4gea+ / 4pea+ Memory multiplier

[leotonch]

Hello,

I think there is 2 batches of board in the market, 1 can get the 3:4 & 4:5 memory at any time while other can't. The 1 can't manually select memory multiplier is made according to intel's sepc. that is according to the CPU FSB. Why I say this because, my 1st 4gea+ dated 14 Nov from the bar code sticked on the mobo from the local dealer can able to get the 3:4 & 4:5 just by flashing the bios dated 2 Dec or 4 Dec. Unfortunately, it have vdimm voltage problem, that is only giving me 3.2V whatever I the bios is set. So I go and exchanged with a board dated 21 Oct from the dealer.

But strange thing happened, I can't have the 4:5 & 3:4 multiplier after flashing 4 Dec bios. I tried unplug all the device and turned off the power source, clear the cmos and flash the bios serveral times. But still no lucky ! Then I went to to the dealer's service centre once more and gave them the board and waited for 40 minutes, then they shown me my board can have 3:4 & 4:5 at any time. They say they just flash the bios again and they don't what my problem is. So I back home and check the board roughly, it seems that there is a resistor at the back side is removed.

For those don't have the multiplier, u can try ask your dealer / Epox for help.

[p4spooky]

I think this makes sense. I am not home right now but will post the serial# of my board. I am unable to get the multiplier by flashing 2-dec bios. I have a 4GEA+. How can you tell the MFG date from the serial#?

[r0l0e]

well the only numbers i see on my box is:

P4PEA+ -021128000063
Board Rev: 1.0
Bios: 12-04

i didn't have much luck on the 2.66B chip so i dropped my 1.6A. it's at 165fsb, 3:4, Turbo and ran prime for about a hour without any problems. i'm gonna try to get to 2.7 in a bit. head over to the "Intel Motherboards & CPUs" forum for more details.

[leotonch]

My 1st board (4gea+) # is 021114000052 while the replacement is 02102100370. I think the first 6 digit is the date code, the rest is # of board issued of that date.

[p4spooky]

4GEA+: Serial# 021029000065 (Unable to get 3:4 divider with the latest BIOS).

If Leotonch is correct, the board was made on 10/29/02.

[leotonch]

Hey guys,

Do you using 2 sticks of ram ? Mine is using 2 x original Samsung 512M DDR333. It's only stable till DDR375 running together, but one stick can go DDR408 @ default vdimm using 3:4 @ 2.5 5-3-3. Any idea or successful case for my reference.

Thanks

[p4spooky]

I am running 2 sticks of Corsair PC3200C2 RAM on 4GEA+. I have a 1.6A overclocked to 2.4 (150FSB) DDR400. Rock stable so far. Both Prime95 and memtest for 24 hours. No crashes.

vcore: 1.6A (1.58 actual in BIOS), vdimm: 2.7V (2.74 actual).

I am experiencing cold boot problems sometimes and all is OK once I hit the reset switch.

Couple of odd things I have noticed:

1. The power LED (blue) is not bright as it used to be
2. The power LED remains lit after hibernating PC (I am using W2K SP3)

[leotonch]

P4spooky,

I also noticed the cold boot problem. Hope further bios can solve it. For the LEDs, I am using Winxp, and don't have your issue.

Anyway, Thanks for your info, maybe it's the ram problem as my samsung is DDR333 only so they can't coy together at DDR400.

Have fun with our lovely 4GEA+.

Cheers,
leotonch

[r0l0e]

i''m using the p4pea+.

minor problems are:

1. cold boot issue above 160fsb. it sets the core voltage back to 1.10v. i've tried 2 psu, enermax 400w and hec 475w. resetting the computer solves it.

2. the power LED on my case seems to be really dim.

otherwise, this board is amazing.

[PSUGorilla]

I have to agree that the 4pea+ is an exceptional board, especially for overclocking. I have my P4 3.06 @ 3.33 (145MHz FSB) stable, at default voltage and I'm still going.

[p4spooky]

The missing multiplier is still bugging me. Sent an email to EPOX tech saying that even after applying 12/4 BIOS I am not getting the divider. Let us see what they say.

I have mixed feelings about this board. Other than the fact that I can now run two sticks at DDR400 which the 4G4A+ was not able to, the cold boot, power light issues are not what I was expecting.

If you read through some of the other messages in this forum, the power light brightness issue seems to have plagued some users of 8RDA+ as well.

[noxarin]

I have absolutely no problem setting that divider on mine.

I got my Epox 4PEA+ today came with the blue light fan ontop of the northbridge and a rounded hard disk cable and round floppy cable.

I can check the serial for you tomorrow i'm just exhausted at the moment been up all day. The board seems great to me.

Just posting here to say for people that are wondering. Yes I flashed to bios 4PEA2C04.BIN and was able to access the 3:4 memory divider and it works no problem.

I got 2 x 256MB kingmax 400 DDR ram, at first when I selected the divider I had problems with it not being able to post afterwards but it was because the bios was setting the SPD timing wrong, after I made sure my settings were correct (2.5,6,3,3) no problems.

My cpu is a 2.4B BO stepping.

I got my FSB at 150 right now my cpu at 1.6 volts, my ram at DDR400.

Overall I like this board alot, it's my first Epox board and I like it's style, no nonsense kind of board for the guy who knows what he's doin.

[Vatt]

System 1) Serial: 021127000***
So that would make: november the 27th of 2002 right?
I have both dividers to choose from, both the 3:4 and 4:5 are available with my 533 Mhz 2.66 Ghz P4.

System 2) Serial:021106000***
So that would make: november the 6th of 2002 right?
Haven't flashed that BIOS yet, but it also uses a 533 Mhz processor (only this is a 2.53 Ghz P4).

I will extract my BIOS from System 1 (with both dividers) and flash it into System 2 and get back here and post results.

Stay tuned.....

*UPDATE AFTER FLASHING!!
There are definitly 2 different versions of the 4PEA+ out there.
System 1 does have the 3:4 and 4:5 divider option, but system 2 does not show this option (not even when I flash the same BIOS version)

[noxarin]

Good job Vatt, is Epox allowed to comment on this ? Or is the 3:4 ratio something you aren't sposed to implement on an 845PE motherboard ?

The serial on my board is 280092002**
The serial on the box is -021205000***

[da_ging]

i could be wrong ,but could it have anything to do with the cpu as there are a fair few versions of each chip

i too cannot get the 3:4 multiplier tho

[p4spooky]

I now have the 11/06/02 board (4GEA+), Going to get the system going and flash to 12/4 BIOS. STAY TUNED. This board is from Newegg and has the Magic Light.

[p4spooky]

Confirmed: NO 3:4 AND 4:5 on 021106000*** (4GEA+). So the question is what is EPOX planning to do for people with earlier versions of the board? I hope a BIOS update will enable both dividers for ALL boards. 24 days and counting before I return this board to Newegg.

[M_G_]

If look at the mobo you see a text cell with,
1:1
3:4
4:5

You can find the text under the dimm slots.

Only i can't find the solder points.

Maybe one of you can find them,

[SiGmA]

Maybe it's date related?

It seems that boards issued/made after mid November seem to have the 3:4 Divider on 533MHz FSB while ones before it don't seem to have it


Keep us informed as I am considering buying a 4PEA+

[M_G_]

Originally posted by M_G_
If look at the mobo you see a text cell with,
1:1
3:4
4:5

You can find the text under the dimm slots.

Only i can't find the solder points.

Maybe one of you can find them,

See new tread -->Found 3:4 solder points , with pictures at link.