Help / Opinions wanted: 9NPA+Ultra motherboard & video issue

[N437D]

I noticed that since I built this game machine many moons ago, it has always been "slow" on the video side compared to my other stock machines around the house.

Epox 9NPA+Utra 200 Mhz bus
AMD 64 3800 dual core, 2Ghz
2 Gb DDR Ram PC3200 400mhz
EVGA 7800GT

Nvidia 4 drivers have been updated.
Realtek unloaded, Nvidia audio in place of
BIOS has not been updated yet (8/4/05 BIOS).
Nothing is overclocked in this machine yet.

The issue is that the pixels /sec rate has always been very slow. After reading various forums, I believe the onboard sound is causing the bottleneck. I see 60 mil pixel/sec compared to 180+ on my other slower machines. pcpitstop and 3Dmark both confirm slow speed.

My questions are:
1) What should I look at first, steps, etc.?
2) How do I completely disable onboard sound & go with sound blaster PCI card?

Thanks.

 

[MadScientist]

I have a very similar system to yours. You didn't post your OS so I'm assuming it's Win XP.
1. You stated you have updated your nforce4 ultra drivers. make sure they are the latest, V6.86. Do not install the nvidia audio drivers or NAM (nvidia's network management). nforce4 utra nvidia drivers V6.86
2. Download and install the latest Realtek audio drivers. Realtek AC'97 audio drivers A4.04
3. Download and install the latest nvidia video drivers. nvidia forceware video drivers V169.21
4. Download and install the AMD Dual Core Optimizer. AMD Dual Core Optimizer
5. Your current bios supports dual core CPUs, if you want to flash to the latest bios you can do it in Windows with Epox's Magic Bios software, or (recommended) in DOS. The last bios for this MB is not on Epox's US site and their Global site is down (Epox is out of business), but you can download it here: Bios V9npa6811, 8/11/06 If you flash to the latest bios enable onboard sound in the bios.
6. Try overclocking your CPU. You should be able to do 2.4 Ghz with a slight increase in vcore. Read Zebo's OC Guide

Epox 9NPA+Ultra
Opteron 170 @ 2.7 Ghz
2 GB Crucial Ballistix DDR PC3200
EVGA 7800GT

 

[N437D]

Thanks Mad for all the information. I'll get started on that.

Yes, the OS is Win XP pro, but not 64.

I've never un-installed a driver. Do you just install over it? I've always understood that drivers must be deleted out of the code through regedit and through system properties.

Also, How do you flash BIOS if you don't have a floppy??? CD's I have and I can boot to a CD, but again something I've never done before.

Thanks again for the great info.

 

[N437D]

I updated the BIOS and rebooted. In the first boot I entered the CMOS and changed the boot device order and then saved and exited. It has not booted up since.

I get the FF on the readout so I know that the motherboard is good. I didn't change anything else. Ughhh...

I guess I need to clear the CMOS now?

 

[MadScientist]

FF on the LED readout is a good sign, means that everything checks out and it's ready to post. Do you get anything on your monitor when it boots to FF?

How did you flash your bios? Bootable CD or the Magic Bios software? I've used the Magic Bios software in Win XP with no problems, but you have to take precautions first, i.e., closing down all apps. I should have mentioned this. That's why I recommended flashing in DOS. A friend of mine with the same MB used the Magic Bios software and it borked his OS.

If you can get back into the bios then "Load Optimized Defaults", hit F10 and Y. If this does not work than clear your CMOS, see your manual on how to. Hopefully you did not corrupt your OS with the bios flash.

I uninstall old drivers first before installing new ones. First download all the new drivers. In Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs you can uninstall the nvidia drivers. Click on Nvidia Drivers, then Change/Remove. You can then selectively choose which Nvidia drivers to uninstall. If you have the latest Nforce4 ultra drivers V6.86 then choose only to uninstall audio, network management, and display drivers. You will then only have to install the new nvidia display (video) drivers and the Realtek audio drivers.
When you load the new Realtek audio drivers it will uninstall any old Realtek drivers before installing the new ones.

 

[N437D]

Thanks again Mad.
I flashed in DOS. I hooked up a spare floopy drive I had in the parts box. Finding the floppy was a bit harder...DOH.

I cleared the CMOS and it booted up just fine. I didn't delete the drivers prior to the BIOS update, but that did seem to clear the drivers since the machine started finding all the equipment as new.

I then installed Realtek drivers, but not the Audio Panel. Followed by installing Nvidia4 6.86 (less audio and network mgr).

I will check the control panel for any items that may still be there and delete them. Thank you for the instructions on how to delete the drivers.

I didn't get to work on the machine last night, so I'm at the overclocking stage (learning experience) now.

N437D

 

[MadScientist]

Good to hear your OS is still intact. There is a large thread here on this MB. Link. Might find some useful tips there but it's a long read.
Good luck oc'ing.

And don't forget to install the AMD Dual Core Optimizer.

 

[N437D]

Thank again Mad. I did install the AMD dual core optimizer while doing all the above.

It took me a while to figure out what & where the "FSB" was in the BIOS (HT freq). It wasn't until I loaded CPU-Z and saw what the system was saying that I figured out the over clocking.

I found that the board cold take 323Mhz before the lock up.
The CPU did 2.74 at the last lockup. 95% puts me at 2.47 Ghz.
I have not ran the memory yet to see what it can handle (patriot 3200DDR 400mhz) 2 Gb

The CPU is @ 2.4 Ghz and 1.51V
Memory now at 166Mhz to get 200mhz on it @2.9V

My other machine felt it was being neglected so it aparently got a virus on the last windows update and I have spent the last 4-5 days rebuilding it. It's got a Epox 8KHA and a AMD 1.2Ghz thunderbird. Time to hot rod it up next.

N437D "the only way to fly"