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Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2

  
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Graham6

External


Since: Oct 05, 2003
Posts: 5



(Msg. 1) Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2003 8:30 pm
Post subject: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2
Archived from groups: alt>comp>periphs>mainboard>epox (more info?)
I've recently obtained a computer based on the EP-MVP3C2 motherboard,
below is the information I have been able to obtain based on a quick
look inside the casing and from various benchmarking programs. The
Bios appears to be the 1999 revision.

CPU: AMD K6-2(Model Cool, 'Chomper'

RAM: 128MB SDRAM, installed as follows, DIMM1: 64Mb, DIMM2: 32MB,
DIMM3: 32MB.
(NOTE: Access to DIMM 2 and 3 is difficult due to location of Hard
Drive.)

SOUND: Sound Blaster, model unknown, PCI4

GRAPHICS: S3 ViRGE, Location, PCI3

HARD DRIVE: 10GB, model unknown.

I am not sure what power supply is fitted at the moment, according to
the manual it can handle either an ATX or AT power supply. CPUZ gives
a voltage of 2.224 - 2.240v.

I would like some advice on:

1. Is it worthwhile obtaining a new graphics card, and which model
would be most suitable?

2. What effects, if any does the Bios upgrade have?

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gdp1

External


Since: Jul 14, 2003
Posts: 6



(Msg. 2) Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 7:17 am
Post subject: Re: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
You should definitely upgrade the BIOS from the very old one you have.
The latest one for that mobo is at the <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.epox.nl" target="_blank">www.epox.nl</a> site.

These are the fixes up through 12/21/2000. The August 2001 BIOS on the
epox.nl site adds support for HDs up to 128 GB and some Win2K/WinXP
compatibility fixes. Obviously you only have to flash the latest one to
get all the fixes below.

Bios filename: vp3c0c21.bin
Bios date: 12/21/2000
Added support for EON flash ROM.

Bios filename: vp3c0919.bin
Bios date: 09/19/2000
Added compatibility with IDE hard drives up to 75GB.
Fixed COM port mouse cannot wake up system from ACPI S1 mode.
Fixed compatibility issue with LAN or SCSI cards hanging the system.

Bios filename: vp3c0615.bin
Bios date: 06/15/2000
Fixed ability to disable COM ports under ACPI mode.

Bios filename: vp3c0412.bin
Bios date: 04/12/2000
Increased IDE performance.

Bios filename: vp3c0309.bin
Bios date: 03/09/2000
Fixed AT power supply not working using EP-MVP3C and EP-MVP3C2.

Bios filename: vp3c9b30.bin
Bios date: 11/30/1999
Updated Rise CPU PR rating.
Fixed issue with L2 linear burst mode support and Cyrix MII CPU.
Added better SDRAM module support.
Fixed 128M(8M*16) SDRAM being detected as 32Mbyte.
Fixed >32GB IDE hard drive support.
Fixed SCSI HDD ability to be assigned as boot device.

Bios filename: vp3c9916.bin
Bios date: 09/16/1999
Added better ATA-66 performance with 596B, 596, 596A chipsets.
Added ability to select IRQ for PCI slots in the CMOS (PNP/PCI config).
Fixed system hang issue on soft reboot.

Bios filename: vp3c9820.bin
Bios date: 08/20/1999
Fixed Linux shutdown issue



Graham wrote:
 > I've recently obtained a computer based on the EP-MVP3C2 motherboard,
 > below is the information I have been able to obtain based on a quick
 > look inside the casing and from various benchmarking programs. The
 > Bios appears to be the 1999 revision.
 >
 > CPU: AMD K6-2(Model Cool, 'Chomper'
 >
 > RAM: 128MB SDRAM, installed as follows, DIMM1: 64Mb, DIMM2: 32MB,
 > DIMM3: 32MB.
 > (NOTE: Access to DIMM 2 and 3 is difficult due to location of Hard
 > Drive.)
 >
 > SOUND: Sound Blaster, model unknown, PCI4
 >
 > GRAPHICS: S3 ViRGE, Location, PCI3
 >
 > HARD DRIVE: 10GB, model unknown.
 >
 > I am not sure what power supply is fitted at the moment, according to
 > the manual it can handle either an ATX or AT power supply. CPUZ gives
 > a voltage of 2.224 - 2.240v.
 >
 > I would like some advice on:
 >
 > 1. Is it worthwhile obtaining a new graphics card, and which model
 > would be most suitable?
 >
 > 2. What effects, if any does the Bios upgrade have?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->

