GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Server 2008 R2 DMA CRC Errors

[porpoisehork]

I have a GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 rev 1.3 with BIOS F12. AHCI is enabled for both SATA controllers. Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 SP1 is installed. The machine runs well and has no issues, but in checking the SMART Data I see that I have DMA CRC Errors on all but 1 hard drive.

• All drive slots are full, and the drives are a mix of Western Digital EARS, EADS and Samsung HD204UIs.
• The 1 drive that doesn't show errors shows up as "CH4 S" in the BIOS, and the SATA Blu-ray Drive shows up as "CH4 M". All other drives show up as SCSI-#.
• I get the errors whether I use the default Server 2008 R2 drivers, or install the Windows 7 drivers from Gigabyte.
• I replaced all the cables with new ones, and the same issue occurs for all drives, except the one in IDE mode.

I have another setup that is almost the same as this PC, but it runs Windows 7 x64, so I am going to try installing that and see if i have the same issues. I was also going to try re install Server 2008 after changing AHCI mode to IDE mode in the BIOS, though I don't really want to lose Hotswap and NCQ.

I'm wondering if anyone else is running Server 2008 R2 x64 SP1 successfully on this board without and CRC errors, and if so what you AHCI/Driver configuration is. I have 3 of thee boards that I would like to use with Server 2008 R2, so I'd really like to find a fix.

I'm also wondering if the errors mean I'm actually losing data or have data corruption. The server runs fine. Drive/copy speeds are excellent. These are the only errors on any of the drives, and the number of errors is low (less than 20 per drive) and climbs slowly. I would assume when the CRC check fails that the data is re-written with a successful check, but that could be a bad assumption, and I can't seem to find out what happens when the CRC error is encountered when I try to Google it.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

-ph

[Fatman]

Ran Check disk to see if any bad sectors? I guess it could be anything really?


Come across to the darkside from Evga huh??

[porpoisehork]

Yes, I did a check-disk and they all seem fine. The Disk tools for each shows no errors.

Yes, I'm not happy with Gigabyte at the moment

[Fatman]

Try a thread in this forum, you may have a bit better luck...........


http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/

[porpoisehork]

It ended up being a defective board. The Windows 7 and IDE-Mode installs produced the same errors. I installed 2008 Server on the sister rig and it worked fine. I swapped boards and the CRC errors followed the board.

Now I just have to deal with Gigabyte's ridiculous RMA process ...
(1) Have a technician confirm it's the board
(2) Hang up
(3) Do a web RMA
(4) Wait 2 days for the RMA to get approved
(5) Call customer service back to change the RMA to an advance RMA
(6) Finally get replacement product

Really Gigabyte? The technician I was on the phone with couldn't approve the RMA and save me 2 days time and additional customer service calls?

You make nice boards, but your customer service process needs some work. 

[Fatman]

Glad you got that sorted ph......I knew you would as I have seen your posts on the evga forums.

As far as the Tech guy you got LOL, well it's probably like most departments everywhere, they all seem to have at least one moron on the floor and it seems like I'm not the only one who gets them HAHAHAHAHA.

[porpoisehork]

Thanks ... that's a different porpoisehork though

Actually, as far as customer service and support staff go they have been very good - the were friendly, helpful, responsive, and tried very hard to get me the replacement as fast as they could ... I can only fault their horrible, slow process, non-customer-centric process. I can't even fault their unwillingness to go outside the process since they probabily get yelled at for doing so.

[Fatman]

Oh ok my apologies. I just thought seeing your tag was unusual it must have been one and the same. I'm happy that you have got your issue sorted and again my sincere apologies for the mixup!