The EPoX 4G4A+ seems very promising.

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anazoal

Senior member
May 30, 2000
421
0
0
...Default voltages... at 150 FSB & DDR 375

:( failed Prime95 at Test 42

I increased the VCore to 1.525

:D doing great in Prime95 so far!!! CPU temp steady at 50 C (dips down to 48-49 C now and then)

...Stock HSF... fan spinning at > 4100 RPM now
 

MetroRider

Senior member
Jun 11, 2001
433
0
0
ok, i finally got the geforce4 ti4200 128mb card installed. after swapping it with a Geforce3 Ti200, let me say this card is FAST!

Running 1.6a with 149 fsb for 2384 MHz, 397 DDR for ram, i get a score of 215 fps in Quake3, 1024x768x32 MAX Details.

The card overclocks from 250/444 to 280/580 so far for me, which gets me a score of 240 fps :)

I will try out 3DMark2001 SE again to see what I now get with this card.... so stay tuned.....
 

anazoal

Senior member
May 30, 2000
421
0
0

44 mins of Prime95... no problem what so ever.

150 FS & DDR 375.... VCore 1.525... everything else default

CPU temp steady at 50 C

...now doing Sandra Memory burn-in (Bandwidth + Cache & Mem benchmarks).... Run 9 and going strong.


Okay, now for Brazil vs. Turkey. :D
 

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
5,481
0
0
anazocal: I think your next step should be seeing if you can run DDR400 (3:4) - the Epox board can do 3:4 above 133 FSB, right??
 

CTPAX

Junior Member
Jun 23, 2002
14
0
0
MetroRider,
du you get the lockups again with the ti4200, what is the max mem speed you got?
 

frysad

Member
Jul 8, 2000
47
0
0
Ok, here's a little info on my setup:

4G4A (not plus), PIV-1.6a, Mushkin High Performance (Not Premium) PC2100 512, Enermax 350, GeForce 4 Ti4200 64mb. OEM HS & fan.

Max stable speed fsb 145, RAM 1:1 DDR 290, 1.75 v, ram timing 2.5,5,3,3, temp - 50 - 53 C.

Can boot at 150, but must set voltage to 1.8 which in turn sets off my alarm at 56 C. Or if I lower voltage Prime 95 results in errors. The computer runs fine at that speed, even played a match in RTCW, but I don't feel safe with it.

If I sound like I know what I am talking about, I really don't. I haven't OC'd anything in quite some time so I have just been following the numbers from what I've read in forums like this.

Although I would be satisfied if this is all I can get out of this thing it seems like I could do better. Obviously my RAM is not the optimum but it seems like it is the processor that is limiting me at the moment, as I am already at the limits of voltage/temp. Is this a valid assumption or am I missing something? I want to make sure that if I put effort/dough into reaching higher speeds that I tackle the right problem first. My inclination is to upgrade cooling before buying better ram, but I am not sure.

It sure looks like others are getting the same or better results with default or barely over default voltage.
 

gsethi

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2002
3,457
5
81
Originally posted by: frysad
Ok, here's a little info on my setup:

4G4A (not plus), PIV-1.6a, Mushkin High Performance (Not Premium) PC2100 512, Enermax 350, GeForce 4 Ti4200 64mb. OEM HS & fan.

Max stable speed fsb 145, RAM 1:1 DDR 290, 1.75 v, ram timing 2.5,5,3,3, temp - 50 - 53 C.

Can boot at 150, but must set voltage to 1.8 which in turn sets off my alarm at 56 C. Or if I lower voltage Prime 95 results in errors. The computer runs fine at that speed, even played a match in RTCW, but I don't feel safe with it.

If I sound like I know what I am talking about, I really don't. I haven't OC'd anything in quite some time so I have just been following the numbers from what I've read in forums like this.

