Official GIGABYTE Forum
Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with Intel processors => Topic started by: jonathan7007 on September 17, 2010, 05:37:37 am
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All,
I have read of many other Marvell problems since this Spring (going back through your messages...) when I built a new rig with
X58A-3udr Gigabyte mobo - still on F1 BIOS
i7 - 920 no o/c
6Gig Crucial 1066 RAM
JBOD including two Barrcuda XTs SATA-III
Crucial 300 SSD as boot on SATA-II
Please read this if you have time and tell me if I have faulty Marvell controller or just don't know how to switch the I/O and the right order of events during the OS install process.! Sorry for the wordy post but I thought the details and order were important. I have been chasing the e-mail tech support people for a week but as many of you have experienced, no matter how I ask the question, the words that come back answer a question I didn't ask! Or are unintelligible.
I made a mistake in March and loaded Win7-64 under IDE. I used the machine for a while but had always hoped to re-install.This is a production machine for my imaging work, not just a hobby, although I enjoy making everything work well together. I started on the IDE-AHCI switch and necessary re-install a while ago to be ready for my next professional project. Now the beginning of that project is 24 hours away.
When this all started I resolved to be careful. I studied their site and the supplied 136-page mobo documentation and carefully changed three settings in the BIOS to insure AHCI on all the controllers. I watched boot screens carefully to make sure I had a completely AHCI - enabled disk I/O. (I photographed the fast-paging screens to make sure I could read the lists.) However, the Marvell chip-driven SATA-III connectors (there are 2) kept displaying on the first boot page as IDE. Only if I moved the connectors to the SATA-II run by the Intel chip would they (two Barracuda XTs) display during boot as AHCI.
So I sent a message to Gigabyte asking why, and noting all the system info. Yes, there are BIOS updates but I told them I'd do those after the re-install (I don't like changing too many pieces at once) unless they knew that an update was required for the moves I was making. The first several answers were garbled and didn't answer my questions. After some back and forth I replied finally that they were "not reading carefully enough" and the next answer was composed in much better English. (I know they are in Taipei but the tech staff handling the English-speaking world ought to be better trained.)
This better-written answer said I could not move any connectors after an install. However, the response (yet again) did not answer the lingering question about why the SATA-III connectors still look like IDE to the boot process. This makes me CRAZY.
By this time I had re-installed the OS with all the SATA connectors attached to the Intel-driven I/O, SATA-II, which was the only way I could get an all-AHCI boot. I had placed a new Crucial 300SSD in the case for the new boot drive, and the install went smoothly and very fast. I left the Marvell and Gigabyte-driven SATA connectors empty, figuring that I could switch them after all drivers were loaded. I knew I had everything as AHCI during boot.
So-Now that I had Win7 running, with Marvell driver and some other drivers (all from the web site to be up-to-date), all apps reloaded, I moved the connectors before I saw the GB's tech response saying I could not do so. The Barracuda XTs went to the SATA-III. I added another drive to SATA-II, a WD 150gig Velicoraptor. Nothing in the docs says I can't move cables and I have never seen a reference to connector-move-restrictions reading hundreds of posts. I guess everyone just knew this. Oooops, my bad.
I saw no operating problems with the connectors moved around as I want them. However, I immediately again saw the SATA-III HDs on the IDE page (first) in the boot screens. So I can say that I have never seen the Marvell SATA lconnect as AHCI.
Could this be hardware related? It's more like firmware or driver related?
The machinery all looks OK in Device Manager, but I do not know how to interpret the "Location" parameters shown for each HD in the Properties. I have re-installed the Marvell driver as a hopeful move. But the "Devices" icons in Win7 (not Device manager) have an icon for Marvell and mousing over that icon shows no driver installed. Weird.
But I sure want to avoid the time sink of going through the whole process again. CS4, Photoshop 5, Office 2010, PaperPort, OmiPage, many little utilities, yada, yada, yada.
1. How do I get all these drives attached through AHCI? All BIOS settings are right.
2. Why are the Marvell-driven connectors resisting AHCI assignment?
Comments, anyone?
Jonathan7007
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Hi and welcome to the forum Johnathan.
What I don't understand is why you want to use AHCI anyway. The stability isn't as good as IDE mode and the performance hit is negligable. The only benefit is if you want the "hot swap" capabilities. The Marvell SATA3 ports are no good for RAID only for standalone drives.
I think we all understand your frustration at the answers received from GGTS in Taiwan. It is only when you complain that it is passed to a proper English speaker.
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Hi there,
I'm on an AMD board that uses the Marvell 9128 controller and recently I have been doing a lot of testing, trying to fathom out the best configuration with this chip to no avail.
