Is Epox out of Favor? Suggestions

[l333]

I have two machines - wish to upgrade one. The one I am keeping is the Epox 8RDA+ - Rev 1.1. I built a system around on it with one of those unlocked Athlon 2100 about a year ago purchased from newegg. Made 1 FSB change and have been running at 2.17 ghz ever since - rock solid. I love the board. I bought it because at the time Anandtechers thought it was one great overclocking board - it was.

But now I am ready to buy a new board and notice that Epox is no longer one of the top 5 threads - only Asus and Abit. I have another Athlon 2100 from Newegg that should overclock easily and want to be able to replicate my success with the old Epox.

So - I need to buy another board - I love the old 8RDA+ but of course it is last generation. The successor appears to be 8RDA3+. But I don't really need SATA or Raid.

So my questions are as follows:

1. Is Epox out of favor as an overclocking board - does the 8RDA3+ not have the easy overclocking features I have in my old 8RDA+?

2. If the Epox is out of favor and no longer a good overclocker - do you have recommendations {I don't need RAID or SATA}.

I have seen good things written about the DFI ULTRA Infinity {but it is expensive}.
Also the Albatron KX18D Pro I am considering {which is inexpensive but seems good value}.

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks

 

[huesmann]

Why don't you look here?

 

[ProviaFan]

I had an Epox 8RDA (the non-plus model) which worked great... while it lasted. When it died (perhaps due to bad capacitors, but I couldn't really see any outward symptoms on the caps themselves), I replaced it with an Abit NF7-S, because Abit supposedly uses better capacitors, and I wanted a board that would be of a lasting quality. Who knows, maybe another Epox board would have lasted longer this time, but I didn't want to be a guinea pig a second time.

Note that the NF7-S is a fine board, but is overspeced for what you need. If you do want to move away from Epox and would like an Abit, the plain NF7 would probably be a better (and cheaper) choice.

 

[EPoXTech]

l333

EPoX is very much in game and we have new products coming out soon.

Check this out:
http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?id=EP-8KDA3plus

 

[Megatomic]

EPoXTech, I was really disappointed with EPoX's offerings after the 8RDA+. I waited and waited for an NF2 400 Ultra with MCP-T but it never came. Hence the NF7-S Rev. 2.0 in my sig.

Does EPoX have plans to release an NF3-250Gb Ultra Socket 939 with an excellent onboard sound solution to replace my beloved SoundStorm? I'm talking all the bells and whistles here....

Thanks for any info sir (by the way, the 8RDA+ I had was awesome and I'm just looking for an excuse to return to EPoX).

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
EPoXTech, I was really disappointed with EPoX's offerings after the 8RDA+. I waited and waited for an NF2 400 Ultra with MCP-T but it never came. Hence the NF7-S Rev. 2.0 in my sig.

Does EPoX have plans to release an NF3-250Gb Ultra Socket 939 with an excellent onboard sound solution to replace my beloved SoundStorm? I'm talking all the bells and whistles here....

Thanks for any info sir (by the way, the 8RDA+ I had was awesome and I'm just looking for an excuse to return to EPoX).

How about ANY chipset, since the mem controller is on the cpu now, that has agp and pci lock WITH a great onboard sound card LIKE Via's Envy sound.

I got a Albatron 754 socket board because it has the VIA envy sound chip AND has good oevrcloking settings that a lot of other board don't.

The board I get for a 939 setup WILL have AGP/PCI lock, great overclocking, and a GREAT soundcard (like VIA envy, etc..)

 

[Megatomic]

I agree, PCI/AGP lock is a MUST have. A full featured Via ENVY would be nice, not a neutered chip either.

 

[EPoXTech]

Megatomic

Yes, 939 are in the works. Our first NF3 is the 8KDA3+ using Socket 754. It has many features.

SerialATA RAID, USB 2.0, GbE LAN, 8-channel audio, debug LED.

 

[Megatomic]

Thanks for the reply EPoXTech. Can you confirm a working PCI/AGP lock at this time? If so, I might forego the wait for Socket 939 and get a Socket 754 setup using the 8KDA3+. I'm getting tired of waiting for Socket 939.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: EPoXTech
Megatomic

Yes, 939 are in the works. Our first NF3 is the 8KDA3+ using Socket 754. It has many features.

SerialATA RAID, USB 2.0, GbE LAN, 8-channel audio, debug LED.

By "8-channel audio" do you mean the Realtek 850 AC97 sound codec? If so then that does not impress me at all.
Sorry but when I see realtek as the sound, I move on to the next board. You might want to pass that along to the devolpers, as I know I am not the only one that feals that way.


I have no problem paying a little more IF I get something that is worth it.

example:
Look at the Albatron K8X800 Pro II
It can be had for less then $120, has VIA Envy sound, giga ethernet, firewire, plenty of ports(optical in AND out, usb ports, etc...), and so on. That to me offers a LOT for not much money and it has a pile of overclock features that I use on my Athlon64 system.
That is kinda what I will be looking for when I buy a socket 939 and/or 754 board.
Thanks

 

[DAPUNISHER]

While you're at it EPoXTech, please tell them we want a sleek black PCB too!

 

[cowdog]

My 8RDA+ is still one of my favorite boards. It was rock solid for me. The fact that ET actually posts here and elsewhere is a nice bonus, one that I took for granted for awhile. So when might we actually see the 8KDA3+ available?

And, goodness yes, please listen to Dapunisher!! I have a window on my case with lights...

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: cowdog
My 8RDA+ is still one of my favorite boards. It was rock solid for me. The fact that ET actually posts here and elsewhere is a nice bonus, one that I took for granted for awhile.

I agree completely. It is very kind of EPoXTech to post here.

 

[zodder]

I'm not sure if this is the same EPoXTech that posted on amdmb.com, but it sure is nice to have OEM techs helping with support issues.

 

[EPoXTech]

Marlin1975
The audio is: Realtek ALC850 selectable 2 or 8-CH audio CODEC with SPDIF
Sorry you don't like Realtek. Its a very common chip used for integrated audio these days. But I cannot say what future boards may use.

DAPUNISHER
Ok, will do. But the standard green has been our color for years.

cowdog
End of month.

Megatomic
Thanks!

zodder
Yes, the one and same.
See my list of visited sites here: http://www.epox.com/USA/article.asp?ID=1635

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: EPoXTech
Marlin1975
The audio is: Realtek ALC850 selectable 2 or 8-CH audio CODEC with SPDIF
Sorry you don't like Realtek. Its a very common chip used for integrated audio these days. But I cannot say what future boards may use.

DAPUNISHER
Ok, will do. But the standard green has been our color for years.

cowdog
End of month.

Megatomic
Thanks!

zodder
Yes, the one and same.
See my list of visited sites here: http://www.epox.com/USA/article.asp?ID=1635

Oh I agree it is very common, you noticed how I knew what chip you were talking about with out you telling me, and that is the problem. One of the things motherboard makers are having problems with is making THEIR product stand out in the crowd. And by continuing to use realtek sound the Epox board, like a lot of others, will either get over looked or people will only judge them on price, and as someone with a business degree that is not how you want to have a product sell. It hurts your bottom line and will also hurt your image.

But I do hope " future boards " from Epox will fix this. I have owned a Epox board and it was great so I am not anti-Epox by any means. I consider Epox a great company, but they are missing the BIG picture.

Thanks