Looks like EPOX finally listened.

From the 9/15/05 BIOS txt file:

Mainboard Model(s)
EP-9NDA3+

BIOS FILE NAME:
9ND35915.BIN

BIOS FILE DATE:
09/15/2005

BIOS Part No:
6A61CPAE

Boot Title:
09/15/2005 For nForce3 Ultra Chipset

BIOS Checksum:
0B00 (h)

Workaround :
1.Support K8 939 dualcore CPU.
2.Fixed Winboad W39V040AP flash fail if S3 support define.
3.Show EPoX MB information.
4.Show Sempron 64 bit.
5.Show DDR433,466 and 500.
6.Solve K8 engineer sample CPU hang in 29h.
7.Show SATA1 or SATA2 string.
8.Support F75121 and Atxp9 negative Vcore voltage adjust.

It's not available for download on the US site yet, but Magic BIOS downloads it.

How about my EP-9NDA3J mobo's? it's the same? can support dual core? How about Opterons?

From the Taiwan website:

date: 2005-10-17
version: 05.10.14
file name: da3j5a14.zip
** Support K8 939 dual core CPU.
** Fixed winbond W39V040AP flash fail if S3 suport define.
** Show Epox MB information.
** Show Sempron 64 bit.
** Show DDR433,466 and 500.
** Show SATA1 or SATA2 string.
** Support F75121 and Atxp9 negative Vcore voltage adjust.

Yes, the EP-9NDA3J supports dual core CPU (there's an update for the EP-9NDAI for dual core as well).

Opterons are 940 pin, so they will not fit your board. They also require registered memory (last I knew), which adds latency (it's a little slower). The support added to the EP-9NDA(X) boards was for the Athlon X2 processor line

Correction - there are 939 Opterons. You get 1MB L2, but they're more expensive. Couldn't find anything about being able to use non-ECC ram with them. I'm not sure if they are supported yet. See Bluetooth's post on a future BIOS release to support some Opterons - makes me think you should stick with a Athlon X2 if you wnat dual core.

Update - from what I can tell, the 939 Opterons do not require registered memory. Only the 940 do. So once the cpu table is updated in the BIOS to recognise the CPUID, it should be able to be used.

Anyone bought the Opteron 165?

I'm still waiting for the X2 3800 to get cheaper (and actually affordable) - I guess it will happen with the next round of new models, as it has stayed the same for a while now.

Hi,

I have an Opteron 165 that I OC'd to 2.35 Ghz, steady, stock cooler,average 44-47C under heavy load, 37-40C idle.

Actually, I went to 265 FSB 1:1 with Samsung TCCD (G. Skill), then backed off for extra stability, (since I use the machine as a DAW to record my songs).

That's on an MSI K8N nForce4 board (non SLI). Reduced the multiplier to 4, and left everything else alone.

The chip SCREAMS. For $330 bucks,and OC'd properly, you get the value of 4800 and you can spank the 4400, which this appears to be a detuned version of, but on better silicone.

Hope this helps!

Best,

Mark

Edited to add temp. info and for clarity.

[ 08. January 2006, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: Jeraz ]

The X2 3800 is now just under $300, but the new job is offset by the new house and new wife and family (2 step-kids). Guess I'll have to wait until it's almost obsolete and drops to atound $200 - that's where I waited for the last few CPU's I've bought to drop to. Comparing Opterons to X2, I've seen several posts of people getting 2.9-3.0 on air with good cooling. Looks like the Opterons are the better OC right now.

AMD just dropped prices yesterday, so you may see the trickle down soon.

Congrats on those quaility life problems!