Vcore limited in hardware?

[frogblast]

When I asked Epox tech support if they had any plans to release a BIOS for their 4PDA2+ Springdale mobo that can go above 1.6V core voltage with a PIV "C" chip, they said:

It is the hardware design of EP-4PDA2+ that CPU voltage is limited to 1.6V; consider to protect users' CPU from not being damaged if users pressurize too much higher on their CPUs. In such case, if your CPU has default voltage as 1.525V, it is the most to pressurize extra 0.075V.

WHAT?!? :disgust:

Anybody have an opinion on this?

 

[tcsenter]

It is the hardware design of EP-4PDA2+ that CPU voltage is limited to 1.6V; consider to protect users' CPU from not being damaged if users pressurize too much higher on their CPUs. In such case, if your CPU has default voltage as 1.525V, it is the most to pressurize extra 0.075V.

Translation: "The answer to your question is no. Thank you for contacting Epox Support."

 

[Doh!]

I don't know about that. Soltek's SL-86SPE which is also a springdale motherboard provides a vcore adjustment upto 1.85.

 

[tcsenter]

I don't know about that. Soltek's SL-86SPE which is also a springdale motherboard provides a vcore adjustment upto 1.85.

Is the Soltek SL-86SPE just a rebadged Epox EP-4PDA2+?

It is the hardware design of EP-4PDA2+ that CPU voltage is limited to 1.6V

 

[frogblast]

Yes, but are they telling the truth? Whoever heard of a retail mainboard with this kind of hardware voltage limit, at least one so low?

 

[tcsenter]

Yes, but are they telling the truth? Whoever heard of a retail mainboard with this kind of hardware voltage limit, at least one so low?

The statement could be construed to support either of the following interpretations:

1. the limitation is due to mainboard design, the voltage is fixed by the VRM/VID chip, the BIOS has no programmable connection to the VRM/VID chip

2. the limitation is due to mainboard design, it could be manipulated by BIOS, but we're not gonna do that

 

[Doh!]

Oops, I've read it as the hardware design of the chipset. Just re-read it again and noticed this: "consider to protect users' CPU from not being damaged...". Your cpu will be damaged

 

[Ketchup]

The answer you were given was designed to make you think that the vcore could not possibly go higher, even though that is probably not true. Think about it: they allow vdimm up to 3.2. but vcore only up to 1.6? Why would the hardware allow such voltage for memory and not for the CPU? I think Epox is just saying they limited vcore to 1.6 to keep people from frying their CPU's. Get the Abit IC7 or IS7 anyway, they are better boards.

 

[frogblast]

Originally posted by: ketchup79
The answer you were given was designed to make you think that the vcore could not possibly go higher, even though that is probably not true. Think about it: they allow vdimm up to 3.2. but vcore only up to 1.6? Why would the hardware allow such voltage for memory and not for the CPU? I think Epox is just saying they limited vcore to 1.6 to keep people from frying their CPU's. Get the Abit IC7 or IS7 anyway, they are better boards.

That's my interpretation as well. But it's too late to choose a different board...I bought the Epox over a week ago! :brokenheart: I would have chosen one of the Abit boards, IF the deluxe versions that have Firewire and PATA RAID were available in Korea, where I live. But they aren't, so I went with the Epox.

 

[tcsenter]

EP-4PDA2+

Special Features

AGP voltage settings are adjustable by BIOS
Asynchronous transfer between the PCI and FSB
CPU clock settings are adjustable by BIOS
CPU multiplier settings are adjustable by BIOS
CPU V-core settings are adjustable by BIOS
EZ Boot
Hardware Monitoring Function provided by Winbond
Keyboard Power On (KBPO)
Magic Flash
Memory voltage settings are adjustable by BIOS
P80P Diagnostic LED
Suspend To RAM (STR)
Unified System Diagnostic Manager (USDM)

 

[frogblast]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
EP-4PDA2+

Special Features

AGP voltage settings are adjustable by BIOS
Asynchronous transfer between the PCI and FSB
CPU clock settings are adjustable by BIOS
CPU multiplier settings are adjustable by BIOS
CPU V-core settings are adjustable by BIOS
(etc.)