I have been able to get RAID0 running but only with SATA2 HDD's, in IDE mode and the performance is only as good as the standard SATA2 controller on my board. AHCI has never worked properly on the Marvell chip and I am at a loss to give an explanation. I have tried with HDD's from Western Digital, Hitachi, Seagate and Samsung so I don't believe it is a drive related issue.
In IDE it works OK but again, there is no real gain over the SATA2 connectors with standard HDD's. Even mechanical SATA3 drives do not gain by being connected to the Marvell ports.
In IDE mode there are no drivers installed for the Marvell 9128 Controller, if I check in Windows Device Manager and if I run Driver Update to find drivers it reports that I am running the best available.
I do not have an SSD so I'm not sure of the gains that would been shown by using one of these drives, however I think even with an SSD the AHCI mode would not work properly.
As I said before, this is on an AMD board, the GA-790XTA-UD4 and I don't know how relevant this info is with regard to the mobo that you are running but I think that all info helps and it shows that the problems aren't limited to the Intel platform.
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Marvell runs just fine in AHCI mode, and the Marvell or MSAHCI drivers are loaded and used which you can see once in the OS.
I think what you are seeing may be something to do with how Gigabyte names/does things, like how the SATA Drives are called IDE in Standard CMOS and other places.
It does work in AHCI mode, no problem, if you need some images of this in action let me know
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Marvell runs just fine in AHCI mode, and the Marvell or MSAHCI drivers are loaded and used which you can see once in the OS.
I think what you are seeing may be something to do with how Gigabyte names/does things, like how the SATA Drives are called IDE in Standard CMOS and other places.
Hi Lsdmeasap. This was something absic and I discussed and on looking for the driver I couldn't find one anywhere in Windows in fact there was no mention of any Marvell controller in Device Manager that I could see at all. I do know what you mean about Gigabyte's weird conventions on naming though. ;)
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Here is some images from my Controller comparison, the Marvell controller is in Device manager as you can see I have the controller dialog pulled up in these images to show what controller is in use. You can either install a driver to it or not. And if you do, that is not necessarily the driver that controls the disk itself either (That's decided upon OS Install)
Click to Enlarge
MSAHCI Driver used, AHCI Mode
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3707/singlemarvell9128msahci.jpg) (http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3707/singlemarvell9128msahci.jpg)
mv91xx Driver used, AHCI Mode
(http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8362/marvellsinglec300s.jpg) (http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/5996/marvellsinglec300l.jpg)
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Thanks for the pics. Interesting though because I don't get any Marvell device showing up at all even though it's working fine. Maybe it's because I'm using IDE mode in the BIOS settings. :-\
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It seems as if there is a driver but that it is being reported incorrectly in Windows 7 64 bit.
(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2082/drivere.jpg) (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/drivere.jpg/)
Like DM I am running in IDE mode but on the AMD platform
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No you see I don't even get that.
(http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2382/capturewc.png) (http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2382/capturewc.png)
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Not the only thing you're lacking then DM. ;D
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I know. It's a hard life :'(
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You guys are too funny!
Why are both of you running 9128 on IDE anyway?
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cos AHCI won't work on my system!
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And from my viewpoint there was no real reason to enable AHCI as I found the speed increrase was nearly non existant and the stability seemed better in IDE mode. Also I had no use for Hot Swapping at the moment.
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cos AHCI won't work on my system!
Did you update the firmware on the 9128 chip via the BIOS setting? If not try that, I've never seen anyone but you guys even use IDE on these controllers, let alone say you can't use AHCI....
What happens when you set AHCI? It fails to load windows or what? Be sure you do the AHCI Registry mod first if you installed in IDE Mode.
DM, AHCI is much faster, if you want I can make a comparison later today maybe if I get some free time.
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Yes, I tried all methods of getting AHCI to run stably on the Marvell Controller but, I'm not running an SSD and I don't know if that makes a difference.
Before you ask, yes the HDD's are capable of running with AHCI and with mechanical HDD's I think that there isn't really much to gain from AHCI unless you want the Hot Swap capabilities which I don't.
When I originally installed the OS in AHCI mode the system was unstable and would hang or crash depending on what I was doing, not good if I was trying to record something. However, I haven't tried again recently and it might be worthwhile trying it out again with my current configuration, which is just a single HDD on the Marvell controller just to see if that makes a difference. But, being totally honest, I'm getting a bit bored of reconfiguring my system trying to resolve so many issues with the Marvell controller for so little gain.
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OK,
Just tried AHCI mode again, using the registry tweak rather than a clean install. Rebooted and Windows reported that the drivers loaded. Rebooted and PC hung at the Loading Windows Screen. Forced a re-start and PC started OK but as soon as I tried to open my web browser the system hung and I had to re-start.