Although I would be satisfied if this is all I can get out of this thing it seems like I could do better. Obviously my RAM is not the optimum but it seems like it is the processor that is limiting me at the moment, as I am already at the limits of voltage/temp. Is this a valid assumption or am I missing something? I want to make sure that if I put effort/dough into reaching higher speeds that I tackle the right problem first. My inclination is to upgrade cooling before buying better ram, but I am not sure.

It sure looks like others are getting the same or better results with default or barely over default voltage.


I am 99% sure that its not your processor limiting you. Its your Memory (your running your DDR 266 @ 290). My old Samsung DDR 266 wouldnt go over 300 (150 fsb) and i used to think that it was my processor. but now, since it can run fine at 160 fsb, it was my memory.......lower your memory ratio to 4:3 (i think this is available in the board) and see on how high you can go on the processor.
 

frysad

Member
Jul 8, 2000
47
0
0
gsethi: Thanks for the advice. I have tried 4:3 settings after several of my failures and one time it made the difference between being able to boot and not, but for the most part it hasn't made too much of difference. Anytime I have been able to boot with 4:3 I have been able to simply reboot, change to 1:1 and get the same result.

If I were to upgrade ram I don't quite understand how that would affect the voltage required, again maybe there is something I don't understand about this (I hope so). If I still have to resort to such high voltage to achieve the same speeds, won't I be running into the same heat issues at the those speeds regardless of ram?

Also, I am now back down to 140 fsb because it turned out I wasn't really completely stable at 145 :disgust:
 

anazoal

Senior member
May 30, 2000
421
0
0
erub, I will try DDR 400 tonight.

Reading other threads, I thought memory burn-in was hogwash, but I am now a firm believer that you need to burn-in your Samsung RAM. The first day I installed my mobo I was able to o/c to 133 FSB and DDR 266. When I tried 3:4 and DDR 354, I couldn't even POST and had to clear my BIOS! Increasing Vdimm to 2.6 fixed the memory problem, but that wasn't the way to do it. Anyway, I was only getting a feel for the board at this stage...

After gradually increasing FSB and doing Sandra memory burn-in at each point I was able to reach DDR 375 at default 2.5 Vdimm.

The moral of the story is if you've had o/c problems, start at 133 FSB and DDR 333 (at spec) and try increasing your FSB in 2, 3, or 5 MHz steps and burning-in your memory -- not everyone is lucky enough to have RAM chips like gsethi.
 

anazoal

Senior member
May 30, 2000
421
0
0
BTW, can Sukhoi change the thread title? I think most here are conviced this board is far past "seems very promising."
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
91
Originally posted by: anazoal
erub, I will try DDR 400 tonight.

Reading other threads, I thought memory burn-in was hogwash, but I am now a firm believer that you need to burn-in your Samsung RAM. The first day I installed my mobo I was able to o/c to 133 FSB and DDR 266. When I tried 3:4 and DDR 354, I couldn't even POST and had to clear my BIOS! Increasing Vdimm to 2.6 fixed the memory problem, but that wasn't the way to do it. Anyway, I was only getting a feel for the board at this stage...

After gradually increasing FSB and doing Sandra memory burn-in at each point I was able to reach DDR 375 at default 2.5 Vdimm.

The moral of the story is if you've had o/c problems, start at 133 FSB and DDR 333 (at spec) and try increasing your FSB in 2, 3, or 5 MHz steps and burning-in your memory -- not everyone is lucky enough to have RAM chips like gsethi.

I'll agree with you there on burning in. I just got my 4G4A (non plus) yesterday, and my Samsung DDR333 was finicky at first. I was having trouble getting my 1.8A stable in Windows XP at 2.25GHz/DDR333 at first even at 1.75V CPU core and 2.8V DDR. So I ran it at 2.25GHz/CAS2.5/DDR250 for a bit. And it locked up some more. So I dropped the CPU back down to 1.8GHz and started scratching my head;)

So I dropped the CPU core back down to 1.65V and cranked it back up to 2.25GHz. Then I bumped the memory back up to DDR333/CAS2.5/2.7V DDR and ran Sandra all night. Worked fine. I did the same thing this morning before work and came back to check on it during my lunch break. Still running :D

I'm gonna drop to CAS2 on the memory tonight and try for 2.4GHz after running at 2.25GHz for a week or so. But I think that 2.25GHz is enough for now...I'm already grinning from ear to ear :D
 

frysad

Member
Jul 8, 2000
47
0
0
Ok guys, I picked up a stick of Corsair PC3000C2 512 at Fry's today (Yes, Fry's carries good ram now). So Ram should no longer be a question in my setup. I'll report back on how it goes after I install it tonight.
 

