New Epox 8K7A+ questions..Need answers

[killmeplease]

I just upgraded a bunch of stuff in my rig. Namely, the CD, the m/b, RAM, CPU and added a DVD. Maybe somebody could answer a couple questions or give me some ideas.

Questions:

1. Occasionally, my mouse jumps around when I move it as if the system hangs for a second or the screen is refreshing. I've checked all the things that are running, and I have nothing new from before running in the OS(W2K) or otherwise.

2. Should I have the "external cache" enabled in the BIOS?

3. What is the "spread spectrum modulate" option in the "Frequency and Voltage" portion of my BIOS? Should I have it enabled or disabled?

This is the before and after upgrades. A full listing of my rig is in my sig.

Before: Abit KT7a RAID, 1.2 T-bird/200, 512 Crucial PC133 CAS2

After: Epox 8K7A+ RAID, 1.4 T-Bird, 512 Corsair PC2400 CAS2

Everything is at spec. No OC yet. All temps are under 100F according to a digital Doc 5, except the Vid core on a GF2 GTS(114F)

Any help the forum gurus(or otherwise) can give is appreciated.

 

[Alkaline5]

Yes, you should have the external (L2) cache enabled. That's very important, and may even get your mouse problem fixed. And leave spread spectrum disabled. I don't know what it does, but it supposedly eats resources.

 

[killmeplease]

The external is enabled now. It hasn't helped that problem either way. I'll go back and disable the "spread spectrum".

I don't know if it matters, but it sure takes longer to boot up now. It's the same RAID 0 config witha fresh reformat and install(twice).

 

[Insane3D]

This is caused by the drivers for the onboard Highpoint controller. Go to the link below and download the 1.03B Win2K drivers and that will solve your problem. Or, if you are not using those IDE ports (yellow), you can just disable it in the bios.

Highpoint Drivers

 

[andalas]

the spread spectrum is to decrease EMS , so unless you got any EMS problem disabling it will make you system faster and more stable.

you could check the win2k event viewer and see if there are any error msg about your machine. I use 8K7A+ and got a tons of highpoint error. I switch the driver to previous version before the latest one and the problem gone.

 

[killmeplease]

I AM using the RAID controller. I loaded the HPT 370 1.11.0512 drivers when I reinstalled. Are these just crap drivers? Are the older 1.0.3b drivers better?

Edit: I think andalas just answered my question.

 

[killmeplease]

OK.......Maybe another stupid question..........

In my device manager it lists "Highpoint RCM device" and "HPT 370 UDMA/ATA RAID controller". For which am I loading the driver?

 

[killmeplease]

Bump.............................I installed the driver for the "HPT 370 UDMA/ATA RAID controller". No change.

Do I have to do the "Highpoint RCM device" drivers from the same file too?

 

[andalas]

<< Bump.............................I installed the driver for the "HPT 370 UDMA/ATA RAID controller". No change.

Do I have to do the "Highpoint RCM device" drivers from the same file too? >>



I only update the HPT driver.
I don't know about those RCM (maybe it stands for RAID Control Manager).
I only use the Controller as IDE Controller.

 

[John]

<< Are the older 1.0.3b drivers better? >>



Yes they are. I had similar issues like you had, plus sound stutters until I loaded the 1.03 raid drivers. Get them from the URL Insane3d posted. You need to update both the RCM & the raid controller. Just go to the device manager and run the "update driver" wizard.

 

[killmeplease]

Loaded the 1.03b drivers in the RCM and......................Cured! No problem with the mouse!

It still takes a bit longer to boot than before the upgrade, but the 1.03b drivers have shaved about 15 seconds or so off the time.

Thanx to all.