The EPoX 4G4A+ seems very promising.

[DocACE]

SO does htis mean that this board is ONLY stable if you run 1 DIMM?? Can we run 2 DIMMS and be stable at 150mhz FSB?

 

[anazoal]

Okay, I set up the 4G4A+. I was able to o/c my 1.6A to 133 fsb and surf for a couple of hours -- default everything. I didn't stress test because I'm waiting for the AS 3 to set and I'm having problems using Motherboard Monitor.

I've throttled back to 100 fsb at default MB settings. Here are my Motherboard Monitor values at idle (default settings on MM too):

Temp 1: 28 -- Winbond 1
Temp 2: 87 -- Winbond 2
Temp 3: 33 -- Winbond 3

Volt 1 [Core 0] : 1.52
Volt 2 [Core 1] : 1.504
Volt 3 [+3.3] : 2.512 -- the low reading scares me (it is the Vdimm value --see below -- right?)
Volt 4 [+5.00] : 5.1072
Volt 5 [+12.00]: 11.9168
Volt 6 [-12.00] : -11.6144
Volt 7 [-5.00] : - 5.09152

Fan 2: 2986 -- stock HSF

PC Health at bootup reports:

CPU Temp: 37 C
Sys Temp: 33 C
CPU Fan: 2960
Vagp: 1.58 V
Vcore: 1.56 V
Vdimm: 2.59 V
+ 5: 5.24 V
+ 12: 12.34
- 12: -11.70
- 5: -5.14
VBAT: 3.31 V
5VSB: 5.06 V

Why is Motherboard Monitor reporting the wrong values?

 

[anazoal]

RAM:
Slot 1 can take single or double sided.
Slot 2 & Slot 3 are shared -- i.e. either single sided in each or a a double sided modlue in in only ONE of the two slots and the other empty.

So soljahz, you have one module in slot 1 and the other in slot 2 (or 3), correct?

 

[CTPAX]

To all:

Not the FSB causes the problem, its the mem clock, if u run 160 FSB at 1:1, that makes DDR320, not a problem at all. But if u use 4:5(DDR 400) its a big problem to avoid the agp locks.

MetroRider:
I dont know about NVidia cards, i just make assumptions. Please dont forget to comment after you try the GF4 🙂)

Interesting is, that i have problems with the samsung ram, which can do DDR400 at cas2, but locks up at DDR390 with default settings, but the Kingmax DDR300 runs DDR402 and almost reaches its limit, but no lockups 🙂) I dont know what to think. One thing is sure for me, the problem is Video/AGP related, and occurs after you install the Intel inf update and the NVidia driver.
But the DDR440 from gsethi, this is definately a miracle! Please gsethi, enlighten us 🙂)


BTW. Do not use the latest 4g4a BIOS, i got lockup even at DDR320 🙂)

 

[DocACE]

I am now confused 🙂

Can I run
2 sticks of 512mb Samsung PC2700 STABLE at
a) 150mhz FSB 1:1
b) 150mhz FSB 4:5?

I am trying to decide between the IT7 and this board. I have to order it this week 🙂(

Thanks for EVERYONES help

Btw - Newegg ASSURES me the Samsung RAM is REAL PCB and chips

 

[soljahz]

So soljahz, you have one module in slot 1 and the other in slot 2 (or 3), correct?

Anything i have in slot 1 regardless of having one in slot 2/3 or not, it will hang in black screen with nvidia drivers anything higher then around ddr337 and higher. If i use one in slot 2 and 3 its fine but since i have both double sided samsung 333, guess i have to use only one.

BTW. Do not use the latest 4g4a BIOS, i got lockup even at DDR320 🙂)

Does that meant the april bios is the latest since it came with my board.

 

[DocACE]

So in summary

The MAX memory one can use with the Epox board is 512meg - 1 DIMM - if you want to go higher then 133mhz FSB 1:1 ratio?

 

[DocACE]

Sorry - one last question and hope 🙂

So if get

Epox 4g4a+
Samsung 512x2 PC2700
Say a 2.26

I can run UP TO and including 166mhz FSB with a 1:1 RAM ratio - correct?

 

[LS]

Can the Highpoint controller be completely disabled in the BIOS? I would just get the 4G4A but onboard ethernet would be nice. I don't want added boot time waiting for the Highpoint controller and its BIOS to initialize.

 

[anazoal]

LS, yes the Highpoint controller can be disabled.

 

[Lance22]

Damn, so my enermax dual fan 350w p/s wont be enough for this board? I should have gotten a 400w? =X

I plan on eventually having the this board, with a 1.6a oc'd to 2.4, 512 corsair xms, 8500 128 ddr, 16x dvd rom, 32x cdr, 2 40 gb 133 drives on raid 0, audigy, and 3 case fans.

If anyone could give me some help, i would appriciate it, thanks!

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: CTPAX
Hello everybody!

