking of chipsets, I understand dareino's confusion. I downloaded the 6.7 English. But then I downloaded the 6.8 under the English (US) designation but it comes up as International. Is this normal?

Also, I need to update the BIOS. My current one is from 8/4/05. Yes, I know, it is long overdue but it has been 6 years also since I've done this and I am more then a little leery of doing it. Would you recommend using the Magic BIOS? What other steps should I be aware of? Thanks.

 

[sgtdic]

the best thing to do is remove all nvidia drivers, except display, reboot, cancel found new hardware, and install the drivers that you already downloaded. that's it; but yes, reboot is recommended.

as for the site, i haven't seen any issues. just nvidia.com, find your driver, that's it, nothing else to worry over.

i have used the magic bios every time a new one came out. just run it, check for new bios, and hit the flash button. it does it all for you while you watch and then you reboot. very easy and smooth IMO.

 

[funkrocker049]

I've had this motherboard for about 8 months now...great performance, no problems. Anyone have any tips for wire management with this board?

 

[Mem]

Would you recommend using the Magic BIOS? What other steps should I be aware of? Thanks.

I use Magic BIOS with no problems,I take 2 simple steps,one is disable AV before flashing and disable anything like MSN/Trillian,you don't want anybody trying to chat with you while it is flashing.

As to chipset drivers you can go via normal uninstall method ,but I have also tried installing over the top and that worked ok for me as well.