NWEng

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2002
8
0
0
Originally posted by: frysad
Ok guys, I picked up a stick of Corsair PC3000C2 512 at Fry's today (Yes, Fry's carries good ram now). So Ram should no longer be a question in my setup. I'll report back on how it goes after I install it tonight.

Take my word for it, your new Corsair will do just fine. You may need to set it to 2.8v and CAS 2.5 to reach DDR400 though.


:cool:

 

frysad

Member
Jul 8, 2000
47
0
0
Well, the Corsair is definitely superior but it didn't really solve my problem. I am still hitting the heat vs. voltage wall at 145 to 150 fsb. I have been able to run at 145 for awhile now but just can't find any combo that works for 150.

The good news is the Corsair is running at 3:4 now, the old ram couldn't come close to that. It appears my only recourse is improved cooling at this point.
 

mcveigh

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2000
6,457
6
81
does anyone think I might be able to get 133 fsb using crucial ddr2100?

most likely gonna buy the board in a week or two and don't want to get more ram.
 

MetroRider

Senior member
Jun 11, 2001
433
0
0
CTPAX:
I am still getting lockups with anything higher than 150 fsb. In fact, 150 fsb is finicky itself, and I now have it set to 149. However, when I am in either Safe Mode or normal boot w/o nvidia drivers installed, I can boot all the way up to 170 fsb.

That is the only thing which irks me with this otherwise amazing motherboard. Power shouldn't be an issue, as I am using an Enermax 435w psu with it.

I even moved my RAM from the 2nd dimm to the 3rd, but it made no difference. I guess I will just have to settle for 2384 MHz and a Sandra memory score of 3075/3073 using 397.5 DDR.
 

CTPAX

Junior Member
Jun 23, 2002
14
0
0
I see....
Well, then remove your fsb jumper, so your default fsb will be 133 and you wiil be able to use the 4:5 mem divider, which gives you fsb160 - ddr400 :))
Another thing, there is a bios dated 04/12, i downloaded it from epox.nl i guess, its older version but more stable, try it.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Just got mine set up with the following components....

P4 1.6A
Retail Radeon 8500 128mb
Philips AE 5.1
Hollywood Plus DVD card (for TV Output only)
2 x 256mb Kingmax PC3200 (DDR400)
Alpha PAL8492 HSF
Antec 350W PSU

I'm using the onboard LAN only. The Highpoint Controller, video, and sound are all disabled.

I'm running 160mhz FSB, DDR400, stable as a rock. I replaced the northbridge HS with the one from my dead Asus P4B266-C, and it works well.

Here's a couple of pics...



Desktop Pic


Case Lighting Mod

:)


BTW, if anyone is interested, 256mb PC3200 Kingmax sticks are only $60 now!
 

gsethi

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2002
3,457
5
81
Another update from me:

for those who missed my last update, here is my old info:

CPU: 1.60a @ 2560 Mhz (160 FSB)
CPU VCore: 1.800v
Memory: DDR 333 @ DDR 426 (3:4 memory ratio)
DRam Voltage: 2.700v
Prime 95: ran effortlessly for hours

Todays update:
CPU: 1.60a @ 2640 Mhz (165 FSB)
CPU VCore: 1.800v
Memory: DDR 333 @ DDR 440 (3:4 memory ratio)
DRam Voltage: 2.700v
Prime 95: running solid so far......