The problem MetroRider gets is in fact THE PROBLEM of 4g4a+. Im wondering how gsethi gets such high memory speeds. Gsethi, please tell us:
1. In which dimm slot you are running your memory
2. What bios ver do you use
3. Have you tried 3dmark ? Because thats the easiest way to get the agp lockup.
4. Is ur RAM singlesided or doublesided
5. What are your advanced chipset settings?

Im running at the moment a 256MB Kingmax DDR300 stick at DDR402. I tried 256 MB Samsung DDR333, refused to boot Win2k at 402, locked up in 3d mark at 390. That is all on dimm2, on dimm1 and dimm3 i get max DDR360.

I dont think it is a driver problem, i think its more some chipset/video incompatibility problem. Gsethi uses Ti4400 as i recall. Well, i have GF2 GTS Pro, MetroRider tried GF3...

Hello

here are my answers:

1) Slot 1 (nearest to the CPU)
2) Original version (dont remember the number......using the one that came installed on my mobo, i searched for the latest bios on epox and found nothing)
3) Not yet but i will, Sandra and Prime 95 run without any problems though
4) Samsung DDR 333 PC2700 512 MB Ram from newegg and it is Double sided (running at DDR 426 (3:4 memory ratio at 160 fsb))
5) Using slow settings of 2.5-6-3-3 (wasnt stable at 2-6-3-3)

oh yeah, make sure that your PCI/AGP bus is locked at 33/66 Mhz. maybe some of you are forgetting that.

hope that helps......ask me any more questions and will be glad to answer them

Thanks
gsethi

 

[soljahz]

Yea mines is locked at 33/66 and using a antec 350 ps, if i move the fsb to 146 and over, it will do hang at in black screen also, this is with 3/4 mem ratio.

 

[MetroRider]

ok, i've been working my way up with this combo. i recently installed 3DMark2001 SE, but am not an avid follower of it, so please let me know how my score ranks:

p4 @ 2432 MHz
ram running at 406 DDR

i get a score of 9503 using a Geforce3. I will see what happens when I pop in the Geforce4 Ti4200 128mb card in its place...

 

[VSEKH]

To NFS4 and LS, I have the Epox 4G4a motherboard and it does have the Onboard NIC. Only thing missing is the Highpoint raid controllers. Also, on the I/O Shield, Epox decided not to take out the metal piece for the onboard NIC, you might have to remove it. The bios had the option to enable or disable the NIC, so I connected it and everything worked. I saved about $20 by getting this board without the Highpoint raid controllers.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: VSEKH
To NFS4 and LS, I have the Epox 4G4a motherboard and it does have the Onboard NIC. Only thing missing is the Highpoint raid controllers. Also, on the I/O Shield, Epox decided not to take out the metal piece for the onboard NIC, you might have to remove it. The bios had the option to enable or disable the NIC, so I connected it and everything worked. I saved about $20 by getting this board without the Highpoint raid controllers.

SWEET!! I already ordered my 4G4A early this afternoon from MWAVE. Where did you order yours from??

 

[VSEKH]

I originally ordered my for $99 from www.bunta.com. But, I waited a week and never received it. I canceled my order from them and got it from www.markonecomputers.com(local vendor) in a day for $119. It looks like Multiwave just started shipping this board, 'cause $98 is a great price and they ship orders pretty quick. You're gonna love this board.

 

[LS]

Thank you ANAZOAL and VSEKH for the info. 🙂

 

[CTPAX]

Thanx gsethi!

Please run 5-6 cycles of 3dmark2001 just to be sure.

As conclusion i cant find any other reason for the lockups except some incompatibility of the chipset and the video card (perhaps fastwrites, agp 4x, ill try to disable and see)

 

[anazoal]

Anyone able to figure out why motherboard monitor is reporting low temps (see my earlier post)? ...What are you using to monitor your temps, voltages, etc.?

AS 3 should have set by now... and I will try some serious o/c'ing.

 

[Lance22]

Okay, now i have another question...I got a 350w enermax from newegg and after reading that i may not have enough power, is it easy for me to return this ps and get a 400? Anyone with experience in doing something like this with newegg?

 

[anazoal]

To all still undecided: Using 1.6A + Samsung 512 PC 2700

This board is rock solid at 133 FSB, 333 DDR with NO adjustments! Max CPU temp 47 C running Prime 95, 46 C running Sandra Burn-in

 

[BlessidThug]

Bump! Guys, keep the updates coming. Some of us are still on the fence. 😉

 

[anazoal]

...Default voltages.... at 138 FSB (2.2 GHz) & 345 DDR

Running Prime95 for 30 mins, CPU temp at steady 47 C

Solid so far.

 

[anazoal]

...I've been working my way up the FSB ladder...

Currently:

...Default voltages... at 147 FSB & 367.5 DDR

Running Prine95, CPU temp steady at 49 C

Mobo is STABLE so far!!!

...going to 150 FSB & 375 DDR next

...Did I mention I am using stock HSF? Fan is now spinning at ~3900 RPM... That's 1000 RPM above stock FSB!