9NPA+ SLI reached HTT 380MHz, but killed my windows

[neurosonic]

Hi, Folks.

Yesterday i tried to reach a higher HTT frequency with my 9NPA+ Sli.

Settings:
CPU multi 6x
HTT multi 3x
RAM DDR 200 (1:2)

Then i increased the HTT frequency with SysTool and rum Prime95. I startetd with 250 MHz - no problem. Then i increased the HTT further up to 380MHz. Maybe i could increase it further, but it was really enough for me.

Prime95 worked without any problems!

But then i restarted my system (@default settings!) and got a bluescreen with Stop: 0x0000007B ...

WTH?

[MONKEYMAN]

you have either borked windows up totally or upset some hardware....id go with the first choice.

[aztec61]

EPoX is too damned fast for Windows! Take that, ASUS & DFI!! LMAO!

[bradmax57]

Originally Posted by aztec61

EPoX is too damned fast for Windows! Take that, ASUS & DFI!! LMAO!

lol DFI often go over 400 thing its your gaining no real world performance by having a crazy high HTT alone, but nice all the same

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by bradmax57

lol DFI often go over 400 thing its your gaining no real world performance by having a crazy high HTT alone, but nice all the same

So +20MHz for how much more $? IMO, when you get up close to those speeds, the slight increase is Not Worth It. And the EPoX could probably do 400 anyway.

My point is, many of the over-hyped mobos from ASUS & DFI are way overpriced.

[bradmax57]

Originally Posted by aztec61

So +20MHz for how much more $? IMO, when you get up close to those speeds, the slight increase is Not Worth It. And the EPoX could probably do 400 anyway.

My point is, many of the over-hyped mobos from ASUS & DFI are way overpriced.

fair enough I suppose, however owning all of the above im happiest with my DFi tbh Im not sure what you would pay for a 9NPA+ SLI but they are only about £10 cheaper so imo its worth the difference, they are good boards granted and I certainly wouldnt call DFI "dfi over hyped"

[MasterAtArms]

I bought my ep-9npaj sli for £70 and other boards in the series were +- £10, even now Im struggling to find a SLI board for less than £117 from Asus or DFI. From my experience with NF2 thats why Im using Epox now, the DFI was a troublesome board even running stock speeds. I dared not take it overspeed because of this so, the benchmarks I did at 250Mhz were just that.

I think Epox should try to get on the good side of overclockers.co.uk though; since they can do some good prices sometimes and Id like to see Epox available to do a bundle.

Incidentally my board does 300HTT, and IIRC 325HTT was too much. Thats 24/7 stable though.

[bradmax57]

Its true many people reported troubles with dfi boards, maybe the 2 nf4 boards ive had have just been good ones i bought an ultra d and modded it by the pencil trick to sli-d and worked a charm, ill see if my latest dfi board CFX3200-DR is as forgiving, somehow i doubt it :P

[Seperah]

I love My Ultra-D becuase it is probably the best board I've used in terms of
features and options (overclocking). Several months ago I follwed the guide from a link Brad posted, and the pencil SLI mod was successful for me as well. So its my experience with DFI that will have me to continue buying their boards. Spending a couple extra dollars for quality is certainly something I'm willing to due.

[neurosonic]

lol DFI often go over 400

Maybe, but the Epox could also go higher. I stopped testing at 380MHz, but there seems to be no limit.

The 9NPA+ SLi is my fourth board from Epox an they all worked fine, especially my recent board, a 8RDA3+.

Btw.: Windows works, got an image.

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by Seperah

I love My Ultra-D becuase it is probably the best board I've used in terms of
features and options (overclocking).

EPoX has plenty of o/c options in the BIOS, I doubt if DFI's have more that are needed or even useful for that matter. Paying for options you will probably never use doesn't make sense to me.

Have you ever owned an EPoX to be able to judge their "quality" against other makes?

[wild_andy_c]

I think many people were late ontoi the A64 train and caught the DFI line by default. I've been doing A64 since erm....... before ANYONE else in the UK, and naturally it was with EPoX and the 8HDA2 to begin with.

I will say that the EPoX BIOS has been evolutionary and not revolutionary.

[Seperah]

Originally Posted by aztec61

Have you ever owned an EPoX

Yep. MVP3G2. Still works I might add. I have that along with a k62 @ 400mhz, zipps right along with Win98SE.... If I had a little more cash, I'll probably pick up 9NPA too see have a direct comparison.

That MVP is probably my longest lasting board to date...the thing just
won't die. I might have to stab it with a soldering iron to make it malfunction.
So my experience with Epox is great, they make solid boards, and I very much like their company....its just that I saw excellent reviews for the Lanparty and jumped on it. My experience with it has been very nice,
and I plan on getting a CFX3200 from DFI beginning of June to see how that plays out. If Epox dishes out a 3200 board, I'll look into that as well.

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by Seperah

If Epox dishes out a 3200 board, I'll look into that as well.

Well you know, that's what I'm waiting for.

[andlcs]

9NPA+ SLi REV 1.1 @ 400MHz HTT (HT3X - Vchipset @ 1.5V):
http://www.geocities.com/a_andlcs/9NPA_SLI/EPoX_9NPAPSLI_01.PNG]SS

With same BIOS settings:
ASUS A8N-E -> 360MHz
ABIT AN8 -> 370MHz

[Finetobe]

neurosonic

try this.
Settings:
CPU multi 5x
HTT multi 2x
RAM DDR 200 (1:2)

HTx3 = 380x3= 1140 mhz = not good.i think is why you kill windows.
keep HT under or about 1000mhz

[neurosonic]

THX@Finetobe!

But the HTT seems not to be the problem, i guess, it was the CPU (maybe the memory controller).
I changed my CPU to a Opteron 144 and this works also fine @5x380 with a HTT-Multi 3...

Now I use this settings:
HTT 320
CPU Multi 9
RAM 133MHz (DDR266)
HTT-Multi 3