*** Official EPoX 8RDA/+ (nForce2) Thread ***

[AnandTech Moderator]

In an effort to make finding information about the EPoX 8RDA(+) easier for all forum members, please post and discuss your issues, problems, experiences, rants, raves and FAQs here.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[First]

Just to get things started....

Go to the nForcersHQ forums for a huge database of information on the Epox 8RDA(+)motherboard, in addition to every other nForce2 motherboard in existence. Specifically, go here for a large list of Epox 8RDA(+) reviews, in addition to just about every other nForce2 review on the net, and here for a forum completely dedicated to the Epox 8RDA(+). I even post over at nForcersHQ occasionally.

By visiting these forums you may not even have to post a single word to find what you're looking for regarding the Epox 8RDA(+).

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the AOA forums is yet another great web site full of information on the Epox 8RDA(+). And another great web site for Epox 8RDA(+) info is 8RDA FAQ.com.

 

[mechBgon]

Right on! Here is a contribution for starters, and I will try to add other useful stuff to this post over the weekend:

G E N E R A L    I N F O R M A T I O N

• Product links, please... I wanna check out the specs, see if there is a new BIOS, download drivers or check EPoX's FAQ's
  • 8RDA non-plus
  • 8RDA+
  • y0 y0, ha><0r m3 dir3ct1y iNt0 EP°><'s FTP site
  • nVidia driver downloads
  
  
  
  8RDA, 8RDA+... what's the difference?The 8RDA+ adds these features:
  • It uses the nVidia APU (audio-processing unit) for the audio processing, and has 5.1 analog output. The 8RDA non-+ has a Realtek 6-channel audio chip.
  • It includes a rear PCI plate with an additional pair of USB 2.0 ports, for a total of six
  • It features onboard Firewire and comes with a rear PCI plate with Firewire jacks
  
  
  
  SoundStorm, CODECs... A CODEC is a CODer/DECoder. The nVidia APU outputs a digital signal. Wanna listen to a modem screeching? Didn't think so and that's why the output is put through a Realtek CODEC... to convert it to analog audio and split it to your speakers.
  
  SoundStorm is a connectivity/performance specification and you can read all about it here. If the EPoX 8RDA+ were sold with an S/PDIF digital-out jack and met nVidia's certification process, it could be labelled SoundStorm-certified. As it is, you can buy an optical S/PDIF-out for it if you want (download order form in PDF format)
  
  
  
  Reviews pleeze!
  • AnandTech's 6-Way nForce2 Shootout! Evan must still be recovering from this effort :Q

B I O S    S T U F F

• 
  What's the latest BIOS for my board?Check the product links up above, and you're one click away from the BIOS listings. UPDATE: I suggest using the 1/29 BIOS for a while. My 8RDA+ has stopped working and I've noticed several other people with similar symptoms. It looks like we were all using the 3/5/03 BIOS. :Q If you've had problems with the 3/5/03 BIOS (or any other version), EPoX needs to hear about it, so submit a report here.
  
  
  
  I wanna update my BIOS, what are my options?One possibility is to download the self-extracting .exe file containing the BIOS and the flash utility, run the .exe to extract its contents, and put the .BIN file on a blank floppy. Restart the system with this floppy in the drive and press ALT + F2 at the POST screen, then wait. The BIOS will automagically be updated from the floppy. Naturally, checking the floppy for errors would be smart.
  
  You can also try EPoX's Windows-based flash utility, found on your driver CD, or create a bootable floppy and put the AFLASH utility and .BIN file on it and do it the traditional way.
  
  
  
  I don't have the board yet but would like to see shots of the BIOS screensCheck out about the 18th post down, rb56 has posted some.
  
  
  
  
  Get me to the starting line on all these BIOS settings! Start by opening your manual to page 4-7 for reference.
  
  • Set System Performance to Expert
  • Set CPU Clock Ratio to Default if it isn't already (if you have a Thoroughbred core you can later change this setting, which is more commonly called the multiplier, without modding the CPU core, for easy overclocking. how do I tell if I've got a Tbred?)
  • Set FSB Frequency to 133MHz or 166MHz, depending which one your CPU's made for
  • Set CPU Interface to Aggressive
  • Set Memory Frequency to 100% (why not faster? My RAM can take it... )
  • Set Memory Timings to Expert and you can then specify the following four settings. NOTE: the following four recommendations are pretty relaxed timings that any respectable module ought to handle at stock speeds, but your results may vary!
  • Set T (RAS) to 6 (best not to go lower than 5 on this one)
  • Set T (RCD) to 3
  • Set T (RP) to 3
  • Set CAS Latency to 2.5
  • Disable FSB Spread Spectrum and AGP Spread Spectrum
  • Set AGP Aperture Size (MB) to 64Mb
  • Set AGP Frequency to 66MHz
  • Disable System BIOS Cacheable and Video RAM Cacheable
  • ADDENDUM: Use the default 2.63V setting for the memory modules to start with, don't use 2.5
  Once you're satisfied with the results at these conservative settings, you can begin tweaking them as you see fit. If in doubt, ask for advice
  