Seems like there is no stopping on my Ram. Surprised that my Samsung DDR 333 is running effortlessly at DDR 440. (at current increasing rate of DDR 14 / week, my memory will be running at DDR 496 next month :D now this is one heck of a memory stick.....thanks Samsung)

btw, for your info, my stick is a newer "DTL" model (not "CTL" like some of you are running after). I read somewhere that the "DTL" model is supposed to be DDR 400 memory sticks (in my case, it is certainly true)
 

5150Joker

Diamond Member
Feb 6, 2002
5,549
0
71
www.techinferno.com
Originally posted by: gsethi
Another update from me:

for those who missed my last update, here is my old info:

CPU: 1.60a @ 2560 Mhz (160 FSB)
CPU VCore: 1.800v
Memory: DDR 333 @ DDR 426 (3:4 memory ratio)
DRam Voltage: 2.700v
Prime 95: ran effortlessly for hours

Todays update:
CPU: 1.60a @ 2640 Mhz (165 FSB)
CPU VCore: 1.800v
Memory: DDR 333 @ DDR 440 (3:4 memory ratio)
DRam Voltage: 2.700v
Prime 95: running solid so far......

Seems like there is no stopping on my Ram. Surprised that my Samsung DDR 333 is running effortlessly at DDR 440. (at current increasing rate of DDR 14 / week, my memory will be running at DDR 496 next month :D now this is one heck of a memory stick.....thanks Samsung)

btw, for your info, my stick is a newer "DTL" model (not "CTL" like some of you are running after). I read somewhere that the "DTL" model is supposed to be DDR 400 memory sticks (in my case, it is certainly true)

Gsethi-

Can you run a 3dmark benchmark and post the compare link? Also a sandra benchmark would be nice too. Thanks.

 

Hugenstein

Senior member
Dec 30, 2000
419
0
0
For anyone who is curious, these are the scores I got with the simple overclock, put the system up to 133 bus, and PC2100 RAM at CAS 2.

Epox 4G4A+
P4 - 1.6A @ 133 bus
512 MB Crucial PC2100 @ CAS2
Geforce TI4200

3d Mark2001 SE: 9379
PC Mark 2002: 5132
 

gsethi

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2002
3,457
5
81
Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Originally posted by: gsethi
Another update from me:

for those who missed my last update, here is my old info:

CPU: 1.60a @ 2560 Mhz (160 FSB)
CPU VCore: 1.800v
Memory: DDR 333 @ DDR 426 (3:4 memory ratio)
DRam Voltage: 2.700v
Prime 95: ran effortlessly for hours

Todays update:
CPU: 1.60a @ 2640 Mhz (165 FSB)
CPU VCore: 1.800v
Memory: DDR 333 @ DDR 440 (3:4 memory ratio)
DRam Voltage: 2.700v
Prime 95: running solid so far......

Seems like there is no stopping on my Ram. Surprised that my Samsung DDR 333 is running effortlessly at DDR 440. (at current increasing rate of DDR 14 / week, my memory will be running at DDR 496 next month :D now this is one heck of a memory stick.....thanks Samsung)

btw, for your info, my stick is a newer "DTL" model (not "CTL" like some of you are running after). I read somewhere that the "DTL" model is supposed to be DDR 400 memory sticks (in my case, it is certainly true)

Gsethi-

Can you run a 3dmark benchmark and post the compare link? Also a sandra benchmark would be nice too. Thanks.

Here are my Sandra scores:
Memory: 3288 / 3287
CPU Multimedia: 10345 / 12552
CPU Arithmetic: 5006 / (1362/3240)

I will have my 3d mark scores later. I like the way my Samsung DDR is beating all the memory benchmarks.
 

Grumpycrab

Junior Member
Jun 28, 2002
9
0
0
Originally posted by: gsethi
Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Originally posted by: gsethi
Another update from me:

...
CPU VCore: 1.800v
...
.

Hi. I have the same board running at 2.4GHz with a 1.6A. Does your Vcore dip when running Prime95? e.g. 1.73V. Do you consider this a problem?
What graphics do you run.
Thanks
--
Ian