X58A-UD7 and (e)SATA jmicron controller

[_saiko]

Hi,

Running W7 x64 and the MB is X58A-UD7 with i7 950.
Got all drivers for the mobo installed from the dvd install disk that came along.

I'm having trouble with the eSATA controller (2x backpanel USB/eSATA combo connectors) jmicron JMB362.
I can't get the controller to issue the "spindown" or stop command to the SATA drive.
"Safely remove" appears in the tray and I can get it to "eject" but it stays spinning.
Also when the PC shuts down the drive stays spinning!
HotSwap!.exe and sdparm.exe can't spindown too!

Now this is all different with the controller integrated in the ICH10 southbridge (6x SATA internal connectors).
I can use both HotSwap!.exe and sdparm.exe to spin down the drive.
Also when shutting down the PC, the drive stops spinning.


What could be the problem?
The jmicron controller SHOULD be made exactly for eSATA and hotplug so spindown is a MUST.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Have you tried updating the drivers and what BIOS version are you running at present?
It is usually better to download the drivers from the website as they are normally newer than the ones provided on disk.

[_saiko]

Forgot to say it's a rev 2.0 X58A-UD7 board.

The BIOS is "FB". The latest one is beta as I see.
The same problem appears in linux - hd/sdparm doesn't spin the drive down (on ICH10 works flawless) so it's probably not the drivers fault as sdparm works on a standard specification :\

[Dark Mantis]

True the latest BIOS version available is a beta still but it will be upgraded very shortly as it is now on the website and that normally means it is near the end of testing. It is FC7 and is available here :

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3527&dl=1#bios

I would advise you to run the update (using QFlash of course) and see if it is addressed in there.

 

[_saiko]

Isnt there some version change log?
All I see is USB3 update...

Anyhow can somebody confirm the issue?

[Dark Mantis]

There is never any real information in the change log  It is something that we have been complaining about for ages.

[_saiko]

I see you have the same MB
can you try to connect the drive to esata and see what happens when you shutdown?

[_saiko]

Small update:

my bad, the linux hdparm command actually works and the drive spins down. It even spins down on shutdown!

So the BIOS and the controller itself is just fine.

Obviously the Windows drivers are the problem here.
I'll compare the current installed version and the newest availlable.

Installed the newest drivers 1.17.59.0 for jmicron controller (listed as gigabyte sata2 controller) over 1.17.55.0.
NO change. 

[JakeF150]

Oops, you were talking eSATA and I answer USB, never mind.

I have a UD5, but is not the USB 3.0 controller the same?
The latest version of the Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller/Root Hub (Win7 64) is 2.0.30.0.  And there was a firmware update there as well.

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/gigabyte/ga-x58a-ud5.htm

[Wonderwrench]

Is the eSATA controller set to AHCI mode in the bios?

Bill

[_saiko]

Im talking about the other sata2 controller alternative to the intel sata2 controller.
Yes AHCI is enabled.