X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

[Tenchuka]

Hi all,

I've been struggling on a long time, I am also trying my luck on gigabyte.co.uk hopefully anyone here would have experience this common problem.

I have a X58-UD5 and used to run a Raid 10 on the Intel ICH10R with 4 x 1 To HD with no problem on Win 8.1

Then I switch to 4 x3 To HD seagate ST3000DM001-1ER166CC25 and the ICH10R only reconized them as 700 Go.

I Flash the bios to last non Beta version FE5 and update INTEL RST drivers, still the MB doesn't reconized them at startup as 3 To so ican't buid the array, but windows 8.1 understand they are 3 To.

I cant' do "Real" Raid 10 sofware on win 8.1, it is a tweak to acheve array and miror that doesn't give you 4x read speed.

I tried FF1 bios, which is the last but in beta version with no luck either. I read on some forums with assus MB that people tries to flash the Intel Chipset Rom, which i am not enought experienced and confortable for doing so.

If Anyone as a clue, please share !

Thanks in advance
Tenchuka

[profJim]

Re: X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

Welcome to the forum.

Your 3TB problem is probably due to using an older Storage Controller version that can't deal with 3TB hard drives.
See Hard disk case: capacity is not correct for more information.

My EP45-UD3P has no problem with GPT formatted 3TB hard drives (non-raid) using the Intel 11.2.0.1006 Storage Controller driver.
After I unzipped 11.2 storage controller, I used Device Manager's Storage Controller Update Driver option, used the Browse my computer for driver software and used Search for driver software in this location to select the folder with the unzipped 11.2 files.
I have also installed RST 11.2.0.1006 software to manage my raid 0 ssd array.



Performance of the Intel RST/RSTe AHCI/RAID Drivers
Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers?
Intel RST/RSTe Drivers (newest: v14.7.0.1000 WHQL/v4.3.0.1198 WHQL) --> use this link to download Intel RST AHCI/RAID Drivers & Software Set v11.2.0.1006 WHQL

RST System Report (abbreviated)

System Information
OS name:  Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 
OS version:  6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 7601
System name:  EP45-UD3P-RAID0
System manufacturer:  Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System model:  EP45-UD3P
Processor:  GenuineIntel Intel64 Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 10 3.4  GHz
BIOS:  Award Software International, Inc., F11d

Intel� Rapid Storage Technology
Kit installed:  11.2.0.1006
User interface version:  11.2.0.1006
Language:  English (United States)
Intel RAID controller:  Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller
Number of SATA ports:  6
RAID option ROM version:  [B][COLOR="#FF0000"]8.9.1.1002[/COLOR][/B]
Driver version:  11.2.0.1006
ISDI version:  11.2.0.1006

Hardware Information
Name:  Array_0000       
Size:  466 GB
Available space:  0 GB
Disk data cache:  Enabled
Number of volumes:  1
Volume member:  BX100_raid0
Number of disks:  2
Array disk:  1503F001F02C
Array disk:  1511F0046640

Name:  BX100_raid0
Status:  Normal
Type:  RAID 0
Size:  466 GB
Data stripe size:  32 KB
Write-back cache:  Disabled
System volume:  Yes  
Initialized:  Yes  
Verification errors found:  0
Blocks with media errors:  0
Physical sector size:  512 Bytes
Logical sector size:  512 Bytes
Parent array:  Array_0000       
Number of disks:  2
Array disk:  1503F001F02C
Array disk:  1511F0046640

My 8.9.1.1002 raid Orom is not optimal, but this will be fixed when I flash my bios with a modded bios that includes the 11.2 option rom.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...fied-bios.html has several modded bios downloads for your motherboard, but none of them include the 11.2 version. As I recall the 11.6 version has a serious memory leak and should be avoided.

[Tenchuka]

Re: X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

Hi Jim,

Thank you very much for your clear answer and the links you provided.
I got a better understanding now of how it works. And many thanks for the tweaks bios links too.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...fied-bios.html has several modded bios downloads for your motherboard, but none of them include the 11.2 version. As I recall the 11.6 version has a serious memory leak and should be avoided.

How bad do you think the leak is ? i made a research on the net and they said the 11.5 is the worst, something like 700 mo of Ram is blocked at the end of a day. I tried the updated bios and it works weel on my MB, allowing the 3to capacity on all disk for building the raid array. i'll check tonight how the memory is spent, if it is really a problem i will reverse back to official Bios.

The thing is i don't have an available pci-E port for buying an hardware raid card, and it will be a shame to change MB just for this so i am gonna check if the situation is acceptable or not, I moslty use this Computer for Video editing and grading.

Again much thanks for your quick and precise response it was very helpful,
Tenchuka

[profJim]

Re: X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

Your welcome, I'm glad to hear that you are making progress.

A quick web search mentions the 11.5 IRST as the version that Intel had pulled from their download list.
The 11.6 version is probably OK.

A quick scan in the http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...fied-bios.html thread shows the following modded bios versions for your X58A-UD5 rev2 motherboard:

• Intel RAID for SATA 12.7.0.1936
• IRST 11.6.0.1624
• IRST 11.5.0.1582
• IRST 11.1.0.1347
• IRST 11.1.0.1413

Which bios version did you flash with?

As I recall you can see memory leak in windows Task Manager by watching the Nonpaged Kernal Memory (MB) value in the Performance tab get larger throughout the day.

[Tenchuka]

Re: X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

You right there is a 12.7.0.1936 version, i just installed it, looks like it working without hassle.

GA-X58A-UD5 Rev2.0 Bios Ff3 mod3 Update with... Intel RAID for SATA 12.7.0.1936 Realtek LAN 2.58 Jmicron RAID SATA 1.07.28 Marvell Bios Version 1.0.0.1033

Many thanks for the help, i wasn't really confortable spending money on a raid solution, I hate the logic of a certain fruit compagny that says if you want a little something more you have to pay a lot more. I prefer to fix it !

Thanks also to the community who settle the Bios.

May you walk on warm sand,
Tenchuka.

[profJim]

Re: X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

The forum members that built and maintain the mod bios thread have done an outstanding job. Fernando's win-raid.com site is an amazing resource that helps many people too.

The only warm sand that I'll see is in my dreams.
At this time of year in western Washington state we average about 1/4" (~ 6mm) of "liquid sunshine" most days until early March or April and the warm & dry weather doesn't really return until late June or early July.

Summer and early fall are great here so I don't have any complaints.
Enjoy your 4 x 3TB raid 10 system. It's good to see that you now have it up and running.

[Tenchuka]

Re: X58A-UD5 rev2: Raid with 3 To HD doesn't work

It is running so nice, i tested it and i got the speed i need for my video work.

The warm sand is also in my dreams here in France, but we are also lucky that the cold is not as it is normally at this season.

All the best profJim,