Restarted, and checked in Device Manager which reported everything was OK. Double checked the Driver Dialog which stated that no drivers were installed under Device Status. However the Driver is shown as:
Driver Provider: Marvell Semiconductor Inc.
Driver Date: 23/10/2009
Driver Version: 1.0.0.1027
After restarting tried to run CrystalMark. System hung, once again, and the only option was to force a restart.
Tried rebooting, system once again hung when I tried to open a web browser.
Rebooted in Safe Mode and reverted to IDE settings
System now in IDE mode on the Marvell Controller and stable and happy again!
So my conclusion has to be that the Marvell Controller, on my motherboard, doesn't like AHCI mode!
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When I originally tried the AHCI mode I had almost the same issues, not quite as bad but definitely unstable. Also from the tests that I did manage to do it didn't seem to be exceptionally faster.
I would be interested to see what your figures are Lsdmeasap if you have the time sometime. Although unless I can get a stable platform they are irrelevant.
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YOu guys may be on to something, I mean it may be terrible with normal hard drives? Not sure, I've only ran SSD's on it.
And from what absic115 just said I can see why he is having issues, the Marvell driver is terrible and causes all kinds of freezes ans stalls.
You need to do a clean install, without loading ANY drivers so that MSAHCI is loaded, I know none of that is worth it for you guys, but it would be the only way you can do it now as it seems the way you setup the OS install it's going to fail when trying to switch.
I'll do some tests for you guys later today, it will be with C300 though, but you should still be able to get some idea of what gains you might get with the change. I'm not sure how big of a difference it really makes as I haven't checked on the Marvell controller, but I know it's a pretty hefty difference on the Intel controller.
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To be totally honest Lsdmeasap, I have also tried a clean install with the same results.
I'm no newbie and I have tried everything I can think of, the only thing that comes to mind is it could be the Western Digital SATA3 6GB/s HDD being the cause of all these problems. I don't believe that using a SATA3 drive on the SATA3 Marvell controller should cause so many issues though.
I might re-try installing the OS with a Samsung SATA2 HDD I have, just to see if it makes any difference but I won't hold my breath.
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You are probably right then, it may be the drive itself?
No need for you guys to worry about this, I was just surprised to hear you both mention running IDE mode. I forgot the instant I heard you say it, that you both know what you are doing, so I'm sure you tested every possible scenario.
I'll post up some results later today anyway, just for giggles and so that in case I am ever asked I can refer to here.
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You are probably right then, it may be the drive itself?
I am running the same pair of WD SATA3 drives as absic, so maybe that is why we have the same problem. Both of us wanted to run them as RAID0 on the Marvell ports for the fastest possible throughput, until we leant that it was impossible :'(
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Ya I thought you guys were, and that's what struck me as odd with you both running IDE mode.
Tests going down now, will report shortly!
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Just started installing Windows 7 64 Bit Ultimate onto a Samsung SATA2 HDD on the Marvell Controller in AHCI Mode. No AHCI drivers needed and install is currently running OK.
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Ahh, so it may indeed be the drives you guys have then!
Results coming, uploading images now
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Actually, much larger difference than I expected!
Sequential Read/Write takes a hit in IDE mode, mostly reads. But when it comes to 4K multi-threaded Read/Writes AHCI mode destroys IDE mode, IDE results are dismal at best!
Click to Enlarge
IDE - pciide
(http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2895/idevsmsahcimarvell9128i.jpg) (http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2895/idevsmsahcimarvell9128i.jpg)
AHCI - MSAHCI
(http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/19/idevsmsahcimarvell9128m.jpg) (http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/19/idevsmsahcimarvell9128m.jpg)
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I've got to get me an SSD!
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If you think those are good scores, check out how those SSD's actually do in SATAII RAID 0, over 1000 in AS SSD
http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/Marvell-Vs-ICH10R-Vs-Highpoint-640-Single-RAID/m-p/18454
Had the record here for a while for RAID 0 @ 1066 in AS SSD, but have been beaten by a PCIE SSD + 4xSSD beast now though!
http://www.overclock.net/ssd/754763-ssd-benchmark-thread.html
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:'( :'( :'(
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You should sell your drives and get a SSD!!
I haven't seen how those perform at all, but I haven't heard anything great either so that isn't a very good sign :(
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Well, just installed onto a SATA2 drive in AHCI and I won't bother to post the full results but Seq. Read was 90 Mb/s and Seq Write was around 80MB/s.
