Annoying issues with X58A-UD3R

[happyhammer7]

Right, where to start.

I purchased the above board from Scan a couple of months ago.
The system has been running OK to this point (with the exception of RMAing my corsair RAM back to scan as one stick had died).

Anyway, I have encountered an extremely irritating and performance relating issue.

I currently have x3 hard drives in my system, x2 Samsung F3 Spinpoint and a Western Digital (all 1TB).

I decided to implement a raid 0 configuration using the Samsung HDD, using the Intel Onboard controller.

I went into the Bios to change the config to XHD & Raid. Both drives are plugged into the first x2 ports on the Intel controller.

I then proceeded to build the Raid 0 array and went to install the OS. I downloaded the pre-install raid drivers from the Intel website (latest) and installed these before installation of the OS.

I then booted into the OS and proceeded to install the latest Gigabyte Drivers.

I was greeted with constant "not responding" messages on opened windows and the free space on C: was jumping all over the place (should of ben 1.7TB but dropped to 10GB and gradually increased back up to the correct capacity, when I refreshed the My Computer page. This happened when writing to the drive (installing drivers/software but there was not always a constant pattern.).


The system was completely unstable so I carried out further tests. I ran Samsung's estool utility on both drives (full tests) and both were fine as well as different Sata cables.. I then proceed to move both drives off the Intel ICH10R controller over to the Gigabyte SATA 2 controller and low and behold, same issue. So this rules out any issue with the drivers.

I decided to revert back to a single drive and I have now noticed that this capacity issue is happening on a single drive. Also, I am getting "not responding" issues but not nearly as many as I did on raid 0. I then installed the OS onto the other spinpoint drive and it still does exactly the same thing.

I also ran memtest86, which is also fine.

I am running the latest FE bios for the board, so everything is up to date. This board is making my system completely unstable and I have ran out of ideas.

Can anyone help me with this as it is really hacking me off?

Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Interesting problem. I think I would suggest trying running the Western Digital as boot drive as long as it's not one of the "Green" versions and see if that still has the same problems.

Your RAID cannot be switched from one controller to another without rebuilding it totally.

The GSATA ports are the slowest ports on  the motherboard.

[happyhammer7]

Nope still doing the same thing. I have now tried everything possible. The not responding errors appear straight after a fresh install, and the free space on the c: is jumping everywhere. I cannot use this system as it is so unstable. But I just don't know where to start. The system is only a couple of months old so everything is in warranty but where the hell do I start? 

[Dark Mantis]

Right if you want to get to the bottom of it I suggest that you remove the motherboard/CPU/heatsink/fan/ buzzer/one module of memory in the DDR3_1 slot and PSU from the case and lay it on a cardboard box or similar.

Make sure that you observe anti-static precautions.

Lay some cardboard or use the motherboard box that is non-conductive on the worktop and remove the motherboard/CPU/heatsink/fan/buzzer/one stick of memory and PSU from the case and put it on the cardboard.

Add the keyboard and now I know you haven't got any graphics but try and boot. The system should try and then fail emitting a series of beeps. Please post what sounds it makes.

[happyhammer7]

I don't have a buzzer unfortunately. I have posted this issue on different forums and it has confused many people 

In your opinion, if you was to guess, from your experience, what do you think it might be? I know you maybe reluctant too but I need some more ideas. Thanks for your help.

[Dark Mantis]

Well while we are wildly guessing....maybe a short to the chassis, I would also want to do a sustained test of the memory module by module. I would also check the CPU socket for any bent pins.

Get a buzzer. For the sake of a few pence it can save you wasted hours.

[happyhammer7]

I did gut the computer completely and rebuilt it. I removed the processor and there are no bent pins on the motherboard. When you say short to the chasis, do you mean metal to metal contact? If so, would that cause permanent damage to the board?

Sorry not overly technical as this is my first build.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes often a short is when a motherboard mounting post has been put in the wrong place or extra ones added. It can of course be caused by other things too. It doesn't always cause a permant fault or damage to the board.

The thing is you have been playing around with this system for a while and got nowhere so you need to take it back to the very basics and go from there.

[happyhammer7]

Yes often a short is when a motherboard mounting post has been put in the wrong place or extra ones added. It can of course be caused by other things too. It doesn't always cause a permant fault or damage to the board.

The thing is you have been playing around with this system for a while and got nowhere so you need to take it back to the very basics and go from there.

You will be happy to hear that I just brought a buzzer 
Anyway, would that indicate if there is a fault on start up? I need nothing pop up during the post that was out of the ordinary.

[Dark Mantis]

Firstly you have to make sure that it is installed the correct way as these are polarity concious and will only work one way round.

If everything was perfect it would emit one beep on finishing POST. Obviously if there is an error then it will give more than one beep, some long some short.

[happyhammer7]

Does the post beeps always pick up errors then?
It is strange because when I am installing software with the my computer window open, the drive capacity disappears then reappears again showing a drastic reduction in capacity. Everytime I press the refresh arrow, it gradually goes back up to full capacity.

When the software/driver has been installed, the drive returns back to normal. I did think there may have been an issue with the sata controller but I tried both the GIGABYTE SATA 2 controller as well as the ICH10R. Could this still be a possibility that the sata interface is faulty?

[Dark Mantis]

It is not a problem that I have come across before exactly so it is hard to be sure what could be causing it. It could be a motherboard fault.

As I said before all this guessing isn't getting you anywhere. You need to start doing some meticulous faultfinding.

[happyhammer7]

True. Well I will do what you suggest and let you know how I get on.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[Dark Mantis]

Well I am always on the forum here so if you need more help or guidance just post again.

[happyhammer7]

Just tested an I get 1 long beep followed by 2 quick short beeps