New BIOS for Epox 8K7A

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
Okay, I've got a new BIOS for the Epox 8K7A board here - don't know if it supports the RAID version too, but I guess it does.

This version (1607) allows you to clock the FSB up to 250MHz!!! This is clearly insane, as any devices on the PCI clock will probably leap out of the window, but it gives you a bit more legroom above 166 if you want to push at the limits.

And before you ask, no - it DOESN'T solve the softbooting problem. So if you're overclocking, be prepared to sit there for a while holding that power button in to get the bloody thing to switch off.

Download it by clicking here.

To install, copy the files in the .ZIP to a bootable floppy, then during boot hold down ALT-F2 to start the autoupdater.

Remember, flashing the BIOS is a little risky - make sure you back everything up (I usually remove my harddrives when I do it, then my data at least is safe). If you're particularly timid, get a spare BIOS chip.
 
P

plantboydude

Member
Apr 25, 2001
79
0
0
Check my post it tells u the Fixes.
You beet me to it.

Edit: Where did you get this version from, as it is not the same version that Epox sent me
 
B

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
0
0
Strange about the 8K7A Bios. The 5-21 flavor was on the Taiwan site for a few days then yanked. I never saw it on the US site but some people said it was there for a day or so. Kinda scary.
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
Well... yes - it is kinda worrying when BIOS updates get pulled, but this one seems fine to me - and just having the ability to overclock to 250MHz, no matter how absurd that is, is pretty cool. 500MHz RAM???

I may try removing all my PCI devices and seeing how far I can push this bitch... I'm sure they'll die long before the RAM or CPU BUS does - but I don't particularly want to fry the memory. Ach.
 
M

Mungla

Senior member
Dec 23, 2000
843
0
71
Before I go and update to this bios version, I need to ask a question. Will this BIOS allow me to adjust the I/O or AGP voltage? My Leadtek GF2 Ultra will not run 3d apps at anything over 135fsb, I think a small voltage increase will fix this problem thou.
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
No, it won't, sorry.

For everyone interested, I got my FSB up to 207, after removing damn near everything from inside. I had to pump up the juice on the memory to levels that are a bit risky, but it was okay. Now running stable at 150x10. I just wish I could do something about the PCI divider, to pump up that FSB again.
 
M

Mungla

Senior member
Dec 23, 2000
843
0
71
Good grief Idaho, that's insane. Were you able to run your video card at that speed? Wonder what Sandra would read at those speeds. ;)
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
Heh - like I say - it POSTs at that speed, but that's literally all - once it gets to the screen displaying the system config, it freezed for about 5 seconds, and then restarted. I decided at that point to switch off, clear the CMOS and then plug my devices back in. While I'm a happy overclocker and willing to push my rig to the limit - there is a point when the cold light of day filters in through the windows, and I suddenly remember the ratio between my salary and the amount I paid for my PC. About then I decide I'd rather have a working machine ;)

As for my video card, it displays boot info, sure - I was only running it at AGP 2x, which may have helped it cope, I've no idea really. Actually, I hadn't really considered the possible damage to the display card... and when you mentioned it, I broke out into a cold sweat... thank you Creative Labs for making tough little bitches.

I really really do NOT recommend doing this kind of thing, anyone. It's a very very bad idea. You have to be sick. Or British (I happily fall into BOTH categories :)
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
RE: Power supply - I don't know the make, actually, but I've got a 400w guarenteed server class PSU from this corporate network installation company nearby. It's a big heavy bastard, and I'm using the air coming out of it's fans to power my oven.
 
M

Mungla

Senior member
Dec 23, 2000
843
0
71
When you said "I'm running my video card at only 2x", I haven't noticed any difference between 2x and 4x on my GF2 Ultra. My Leadtek will not run 3D apps when I up the fsb any higher than 133MHz. In order for it to become stable at 133+fsb, I have to back the AGP speed down to 2x. I still get 4200 3dmarks in 2001. I wish the Epox would allow me to up the I/O or AGP voltage.
 
