EP 4PEA+: PROBLEMS on PROBLEMS!..Need help..

[darkstar11]

After installing this new model here is a list of big issues I'm experiencing (my previous motherboard was a 4g4a+ and worked really fine):
BIOS version 11/10/2002

- no way to boot from my SCSI 29160 (on PCI slot1) even if into bios I put as firts boot device SCSI and then others:tried many combinations: nothing!...RAID is always the first boot device if enabled; the problem is that I cannot disable it as I have 2 hd on raid1 and 2 scsi3 hd (where i boot winXP) on the scsi card!

In 4g4a+ in boot list there was the option SCSI/RAID and RAID/SCSI among the others devices so...maybe is this the problem? Why cannot choose the boot device between raid and scsi??

- in anandtech, review reported mainboard has the 1:1 and 4:5 divider: in my motherboard I have 1:1 and 3:4!!

To solve these problems (especially the fisrt one) tried to downgrade to bios 4PEA2A30.BIN but nothing!
Two bioses seem to implement the same features...

Maybe need to change my motherboard as it's defective??

Please help..

[-CTPAX-]

I suppose u have 400FSB cpu therefore u get the 3:4 divider. Pitty u cant use both 3:4 and 4:5 dividers as with 4G4A.

[darkstar11]

I have the same CPU as you: P4 1.6a 400Mhz fsb....In 4g4a+ I could use 4:5 or 3:4 divider by moving a jumper on the motherboard (as you surely know well..); I already knew 4pea+ didn't have this jumper but I believed 4:5 could be activated by using a dedicated bios version...in ANANDTECH the ep 4pea+ review shows that they have used the 4:5 divider: see screenshots!!

I'm waiting for explanations from EPOX tech..but they do not answer, as you can see....maybe I will get an ASUS P4PE!

And what about the boot issue??

Mmmm...the 4pea+ do not convince me....really worried EPOX did a bad motherboard..

[-CTPAX-]

Anandtech tested with 533fsb cpu. The boot ussue could be fixed with a new bios release. Just be patient. Who knows, may be they will decide to include a 3:4 and 4:5 divider option too :-))

[darkstar11]

Tell me if I've understood:
the 4:5 divider would be available if there is a 533 fsb CPU installed on;
The 3:4 would be available with a 400fsb CPU...which is my case...sheeesh: the PLL onboard is the same the 4g4a+ use...I do not understand why Epox do not let user choose all the available dividers from bios...

What I have to do now is to loud to epox tech to fix the boot devices issue and the multiplier issue...I'll stay and wait patiently...for the moment, I will not sell my ep 4pea+

[Anomaly]

Originally posted by darkstar11
Tell me if I've understood:
the 4:5 divider would be available if there is a 533 fsb CPU installed on;
The 3:4 would be available with a 400fsb CPU...which is my case...sheeesh: the PLL onboard is the same the 4g4a+ use...I do not understand why Epox do not let user choose all the available dividers from bios...

I believe that is correct. At least I know that is the exact case with the Iwill P4HT, with the same chipset.

[darkstar11]

Received bios 4PEA2B15 from epoxtech...but nothing!:
- still not possible to anticipate scsi to raid in order boot from scsi having also a raid config;
- still not available 3:4 divider!
..and now another surprise: got a p4 2.4 C1 (SL66DV) and on a 4g4a+ reaches almost 3GHz in overclock (vcore 1.65) but on ep 4pea+ I cannot go beyound 150MHz fsb!!!..system locks....
I'll hurry up to buy an IT7-MAX2 if this is these are the real 4pea+ features!
Obviously NOT POSSIBLE TO ENABLE HT, too!

Please Epox_Tech: any explanation about what it's happening about this motherboard??

[Mark099]

When it comes to BIOS issues, Epox can be slow to respond. I had the same sort of rant on my 8K5A2+ and it's inability to run 1T with more than one DIMM installed. Needless to say, I received a response, but nothing that I could be encouraged about.

The BIOS tweaks will come... perhaps in a week, maybe a month, but likely longer than that. The 8K5A2+ has been out for over 3 months now. To date, there has only been 2 BIOS updates.

[EPoX Tech]

Originally posted by Mark099
When it comes to BIOS issues, Epox can be slow to respond. I had the same sort of rant on my 8K5A2+ and it's inability to run 1T with more than one DIMM installed. Needless to say, I received a response, but nothing that I could be encouraged about.

The BIOS tweaks will come... perhaps in a week, maybe a month, but likely longer than that. The 8K5A2+ has been out for over 3 months now. To date, there has only been 2 BIOS updates.

32 actually

[darkstar11]

OK OK...but ET could just reply something and let us know if, at least, they're working on a bios release with such "goodies" implemented or if it's impossible that 4pea+ will have such a feature as 4g4a+...just a sign...

[Mark099]

Originally posted by EPoX Tech
32 actually

I wasn't counting the 3 betas that I tried. So you are saying, that in addition to the two official updates, there have been 30 betas posted here for download, and I have missed all but 3 of them?

Wowza! My original 8K5A2+ is out of commission for 2 weeks (waiting for a RMA replacement) after it died and I missed all those updates. Guess I better check here more often.

[Mark099]

Originally posted by darkstar11
OK OK...but ET could just reply something and let us know if, at least, they're working on a bios release with such "goodies" implemented or if it's impossible that 4pea+ will have such a feature as 4g4a+...just a sign...

As you can see... if you ask your questions in a negative manner they will not receive a response with any kind of useful information. Best to change your user name and ask the questions again... in the kindest, most affectionate, way possible as to not upset the apple-cart.

[darkstar11]

so let's sit and wait..lesson learned..but using a motherboard at a 70% of its power is a pity...ET, c'mon..

[Mark099]

Originally posted by darkstar11
so let's sit and wait..lesson learned..but using a motherboard at a 70% of its power is a pity...ET, c'mon..

Seriously though...

Start a new thread asking the same questions in a positive manner and ET, Holst, and any other Epox guys would be likely to post a response there.

My theory is that they do not want to have their names associated with negative posts. In fairness to them, I am sure they think Epox boards are the best and they don't want to always have to defend their products to those of us that buy them.

I have liked the two (technically, three) Epox boards I have owned. They have been stable and reliable. However, I have been extremely unlucky in having both Epox boards die in the first 3 months of ownership.