  
  

P H Y S I C A L    S E T U P

• 
  I want to plug my case's front-USB wiring into the extra USB header on the motherboard, anything I shoud know?Yes, be aware that Pin 10 of the motherboard's extra USB3 header is +5V, not a ground pin, unlike many other boards, so make sure to leave it vacant like EPoX's own bracket does. more info
  
  
  
  
  Can I use my Alpha PAL8045 on the 8RDA+?The upper-left mounting hole has a small surface-mounted resistor (?) below it, and you might be smart to nip off an edge of one of the Alpha's flat plastic washers to allow it to clear this resistor. When fastening or unfastening that corner in particular, it would be smart to hold the aluminum standoff with a 1/4-inch open-end wrench so the standoff remains stationary and doesn't spin the plastic washer against the fragile resistor. ***UPDATE: actually, I forgot that I nipped off a flat spot on both the upper and lower edges of my plastic washer... there are surface-mounted dealiebobs both above and below the hole.
  
  
  
  
  Anything to watch for when assembling the system?If you have a video card that reaches back to the plane of the DIMM slots, be super careful not to let it hit the memory clips :Q People have killed their Ti4600's by this means
  
  
  
  
  I'm going to use a PCI card, is there a "best" PCI slot out of the six?The fourth PCI slot from the top doesn't share its IRQ and may be the best slot for a "power" card such as a hard-disk controller or another high-activity card.
  
  
  
  
  I heard there was a problem with Corsair memory on these boards, is there a workaround?Check out MTDEW's info further on in this thread around post #57, he spells it out for you
  
  
  
  
  There's a way to boost the Vdd voltage on these motherboards, how do I do that?Check out Shimishim's post down a ways near post #30 for a way to do it without soldering

I will try to add onto this thread some more later

 

[Insane3D]

Great idea! I will add some info to this thread as well a bit later...

 

[iamme]

cool. this is my next motherboard, after i sell the PC in my sig. i'd love to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: iamme
cool. this is my next motherboard, after i sell the PC in my sig. i'd love to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly

I sold my Epox 8K3A+ yesterday, I'll be buying Monday. I have decided to buy this board.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: SeekingTao

Originally posted by: iamme
cool. this is my next motherboard, after i sell the PC in my sig. i'd love to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly

I sold my Epox 8K3A+ yesterday, I'll be buying Monday. I have decided to buy this board.

I'll will be buying one also!

 

[Bartman39]

Hope this might help also...?

Just got in a couple of the Twinmos/Twinmos (256meg w/their lable $59 ea) sticks and they will run 215fsb (100%) @ Cas 2-2-2-6 w/2.7 volts and have passed memtest with flying colors...

After upgrading from the KT266a (8kha+ which I thought was an awesome board as well) this 8RDA+ is heaven sent...

I highly recommend it...

 

[kurt454]

Just built two machines using the 8rda boards. Awesome performers. They have a few quirks though. They sometimes won't detect Western Digital ide drives without modifying your ata cable. One of mine also absolutely would not boot with an older Sony CRX160E cd burner, no matter how you set the jumpers or rearranged the order on the ide channels.

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: Bartman39
Hope this might help also...?

Just got in a couple of the Twinmos/Twinmos (256meg w/their lable $59 ea) sticks and they will run 215fsb (100%) @ Cas 2-2-2-6 w/2.7 volts and have passed memtest with flying colors...

After upgrading from the KT266a (8kha+ which I thought was an awesome board as well) this 8RDA+ is heaven sent...

I highly recommend it...

nice...i'll be doing the vdd mod on mine in a week or so. i'll keep you guys posted.

 

[Insane3D]

They sometimes won't detect Western Digital ide drives without modifying your ata cable.

This a known issue with WD, not the 8RDA+. It happens on many boards with the SE drives. If you are using a WD drive in a signle device setup, you need to remove the master/slave jumper completely.

 

[Stephan28]

Just received mine the other day (8RDA+) Now I just have to find the time to PLAY!!!

 

[cowdog]

Although many people seem to have had good results flashing the 8RDA(+) bios using other methods, I have had the best luck flashing 8RDA+ bios using a boot floppy and the awdflash.exe utility. Specifically, I like the options available by running awdflash.exe from the command line. Type awdflash /? for a list of options. Make sure you use the latest version of awdflash.exe as there were apparently some issues with an earlier version.