D

Doomguy

Platinum Member
May 28, 2000
2,389
1
81
The 1521 actually wasent on the taiwan site. It showed up their under the 8k7a section but when you download it, its a bios for the 8kha! They fixed it awhile ago.
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
All right Doomguy - I'll do a 3dmark for ya - I don't have any other benchmarks (but I do have an e-mail address, hint hint :p)
 
P

pbehrens

Junior Member
May 28, 2001
17
0
0


<< And before you ask, no - it DOESN'T solve the softbooting problem. So if you're overclocking, be prepared to sit there for a while holding that power button in to get the bloody thing to switch off. >>



Could this be the problem that I'm having with restarting my computer? When I choose Shut DOwn, Restart in Win2K SP2, it shuts down properly but never restarts. The screen just stays blank.

Also, when I choose SHut Down, it shuts off properly and all the lights go off on the motherboard. But then when I push power to turn it back on, it goes straight to &quot;FF&quot; on the board and the screen just stays blank. THen if I push &quot;reset&quot; button on the front, it goes through the codes and starts up OK.

I don't know how to fix this. I have everything hooked up right i'm sure, I folloed the manual exact.

Thanks for you helping me!!!
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
pbehrens, this appears to be a currently unsolveable issue with the 8K7A - there have been several discussions in other threads about it. I've contacted Epox support but had no response as of yet.

I'm trying to find a way to fix it, I'll keep you all posted, of course.
 
F

frazzled

Senior member
Dec 7, 1999
307
0
0
pbehrens,

Do you by chance have a Netgear NIC (especially the FA311/312)? I've been following the threads about the soft reboot problem (I'm putting together an 8T7A machine this weekend :D) pretty closely. It clearly doesn't affect *everyone* or all hell would break loose, but there were several threads (sorry, didn't keep them) where folks &quot;fixed&quot; this problem by changing their NIC from Netgear. Most of them discovered this by pulling the NIC and voila, the problem went away. Simply swapping slots with the Netgear didn't help.

This may not apply to you, but I thought I might toss it out.

My $0.02.

fraz
 
I

IdahoB

Senior member
Jun 5, 2001
458
0
0
Fraz - this problem appears to affect other NICs as well - I've no idea why but there's definately a connection between the NIC and the softboot - hmm... I wonder what would happen if I disable wake-on-lan?
 
F

frazzled

Senior member
Dec 7, 1999
307
0
0
Turning off Wake-on-LAN might be worth a try. Ugh, maybe it appeared to be a netgear-specific problem because they are so popular. It's certainly my favorite &quot;cheap&quot; NIC. Oh well, I swapped out an Intel Pro /100 to try this weekend.

One &quot;good&quot; thing is that if it is truly due to an NIC issue (as it appears) then I would think that EPOX might be able to address it in a BIOS update.

regards,

fraz
 
P

pbehrens

Junior Member
May 28, 2001
17
0
0
As a matter of fact, I *do* have a Netgear FA311 in there. I will try pulling it this afternoon and report back to you folks.
 
N

NelsonMuntz

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2001
1,827
0
0
It's interesting the discussion in here. I just built a new PC for a guy that used the Epoz 8K7A and I was having the softboot problems you guys mentioned and I have a NIC Netgear 311 in there too. So weird. I'll keep watching for new situations in this thread. Keep up the good work!!!
 
P

pbehrens

Junior Member
May 28, 2001
17
0
0
I removed the FA311 and replaced it with a Linksys LNE100TX card that I had lying around.

This fixed the problem and everything works normally/perfectly now WRT rebooting.
 
C

celeritas

Senior member
Oct 13, 1999
935
0
0
There's a 1607 BIOS? The newest one I've seen on Epox's FTP site is 1606, here. Someone please compare it to 1607. Does 1607 have the new GUI window, too? :)

BTW, my 8K7A reset problem was fixed when I swapped my Netgear NIC for a 3COM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom