8DRA+ first experiences

[Holst]

Hi all

Im happily typing this on my New Nforce2 box.

I recently moved house so im saving this to a USB dongle to be posted tomorrow.

I decided to try just swapping my 8k3a+ out with the Nforce2, not supprisingly this didnt work, so ive had install winXP. I have been running win2K previously but I thought id give winXP a try.

WinXP install and Nforce drivers was dead easy untill it came to Radeon drivers, in that without a internet connection I dont have any, DOH!!!, so my testing has been somewhat limited untill tomorrow.

As most of my 3D benchmarks dont work, so I only have sandra (eugh...) and sciencemark.

So onto overclocking (holst spies several forum members salivating, eughh.. )

Im running

Watercooled MP2200
256mb Corshair 2300 cas-2.5
8RDA+
Radeon 8500
Sparkle 400watt
Maxtor +9 80gb, IBM 16gb
Plextor CDRW, matshi*tsu DVD.
Onboard sound and lan.

In the bios FSB is ajustabe from 100 to 200, Vmem to 2.9, Vagp to 1.8, VCPU to 2.2, also various memory deviders, agp frequency ajustable and memory timings (plus some things ive forgotten)

CPU was unlocked (Thanks ET) so 5 to 12.5 multi was avalable.

Im an inpatient bugger so i went straight for the jugular, 200fsb.

To my supprise I set the FSB to 200 multiplyer to 10 , memory to sync and timings to slow, and it booted into windows stable

KICK ASS!!!

My memory isnt the best, so it would only run Agressive 6,3,3,2.
Im confident that with the right memory 200 @ Agressive 1,1,1,2 will be possible.

So I cranked the CPU upto 11.5x200 but it wasnt totaly stable In then end ive dropped the FSB to 195 and increased timings to 6.2.2.2

I loathe running sisoft memory so I ran it once, getting 3050, seems pretty good for 195

Sciencemark seems very fast, beating my previous best scores on 8k3a+ 1900mhz by loads with the same memory.
If i can work out how to take a screenshot in WinXP ill take one.

Bios im using is the one that came with the board, ill have a poke about for a better one. I think there is allready an update on the website

Im also using the drivers that came with the board, im not sure if these are the same as the ones on Nvidia.com
Needless to say ill be DLing allot at work then ripping a few CD's of drivers and bios to play with tomorrow.

Im also only using one memory stick, If I can find another that will OC well, then ill have a go with two.
Memory is currently in DIMM-1.

Ive still to play with AGP frequency/voltage.

As for features,,

Sound quality is very good, as are the provided drivers. My SBlive5.1 wont be used again.
Im not a great audiophile but even I can tell that this is far superior.

Temperatures seem like the insocket diode, but overtemperature is run from the Internal diode, using a similar system to 85a/9a boards where shutdown is indipendant of ACPI, and as such faster and more reliable, in my mind this is a small price to pay for the loss of diode reading.
Northbridge dosent seem to get warm (no magic light or rounded cables BTW) southbridge does get warm, but not so that it afftect stability at all (even at 200) there is no SB heatsink.

Three fan headers on the board, two at the top between DIMM 3 and the CPU, another at the bottom of the board just below the firewire ports, nice header locations.

My watercooling fitted easily (mounting using the four holes around the socket) im using a OCPC Atlantis waterblock at the moment.
There is also ample room for a NB block, I do have one but havent fitted it yet.

Theres not much else I can say at the moment, if you have any questions please ask away (dont ask for a bios update)
Ill be back tomorrow with some more thorough overclocking and some 3dmarks and numbers.

Heres that sciencemark screenshot.
Can anybody beat this with a similar CPU on any board ?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by Holst


KICK ASS!!!


If i can work out how to take a screenshot in WinXP ill take one.

Can anybody beat this with a similar CPU on any board ?

Yes it is....Kick ASS!

To take screenshot, just use ALT?Print Screen and paste into Paint and convert to JPG...voilla.

No, not yet, I just ordered mine and it ships tomorrow! I'll be happy to let you know how it works out, tho!. I'll be running 2 sticks of CORSAIR XMS DRAM 512MB 32MX8 PC-3200 CAS 2.

[Wassup Doc]

Damn those are nice scores Holst. Makes me thinking of upgrading again. Nice summary of the board too.

Do you mind if I borrow your scores and post on another board?

[youthemandan]

So do know if this has a 1/6 divisor or a pci lock??? And if epox tech is listening will further bios's have fsb ajustments over 200.

[Holst]

Originally posted by Wassup Doc
Damn those are nice scores Holst. Makes me thinking of upgrading again. Nice summary of the board too.

Do you mind if I borrow your scores and post on another board?

Sure, I just want to add www.aoaforums.com to the pic first

As for PCI locks and max FSB I cant answer those at the moment.

Im happy that its VERY STABLE at 200 for the time being.

[Random Nonsense]

youthemandan Holst IS an Epox tech

holst has stated there are no problems at all at 200mhz FSB on a pci IDE controller, no data corruption etc. So something is keeping everything in spec, thats enough info in my opinion!

[Dagalidis]

I think memories scores is not too high....

With my 8K3a+ and Samsung PC2700 TCB3 modules when i set 200 FSB and TURBO Enabled By BIOS (2/2/5/2/1T) 3,0V i get a Little over 3100/2950 SANDRA Scores......

This means not very huge improvement compared to 8k3A+ performance rating....

But i know EPOX will continue with later BIOS Updates improve all performance ratings.....


Dimitris........

[youthemandan]

Sorry about that its really early here and i was numbing it.

[Random Nonsense]

According to Holst, sandra isnt that good for memory benchmarks, run a comparison using sciencemark.

Holst, you know if its available on AOA files?

[youthemandan]

So do u know whether there wil be a bios that supports over 200 fsb comin along?

[Holst]

Originally posted by Dagalidis
I think memories scores is not too high....

With my 8K3a+ and Samsung PC2700 TCB3 modules when i set 200 FSB and TURBO Enabled By BIOS (2/2/5/2/1T) 3,0V i get a Little over 3100/2950 SANDRA Scores......

This means not very huge improvement compared to 8k3A+ performance rating....

But i know EPOX will continue with later BIOS Updates improve all performance ratings.....


Dimitris........

Remember that I can only run 4,3,3,2 timings and the board goes down to 1,1,1,2, my memory is the limit the board can give allot more.

I get more in sandra than I do on 8k3a+, and my Sciencemark (especially memory latency) is loads better then.
Sciencemark is loads better.

Plus I loathe sisoft sandra memory and take absolutely no notice of the scores I get.

Also im only ruinning one memory stick, and I was a 195 when I got about 3050 (I cant remember exactly, it might have been more)

[Random Nonsense]

My board wont even top 2000mb/sec grrr at 150FSB on by spd timings!

[Dagalidis]

I know about memories limitation cause i live with it every day....
I can post even with 228 FSB and work just ROCK stable but ONLY when i SET NORMAL (RELAX timing on my SAMSUNG)...

That i was telling is also 8k3A+ compared will this Nforce mobo
has a lot of power to give if you spend a littler more money when buy memories....

I think the limit to all of this Performance and overclocking madness is our POCKET....

So the conclusion for me is i will NOT SWAP to nFORCE right know....

Dimitris..........

[Holst]

Hi all.

With the new bios I can run 211fsb although at slow timings (my memory cant take any more)

Sandra at 211 6,6,6,2.5 was 3100, not bad for such poor timings.

You guys with better memory will be flying at 211.

I forgott to bring my USB dongle into work so i dont have any screenshots yet (sorry)

3dmark is about 500 points higher than my 8k3a+ with similar CPU and tweaks. Thats without increasing the AGP speed yet.

Somefully some other people will have the board tomorrow, we should find out how it runs with two sticks and better quality memory then

[LORD]

Hmm, seems all good so far. We'll be watching with interest.
You're getting a kick ass over clock with that MP 2200+.

[mookydooky]

Whoa!!! New BIOS already? One that apparently goes up to 211? Who would have thunk it?

[Holst]

Originally posted by LORD
Hmm, seems all good so far. We'll be watching with interest.
You're getting a kick ass over clock with that MP 2200+.

I didnt think so.

This MP2200 looks like a B type die, so 2.2gig isnt all that great.
But its still VERY quick

Im having a phase change cooler made, so this chip will do 2.4 yet

[Holst]

Scrub that last post.

Comparing the MP2200 to the Xp-2000 Tbread we have the die is the same size, so my Mp-2200 isnt a B type, so 2.2gig isnt bad after all

[Dagalidis]

Ok Holst we are waiting for your good news......

I have some problems with my photos links so i will write my Benchs by hand right now and will post them again later to see those pictures.....

This will help us to make a compare with 8K3A+ VS this board...

RAM = SAMSUNG PC2700 TCB3
Timings = 2/3/6/3/1T
Voltage VDDR = 3,0V
FSB = 220 Mhz
BIOS Options = FASTEST
CPU = 2000XP

Now latest bech with SisSandra gives 3340/3021
Sscores with Siencemark 2001
L1 = 16306.26
L2 = 6480.25
Memories = 3129.14

Dimitris............

[Holst]

What speed are you running your CPU ?