But it seems that the problem of running the Marvell in AHCI, that I have had, is due to the SATA3 WD drive. The Samsung I have just installed onto seems to be running OK. Admittedly I haven't installed all of my usual programmes but I have never been able to get that far before. Install was painless and no pre-install drivers were asked for. Once I installed the OS I installed the Mobo drivers from the motherboard disk, not something I would usually do and it loaded the Marvell IDE/AHCI Driver but, once again, device manager seemed to think that no driver was installed but that everything was fine. Go figure that one!
I will need to do some further tests but, on initial showing the SATA2 drive in AHCI is actually slower than the SATA3 drive in IDE Mode.
Even if I sold all of my HDD's I still couldn't afford a decent SSD. :'(
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Well, just installed onto a SATA2 drive in AHCI and I won't bother to post the full results but Seq. Read was 90 Mb/s and Seq Write was around 80MB/s.
But it seems that the problem of running the Marvell in AHCI, that I have had, is due to the SATA3 WD drive. The Samsung I have just installed onto seems to be running OK. Admittedly I haven't installed all of my usual programmes but I have never been able to get that far before. Install was painless and no pre-install drivers were asked for. Once I installed the OS I installed the Mobo drivers from the motherboard disk, not something I would usually do and it loaded the Marvell IDE/AHCI Driver but, once again, device manager seemed to think that no driver was installed but that everything was fine. Go figure that one!
I will need to do some further tests but, on initial showing the SATA2 drive in AHCI is actually slower than the SATA3 drive in IDE Mode.
Even if I sold all of my HDD's I still couldn't afford a decent SSD. :'(
Next time don't use the motherboard disk, for several reasons ;D The drivers are old, if you use express install it can install drivers you don't need and mess things up terribly (Like GSATA RAID Drivers), and lastly you could leave out the Marvell driver altogether.
All you need is Intel Chipset, USB 3 if you use, LAN, Auio and that's about it. I think that maybe could be why you had such issues with AHCI and your SATA 6Gb/s disk, not sure but possibly especially if you load the Marvell driver. I can't even do one benchmark hardly with the Marvell drivers installed, but with MSAHCI I can do 4-5 different ones in a row without a single hiccup.
I would think the SATAII drive would be slower, I mean it should be if your SATA 6GB/s drive is at least half way decent. I'd say when you get bored, try a new install on the Marvell controller the way I mention above with NO Marvell driver on your SATA 6Gb/s disk, and don't forget to put your motherboard driver install CD back in the box as you shouldn't ever need it ;D
What do you mean you can't afford a SSD? You should be able to buy one just selling one of those drives. I have seen Sandforce drives for $110-130ish all this month.
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I never normally use the motherboard disk but thought I would try as other forum users would usually do so and I like to have a full picture of what happens so I can answer their questions if they arise.
You seem to have forgotten that I am on an AMD Platform so Intel chipset is not a requirement for me.
The actual speed difference between the SATA3 and SATA2 mechanical HDD's is actually very little, about 20 MB/s from the numerous tests I have run on the Marvell controller. Best speed so far was with 2 x SATA2 drives in RAID0 but I don't think there was much improvement over running the same configuration on the AMD 750 SATA2 controller.
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Well I did find the figures and what Lsdmeasap was saying about the install and not to touch the Marvell drivers interesting and useful. Maybe that's where I went wrong before. When I get the time I will certainly try a clean install on my SSD in AHCI mode as those figures were impressive compared to the IDE. I would agree with absic though on the magnetic drives. I thought they were going to be so much faster especially considering they had a 64Mb cache.
Anyway thanks for the data.
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I'd say when you get bored, try a new install on the Marvell controller the way I mention above with NO Marvell driver on your SATA 6Gb/s disk
OK Lsdmeasap, tried your method this morning with the result being a complete failure. The Western Digital SATA3 6GB/s and the Marvell 9128 SATA3 controller on the GA-790XTA-UD4 when set to AHCI do not play happily.
I installed Windows 7 64 Bit without an issue. I didn't install any other drivers at this point. I then installed CrystalDisk to run a speed test, the system crashed.
Rebooted the PC loaded the AMD Northbridge driver, tried to run CrystalDisk, again and the system crashed.
Rebooted, check Device Manager and there was an exclamation mark on the Marvell 91XX installed Marvell Driver, rebooted tried running CrystalDisk system crashed.
Rebooted, tried to open web browser, system crashed.
Spent 4 hours trying various re-install/driver combinations with AHCI enabled and system would either hang or crash as the mood would take it and would not run for longer than 5 minutes without doing so.
CONCLUSION: Western Digital Caviar Black 640Gb SATA3 6GB/s Mechanical Hard drive and Marvell 9128 SATA3 do not work in AHCI mode.
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It may just not be compatible is all, or there could be an issue with your BIOS on that board?
Either way from your testing I think you are right, it does not work on your board/BIOS as of now for sure!