3DVelocity would like to thank Epox-UK and especially Andrew Cotterill for their help and courtesy in providing this motherboard for review.

The BIOS :

One thing that needs praising is the excellent job Epox have done in the BIOS. There's a whole host of tweaks and options that should appeal to the true enthusiast from core and memory voltage nudges to the ability to assign IRQs to individual PCI slots. Rather than trawl through the entire BIOS, here's a look at some of the more interesting bits.

PC Health Status :

In addition to the usual data often found here, the 8KHA+ covers just about everything else too with voltage readings even for the AGP slot.

Frequency/Voltage Control :

Auto Detect DIMM/PCI Clk: When enabled the motherboard will automatically disable the clock source for a DIMM socket which does not have a module in it. Same applies for PCI slots. This setting will reduce the EMI. The default is Enabled.

Spread Spectrum: This item allows you to enable/disable the spread spectrum modulate.

CPU Clock: The mainboard is designed to set the CPU clock via BIOS. This item allows you to select the CPU Host clock speed by "Enter" key. The default speed depends on what CPU was installed. Note: Overclocking failure will cause system No display problem. At this moment, please press "Insert" key to back to the initial or default setting to boot up your system.

CPU Ratio: This item allows you to select the CPU ratio. If the CPU ratio is fixed. This item was no function.
Configuration options: [6.x]....[15.x] ,auto.

CPU Vcore Voltage: This item allows you to increase the CPU Vcore Voltage.
The Options: Default, ± 0.025V increment.

VDIMM Voltage: This item allows you to increase the DRAM voltage.
The options: Default, +0.1V increment.

PnP/PCI Configuration :

PNP OS Installed: Do you have a PNP OS installed on your system.
The default is No.

Reset Configuration Data: This setting allows you to clear ESCD data.
The default is Disabled Disabled: Normal Setting. Enabled: If you have plugged in some Legacy cards to the system and they were recorded into ESCD (Extended System Configuration Data), you can set this field to Enabled in order to clear ESCD.

Resources Controlled By: Who controlled the system PNP/PCI resources.
The default is Auto.
Manual: PNP Card's resources will be controlled manually. You can set which IRQ-X and DMA-X are assigned to PCI/ISA PNP or Legacy ISA Cards.
Auto: If your ISA card and PCI card are all PNP cards, BIOS will assign the interrupt resource automatically.

PCI/VGA Palette Snoop: Leave this field at Disabled.
The choice: Enabled, Disabled.

Assign 1RQ For VGA/USB: This item allows BIOS to assign whether IRQ is with VGA/USB or not. If you have not connect the VGA/USB device. Can release the IRQ for other device.
The default is Enabled.
Enabled: Provides IRQ for VGA/USB device. Disabled: Release IRQ for other device.

PCI Latency Timer (CLK): The latency timer defines the minimum amount of time, in PCI clock cycles, that the bus master can retain the ownership of the bus. The Choice: 0-255.

INT Pinl to Pin4 Assignment: These settings allow the user to specify what IRQ will be assigned to PCI devices in the chosen slot.
Options available: Auto,3,4,5,7,9, 10, 11, 12,14 & 15.
The defaults are Auto.

Advanced Chipset/DRAM Clock/Drive Control:

System Performance : This item will help you to configure your system performance quickly and easily. There are four selections. When a selection is mode, the other related items will automatically vary values.
The Choice: Normal, Fast, Fastest, Turbo.
Note: If you select the higher performance, compatibility problem could occurr.

Current FSB Frequency: CPU clock frequency information. (No option/ Display only).
Current DRAM Frequency: DRAM frequency information. (No option/ Display only).

DRAM Clock: The item will synchronize/asynchronize DRAM clock operation.
l00MHz: DRAM is running at l00MHz frequency.
133MHz: DRAM is running at 133MHz frequency.
By SPD: SDRAM clock by SPD data.

DRAM Timing: Select SPD for setting SDRAM timing by SPD.
The Choice: Manual, SPD.

SDRAM Cycle length: This setting defines the CAS timing parameter of the SDRAM in terms of clocks.
Default is by SPD.
The Choice: 2, 2.5, 3. (Note: Nice to see the addition of a CAS3 option here!!)

Bank Interleave: The item allows you to set how many banks of SDRAM support in your mainboard.
Default is by SPD.
The Choice: 2 Bank, 4 Bank, Disabled.

DRAM PreChrg to Act CMD: Setup the minimum row precharge time.
The Choice: 2T, 3T.

DRAM Act to PreChrg CMD: Setup the minimum RAS pulsewidth.
The Choice: 5T, 6T.

DRAM Active to CMD: Setup the minimum CAS to RAS delay.
The Choice: 2T, 3T.

DRAM Queue Depth:
The Choice: 4 level, 2 level, 3 level.

DRAM Drive Strength: Setup the DRAM's driving current strength.
The Choice: Auto, Manual.

DRAM Command Rate: Setup the timing at each cycle.
The Choice: 1T Command, 2T Command.

DCLKI/O Timing:
The Choice: 0ns, 0.5ns, 1ns, Auto.

Fast R-W Turn Around: This item controls the DRAM timing. It allows you to enable/disable the fast/write turn around.
The Choice: Enabled, Disabled.

Continuous DRAM Request:
The Choice: Enabled, Disabled.

As you can see, this is a pretty well specified BIOS with a lot of room for experimentation. The voltage tweaks may be a touch limiting for some with just a +0.1V increase option on the VDIMM, but with many board makers not adding even this it's hard to complain. The mulipliers all the way up to 15x should also add a little future-proofing.

All in all it's top marks for a job well done, and with an already impressive overclocking performance at stock settings anyway, these performance options can be looked upon as just more icing on the cake.

Page 5, Benchmarks and conclusion