Epox 4PCA3+ and P4 478 E0 Stepping

[Daytime Dreamer]

Hello everyone!

I'll be getting a used 4PCA3+ for 40 euros and i would like to combine it with a P4 Presscot E0 stepping to yield 4gigs ...

I've been searching around and there seems to be much confusion regarding bioses, VDIMM and VCORE options for this board.

Has anyone tried combining it with the above CPU and what BIOS is the best to use for the occasion? I'll be running 4X 512 Twinmoss UTT (AA4T) sticks in it ...

Thanks for any replies

[Daytime Dreamer]

...nobody?

[Firefoxx]

Don't expect something big from the UTT, most i875 Boards don't like these ramsticks.

[toledo]

Don't expect something big from the UTT, most i875 Boards don't like these ramsticks.

Have you tested UTTs in you mobo Firefoxx ? If so , how does it perform ?

[Reefa_Madness]

What revision mobo is that Epox?

The version 2 can give the ram up to 3.3v, which you would need with UTT, however, the version 2.2 got castrated, for lack of a better word, and is limited to either 2.9 or 3.0, I can't recall. Neither of those are high enough to be able to utilize the UTT so I would also suggest a different choice in ram...possibly some TCCD/TCC5 or some Hynix D5. Another choice of ram for that combo might be some Micron based ram like some used OCZ EB series or some Ballistix.

There is a lot of confusion about the BIOS versions for that board, as well as how they name things. If I remember correctly, the AGP voltage is really the NB. Also, I believe that when you flash to a Prescott supporting BIOS you loose the high end of the vcore. One of the guys that posts here on occassions, Clevor, has more experience with these boards than I do and might be able to help answer some of the questions you have posed. Another useful site, which you may already be familiar with is the AOOA. There are several threads there on this boards BIOS and some related issues. Links provided (in no particular order).

http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22927&page=1&pp=20

http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25708

http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22231

http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27600

One thing about the Epox board that is quirky...depending on which BIOS you are using the board may appear to shut off right after you start it, but then it restarts. It is really WEIRD and your first thought are that there is a problem and it is shutting down, but after 10-20 seconds, it continues with the BOOT process. Freaks you out the first few times. :)

[Daytime Dreamer]

Thanks Reefa ...

The board I got was a revision 1.2 ... so from my reading I guess the Vdimm goes up to only 3.0 (even though it states in the BIOS 3.3)

The guy that had this board had it for like 1,5 years doing heavy work with it and never had a problem. It still has the original BIOS (its never been flashed) and I dont know if it would work with a prescott ... (in the past it had a P4 northy 2.4)

For starters I'll look for a good E0 chip and run the RAM with a divider of 5/4 to see if I can hit 250FSB at least ...

[Reefa_Madness]

To run the Prescott you will need to flash to one of the newer BIOS. I think its the one dated mid to late Dec 2003 or early 2004, but it will limit your vcore. Epox really turned wimpy with this mobo. The 2.0 revision was a pretty overclocker's board but for some reason Epox started taking away all of the goodies. I seem to recall Clevor posting that these Epox mobos liked the Prescott cpu, or at least his do. He also has the EP-4PD2+ (865PE) in addition to the 4PCA3. I have both also, but have never run a Prescott in either one of them. Unfortunately, my 4PCA3 is the version 2.2, although when I bought it from newegg I was expection the rev 2.0. It is still a very nice mobo, but not suited to high voltage loving ram.

Anyway..good luck with your new combo.

[Daytime Dreamer]

I see ... I hope I'll find one of those good clocking - no voltage needed E0 Steppings ... will the Bios support at least 1,55 volts?

Maybe I'm better If I buy 2X1gb Patriot LL or Some Ballistix ram ...

I'll try and find Clevor through the forums!

Thanks again dude! :D