Yes? I never said the vcore was not adjustable in BIOS. Only that the BIOS does not let me take it above 1.6V. That's the limitation I'm complaining about.

 

[LastRide]

Believe me,you won't really want to go above 1.6V anyways.A good CPU will get you lots at default vcore.Most of the veterans here don't run high vcore anymore.You can get SNDS just by running 1.7V.Maybe the epox is a good board.I run my P4P800 at default vcore 2.4C at 3.24GHz.Adding vcore will not get you far anyways.Maybe an extra 100MHz,thats it and possible CPU damage if your around 1.7V.My board goes to 1.95V.I will not go over 1.6V on my board if I decided to add vcore.

 

[frogblast]

Originally posted by: LastRide
Believe me,you won't really want to go above 1.6V anyways.A good CPU will get you lots at default vcore.Most of the veterans here don't run high vcore anymore.You can get SNDS just by running 1.7V.Maybe the epox is a good board.I run my P4P800 at default vcore 2.4C at 3.24GHz.Adding vcore will not get you far anyways.Maybe an extra 100MHz,thats it and possible CPU damage if your around 1.7V.My board goes to 1.95V.I will not go over 1.6V on my board if I decided to add vcore.

Point well taken. Still, I really wish I had higher vcore at my disposal, because I got a bum PIV 2.4C, barely gets to 2.95GHz with any stability at 1.6V. Luck of the draw. I think a little more juice would help it, because I noticed that stepping down to 1.575V makes it unstable at that speed. Just because it might not help to go higher vcore, does not mean Epox is right to limit it to 1.6V. And I can make my own decisions about what is safe for my CPU; I don't need Epox to do it for me.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Do a google search, someone may have found a vol mod for your board.

 

[frogblast]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Do a google search, someone may have found a vol mod for your board.

Now, why didn't I think of that? It's the first thing I tried.

Wouldn't it be nice if there were a single search engine that could search or meta-search all the tech forums from hundreds of tech sites? THEN I might be able to find something. Google doesn't do a good job finding stuff in forums.

[Edit] Oh...BTW, I did manage to find a volt-modded BIOS for the Epox 4PCA3+, their Canterwood board. My latest idea is to take the vcore logic from that BIOS and paste it into my 4PDA2+ BIOS -- assuming I can find the right part to copy and paste. Unfortunately, the available tools for BIOS modding suck ass. :frown:

 

[Ketchup]

There is a site, I believe it is www.aoaforums.com, which has a lot of beta bioses for Epox boards, and even has an Epox thread. Somebody may release a beta or a tweaked BIOS for this board that allows more vcore. Also, as long as your sure your CPU is what's limiting you, I would sell it and get another one, as most of the 2.4C's I have seen have been hitting 3.3 GHz easy. Heck, I can get 2.95 GHz on my old BO stepping 2.4B, of course, your board is taking mine to the cleaners on memory bandwidth.

 

[frogblast]

Originally posted by: ketchup79
There is a site, I believe it is www.aoaforums.com, which has a lot of beta bioses for Epox boards, and even has an Epox thread. Somebody may release a beta or a tweaked BIOS for this board that allows more vcore. Also, as long as your sure your CPU is what's limiting you, I would sell it and get another one, as most of the 2.4C's I have seen have been hitting 3.3 GHz easy. Heck, I can get 2.95 GHz on my old BO stepping 2.4B, of course, your board is taking mine to the cleaners on memory bandwidth.

Ketchup79, thanks for the helpful post. In fact it was at aoaforums.com that I found the beta 4PCA3+ BIOS I mentioned before. Searched for a similar beta BIOS for 4PDA2+, but no result. BUT...thanks to you, I went back there just now and saw a *very* recent post about a new official BIOS for my board...no mention on whether it raises the max vcore, but I can hope! Download and flash...let's see what happens....

Cheers,
frogblast