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Nitza666

External


Since: Aug 21, 2003
Posts: 51



(Msg. 3) Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 8:37 am
Post subject: Re: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
If it has an AGP port you could try to find a second hand Voodoo 3000 or if
it hasnt AGP port a Voodoo 2000-3000 PCI anything else you are wasting your
money.
"Graham" <gndonald2001.RemoveThis@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:149fdb93.0310051630.4359564d@posting.google.com...
 > I've recently obtained a computer based on the EP-MVP3C2 motherboard,
 > below is the information I have been able to obtain based on a quick
 > look inside the casing and from various benchmarking programs. The
 > Bios appears to be the 1999 revision.
 >
 > CPU: AMD K6-2(Model Cool, 'Chomper'
 >
 > RAM: 128MB SDRAM, installed as follows, DIMM1: 64Mb, DIMM2: 32MB,
 > DIMM3: 32MB.
 > (NOTE: Access to DIMM 2 and 3 is difficult due to location of Hard
 > Drive.)
 >
 > SOUND: Sound Blaster, model unknown, PCI4
 >
 > GRAPHICS: S3 ViRGE, Location, PCI3
 >
 > HARD DRIVE: 10GB, model unknown.
 >
 > I am not sure what power supply is fitted at the moment, according to
 > the manual it can handle either an ATX or AT power supply. CPUZ gives
 > a voltage of 2.224 - 2.240v.
 >
 > I would like some advice on:
 >
 > 1. Is it worthwhile obtaining a new graphics card, and which model
 > would be most suitable?
 >
 > 2. What effects, if any does the Bios upgrade have?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 
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JimL4

External


Since: Aug 31, 2003
Posts: 46



(Msg. 4) Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 12:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
You can go on ebay and find some 16mb video cards that will be fine
for your system.

However, I see that Fryes has a combo Amd Athlon XP 1800+ cpu and
K7S5A motherboard with built in 10/100 LAN and Audio for $64.95. I'd
rather spend my limited money on that.

Jiml




On 5 Oct 2003 17:30:42 -0700, gndonald2001.RemoveThis@yahoo.com.au (Graham)
wrote:

 >I've recently obtained a computer based on the EP-MVP3C2 motherboard,
 >below is the information I have been able to obtain based on a quick
 >look inside the casing and from various benchmarking programs. The
 >Bios appears to be the 1999 revision.
 >
 >CPU: AMD K6-2(Model Cool, 'Chomper'
 >
 >RAM: 128MB SDRAM, installed as follows, DIMM1: 64Mb, DIMM2: 32MB,
 >DIMM3: 32MB.
 >(NOTE: Access to DIMM 2 and 3 is difficult due to location of Hard
 >Drive.)
 >
 >SOUND: Sound Blaster, model unknown, PCI4
 >
 >GRAPHICS: S3 ViRGE, Location, PCI3
 >
 >HARD DRIVE: 10GB, model unknown.
 >
 >I am not sure what power supply is fitted at the moment, according to
 >the manual it can handle either an ATX or AT power supply. CPUZ gives
 >a voltage of 2.224 - 2.240v.
 >
 >I would like some advice on:
 >
 >1. Is it worthwhile obtaining a new graphics card, and which model
 >would be most suitable?
 >
 >2. What effects, if any does the Bios upgrade have?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 
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Graham6

External


Since: Oct 05, 2003
Posts: 5



(Msg. 5) Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 8:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
gdp <gphill4.RemoveThis@cox.net> wrote in message news:<v16gb.17508$Cp5.5511@news2.central.cox.net>...

 >
 > Bios filename: vp3c0309.bin
 > Bios date: 03/09/2000
 > Fixed AT power supply not working using EP-MVP3C and EP-MVP3C2.
 >

A few months ago I had the motherboard cleaned and the repair shop
tried to replace the AT PSU fitted with an ATX PSU, the report I got
back stated that the replacement, 'didn't post', so they had to return
the original power supply. Is this what they were referring to?

Also what type of AGP slot is the motherboard fitted with?

I've checked the manual and all it sais is that it is an AGP slot. The
only clue I have is that it has two uneven divisions, the shorter
division is towards the rear of the casing.

Graham<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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gdp1

External


Since: Jul 14, 2003
Posts: 6



(Msg. 6) Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2003 4:25 am
Post subject: Re: Advice on upgrading a system based on a EP-MVP3C2 [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Graham wrote:
 > gdp <gphill4 RemoveThis @cox.net> wrote in message news:<v16gb.17508$Cp5.5511@news2.central.cox.net>...
 >
 >
  >>Bios filename: vp3c0309.bin
  >>Bios date: 03/09/2000
  >>Fixed AT power supply not working using EP-MVP3C and EP-MVP3C2.
  >>
 >
 >
 > A few months ago I had the motherboard cleaned and the repair shop
 > tried to replace the AT PSU fitted with an ATX PSU, the report I got
 > back stated that the replacement, 'didn't post', so they had to return
 > the original power supply. Is this what they were referring to?
 >
 > Also what type of AGP slot is the motherboard fitted with?
 >
 > I've checked the manual and all it sais is that it is an AGP slot. The
 > only clue I have is that it has two uneven divisions, the shorter
 > division is towards the rear of the casing.
 >
 > Graham
As to the ATX supply not working, I don't think the problem was what was
referred to in the BIOS notes.

It has an AGP 1.0 specification slot which maxes out at AGP 2X speeds.
My MVP3G5 is the same, virtually. However, I've had a Radeon 9500Pro in
it and that's an AGP 8X card (max transfer is only 2X because of the
motherboard's AGP version). Mine can handle that fine. But, I can't
guarantee such cards will be stable with your motherboard.

George<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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