BTW, the latest bios is 3305 and can be found by starting here. I am currently running this bios without detectable problem.

nforcershq.com seems to be down right now. I look forward to perusing the information there. Thanks for the link.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: cowdog
Although many people seem to have had good results flashing the 8RDA(+) bios using other methods, I have had the best luck flashing 8RDA+ bios using a boot floppy and the awdflash.exe utility. Specifically, I like the options available by running awdflash.exe from the command line. Type awdflash /? for a list of options. Make sure you use the latest version of awdflash.exe as there were apparently some issues with an earlier version.

BTW, the latest bios is 3305 and can be found by starting here. I am currently running this bios without detectable problem.

nforcershq.com seems to be down right now. I look forward to perusing the information there. Thanks for the link.

That is the most common way. However, if you don't use those old floppy drives anymore, the windows based flash program, Winflash, works wonders and is quick and easy to use.

 

[MTDEW]

8RDA.com gives some good info on hardware selection & mods.
systemcooling.com has a good 8RDA Oc'ing guide for newbies.

 

[cowdog]

Thanks insane3d, I haven't tried winflash. I'll check it out. The EPoX magic flash utility never worked for me, nor did the alt-f2 method. Plus after those times when the bios bombed while trying some new OC combination, bios flashes didn't always take on the first go. Running awdflash.exe 8rda****.bin /sn/py/cc/ helped seemed to work best in those cases. Prior to that, I would just run awdflash and then select the bios next without any switches. It is funny, but I have done more bios flashes in the last month than in all my previous years owning or working at a computer. Whatever happens to the bios on the 8RDA+ during some OC forays isn't always pretty. :Q

 

[Insane3D]

Yeah, the Magic bios problem is a little cheesy. However, it uses the winflash progam to actually complete the bios flash if you update online. If you just use the Winflash utility, you can flash from any bios file, in windows, easy and quick. Obviously, you want to make sure you have a stable windows enviroment first as a crash could run your day.

 

[rb56]

Great thread to keep it all in one place. If anyone is interested I have most of the bios screens posted Here. If you see something I could set differently let me know!

rb56

 

[Megatomic]

Can we talk about the FIC AU11 here as it is designed by Epox/FIC and 99% identical? I am buying it instead of the Epox 8RDA+.

 

[Mem]

New Epox 8RDA+ review here@ClubOC .

I was very surpised by their verdict on the board.

As the board stands now, I wont be able to sleep well if I recommend it to my readers, especially to those who want a "serious" overclocking board. Sure, the overclocking potential is there, but the motherboard still needs a little work. I know all of you EPoX fans are foaming at the mouth right now, but the way things stand right now, there are far better choices in nForce2 boards. Both in value and performance.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Mem
New Epox 8RDA+ review here@ClubOC .

I was very surpised by their verdict on the board.

As the board stands now, I wont be able to sleep well if I recommend it to my readers, especially to those who want a "serious" overclocking board. Sure, the overclocking potential is there, but the motherboard still needs a little work. I know all of you EPoX fans are foaming at the mouth right now, but the way things stand right now, there are far better choices in nForce2 boards. Both in value and performance.

These guys are on crack, or got a shitty bored.

 

[SpideyCU]

I'd say the crack one is more viable. For example, the reviewer complains:

"You can tell EPoX is trying to pass on some saving to the consumer by sliming down on the extras. There are no fancy games or mega software packs."

First of all, I don't want EPoX to "slime" down on anything. Maybe I've been out of the loop, but I've *never* received "fancy games" with ANY of my motherboards. He also complains about the lack of Serial ATA, and I personally don't WANT that garbage on my PCI bus, otherwise I would've bought a different board. I like being able to have a high-end NF2 without having to pay for stuff that I, and the majority of users, don't want.

 

[Mem]

I`ve seen more then ten reviews of the Epox 8RDA+ and Club OC is the first to give the 8DRA+ bad review,as for the software packs they`re nick picking in my books since Epox always have some free software with their boards,whether or not it`s great is besides the point since the motherboard in the end is what you buy it for.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: SpideyCU
I'd say the crack one is more viable. For example, the reviewer complains:

"You can tell EPoX is trying to pass on some saving to the consumer by sliming down on the extras. There are no fancy games or mega software packs."

First of all, I don't want EPoX to "slime" down on anything. Maybe I've been out of the loop, but I've *never* received "fancy games" with ANY of my motherboards. He also complains about the lack of Serial ATA, and I personally don't WANT that garbage on my PCI bus, otherwise I would've bought a different board. I like being able to have a high-end NF2 without having to pay for stuff that I, and the majority of users, don't want.

I totally agree, show me one good reason why I should spend $20 more on my mobo for S-ATA?

 

[Stephan28]

Ok, I am installing a Athlon 1700XP Palomino Core AX1700DMT3C with a 133MHz FSB (effectively 266MHz) on my 8RDA+ mobo. (I've had this chip lying around for some time) Now I just want to make sure that I am setting the JCLK jumper correctly. With the jumper removed it sets the FSB to 100/133, with it installed it sets it at 133/166. Which do I use and why?