GA-X58A-UD3R - Can't make a 3T Raid Array

[RzB]

Motherboard GA-X58A-UD3R - Rev 1.0 - Bios F7L
Intel Matrix Storage Manager ROM Ver 8.9.1.1002
Windows 7 Home + Latest Fixes
Drives 3T WD-3003FZ x 2

I am trying to set up a mirrored Array of 3T on the ICH10R interface.

In the BIOS there is a setting "Intergated Peripherals > ICH SATA Controller Mode" that needs to be set to "Raid (XHD)" if drives on the controller are going to be used in a raid array.

However if this setting is set to "Raid (XHD)" then the size of the 3T disks in Windows Disk Management and the Intel Matrix Storage Manager show up as 746 GB - not 3T.

If I set the mode to "IDE" I am able to go into Windows Disk Management and initialise the disks using GPT and format them as 3T disks.

Going back to the BIOS and setting "Raid (XHD)" mode still leaves the drives at 3T in windows. However in the Intel Matrix Storage Manager thet show up as 746G and I am unable to create a 3T array.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Roy

[shadowsports]

Roy,
For Rev 1.0 of your board.  The gigabyte site states you need BIOS FG1 for 3TB+ disk support.  Also, ensure you are using the latest Intel Matrix Storage Manager Drivers in Windows.  Hope this helps.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3449#bios

[RzB]

Shadowsport - many thanks for you response.

I think you are looking at Rev 2.0 - the link you gave is Rev 2.0 - FG1 is for Rev 2.0

My board is Rev 1.0. I have F8L BIOS installed - the comments for F8L say support for 3T+ HDDs. However it doesn't say Support for 3T+ HDDs in RAID mode. It does indeed support 3T+ drives in IDE mode, but as soon as I set RAID mode it reports the drives as 746GB.

The board is 4 years old now - doesn't time fly! So my guess is that Gigabyte are not keen to spend too much time on BIOS upgrades for it. Can't say as I blame them.

Anyway, good excuse to upgrade - I have purchased a GA-Z87X-UD5H rev 1.1, i7, and 16G of memory. I'm assured that supports 3T+ HDDs in RAID mode. We shall see.

Roy