It has the 1/24/05 BIOS installed and it uses the SC2643VXTS PWM chip for Vcore control... Just got Win2000 up and running and usint the new board to post this....
Install went flawlessly, but the nVidia Video drivers install would not re-boot.... Also Directx9c won't install... Video is working, but I guess I have to do a re-install....
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
This board finally has the power connectors right by the 3 Phase Vcore Power Supply circuitry. The nF4 chip is slightly above the PCX card and with any luck at all, a chipset water block will just clear the card:
This is my test bench... It's a little busy as I have 6 different nF3/nF4 boards I'm testing... The 9NPA+Ultra is kinda in the middle....
For future reference, the Vcore PWM chip is the same as on the 9NDA3+ Rev 2.X:
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
Well this 9NPA+Ultra is more stable at 9X300 then the 9NDA3+.... Here I have a 0433 Winnie that struggles on most boards to POST and boot at 9X300, 3X, 200 1T 2.5-3-6-3 all the rest "Auto"..
Here's The Test System Specs: Epox EP-9NPA+Ultra A64 3200 Winchester 0433 1/24/05 BIOS HTT: 3X Multiplier: 9X Vcore: 1.74V Vdimm: 3.1V Memory: 200 1T 2.5-3-6-3 2X256Meg A-Data Vitesta PC4800 DDR600 TCCD Chips (slots 1&2) eVGA PCX5750 Video Card Western Digital 30Gig ATA100 7200rpm Tagan 480Watt PSU Maze4 on CPU, stock HSF on the nF4 chip...
POSTing at 9X300, 1:1 memory:
Then once in Win2K, a quick SuperPI run:
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
Polygon, any word on a VDIMM mod? I know 3.1 is enough for you, but I need 3.25-3.3+, and more would be nice if I get some OCZ VX ram.
I looked at a 9NPA+ on display over the weekend, and it has the same VDIMM componentry of the 9NDA3+, but it is located near one of those short PCI slots, and far from the DIMM slots (???). If you got something installed there, it will be a hassle to mess with that area. Not sure what Epox's thinking on this was . . . tho' it is closer to the 20-pin power socket.
I can't imagine it's for power circuitry for the PCI slots so I imagine it is indeed for VDIMM. What's the scoop?
Posts: 234 | From: Japan | Registered: Dec 2004
posted
OK, I found a few minutes to look at the power supplies....
1) The power supply parts to the left of the nF4 chip are for that chip and not the memory...
2) The Vdimm Power Supply, is a "Linear Regulator" type and operates from the 3.3Vbus... The "Standard 3.3Vdimm Mod" will work on this board, but 3.3V is the most that will be able to be supplied to the memory modules...
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
Shoot, doesn't sound too good on the VDIMM side.
I imagine a Booster will work on the board, but since most ram run best in the #1/2 slots, you have to put it in the #4 slot, where it heats up the sticks big time. If the #3/4 slots were spaced 1" away that might not be too bad. Now you know why on the DFI NF4 board they alternate ram slots to run DC; this helps cool the sticks.
I have a OCZ Powerstream, where you can bump the 3.3 volt rail up to 3.8 using a screw in the back. I'm wondering whether you can just set the BIOS to 3.1 and bump VDIMM this way, without doing any mods or soldering per se? Let me check with OCZ about this.
But man, a separate power circuit for the NF4 chipset. That should really make the board fly for overclocking. I dare say the adjustable chipset voltage in the BIOS will indeed work on this board!
Posts: 234 | From: Japan | Registered: Dec 2004
quote: I have a OCZ Powerstream, where you can bump the 3.3 volt rail up to 3.8 using a screw in the back. I'm wondering whether you can just set the BIOS to 3.1 and bump VDIMM this way, without doing any mods or soldering per se? Let me check with OCZ about this.
Setting the input to the Vdimm Linear Power Supply to a higher level will not cause the Vdimm Linear Power Supply output to go higher without the "Standard 3.3V Mod" That is where one connects the 3.3V rail to the Vdimm with a piece of wire...
quote: But man, a separate power circuit for the NF4 chipset.
About half the boards I tested have Switching Regulator Power Supplies for the chipset...
Conclusion: With all things considered, the DFI nF4-Ultra-D would be better for you. The Vdimm can go to 4.0V in the BIOS. They have a jumper to move the Vdimm Power Supply from the 3.3V rail, to the 5V rail. Needs extra cooling though...
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
In doing additional testing with a Winchester 0433 3200 and a Venice 3200, I'm finding that the 9NPA+ is not Memtest stable at 9X300 with A-Data Vitesta DDR600 @ 200 1T 2.5-3-3-7
No matter what settings and voltages I throw at it, it crashes Memtest in test #4...
I know these parts are stable at these settings because using a MSI Neo4 Platinum as a control, they pass Memtest, SuperPI and Prime95....
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
It's been a while since I've posted results on this board, but the release yesterday of a BIOS addressing Overclocking has tweaked my interest...
Here's The Test System Specs: Epox EP-9NPA+Ultra A64 3200 Venice 5914 BIOS HTT: 3X Multiplier: 9X Vcore: 1.64V Vdimm: 3.0V Memory: 200 2T 2.5-4-7-3 2X512Meg G.Skill "LE" TCCD Chips (slots 1&2) eVGA PCX5750 Video Card Western Digital 30Gig ATA100 7200rpm Tagan 480Watt PSU Maze4 on CPU, stock HSF on the nF4 chip
Booting at 320...
1 loop of Memtest86 with 2X thru test #5...
SuperPI with CPU-Z and CPUID...
A64 Tweaker showing Memory Timings I used...
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
posted
Having been asked where to place the small blue aluminum heatsinks, I circled the FETs that need them. The most important are the 3 next to each other. They are the Vcore power supply FETs... I forget if there is 6 or 8 in the kit, so I showed 7
-------------------- Too Many Computers,... Too Little Time ..... Com'on AM4! Posts: 27487 | From: Fire Island, NY | Registered: Feb 2003
Topic Closed
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