I read through this thread a long time ago but it will probably address most of the issues you would have had if you didn't buy and install the processor
http://forums.amdmb.com/showthread.php?threadid=167018
On a side note, I am also using the epox 8k7a motherboard and there haven't been any new bios updates in a long time (march 2002 according to here
http://www.epox.nl/english/support/bios/socketa.htm ).