Official GIGABYTE Forum
Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with Intel processors => Topic started by: scjet on March 23, 2010, 04:10:36 pm
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GA-X58A-UD3R (with Bios rev. "F5" - latest)
OS: Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
I have (2) Caviar Black (1TB) SATA3 drives.
At first I connected both in a Raid 0 configurations using the Intel Sata 2 ports:
I raided(striped) them using 2 of the Intel SATA2 ports, and created a "RAID 0")
Write -> 200 MB/s
Read -> 200 MB/s
I thought ok, thats is good.
-------------------------------
BUT, since they are SATA3 drives I decided to connect them to the 2 "Marvell 9128" GSATA/6/7 "SATA3" ports
( I selected AHCI mode and then created a "RAID 0" again).
Instead of getting "better" results it spewed out a paltry:
Write -> 200 MB/s
Read ->100 MB/s !!!!!!!!!!
---------------------------------------------
I used the exact same tests,... for both the above.
anyway, apparently when using Marvel GSATA Raid configurator in bios its has only 2 options, "AHCI" or "IDE".
Should I have used "IDE" ?
Or is this the same "Marvell" compnay that makes those gawd-awful NIC stuff ?
Anyone else had any issues with these so-called SATA 3 ports??
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There is article about this
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/02/20/sata_6gbs_on_your_new_motherboard/2
Perhaps future versions of drivers for the Marvell SATA3 controller will improve the RAID-0 speed :-[
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hi thanks for reply,
either way, I tried the sata3 raid stripe in ahci, and ide mode,..., it's all just crappy Marvell.
It definitely ain't the sata3 drives since they worked faster using the Intel Raid0 (sata2) ports...
Marvell were always JUNK !!! -It took Marvell years to get their NIC drivers in any manageable order, so being typical Marvell crap, I won't hold my breath on any "future" drivers' from Marvell either, now that they think they are in the Disk I/O business- Gigabyte couldn't have picked a WORSE 3rd-supplier co.
Intel's ICH10R sata2 blows marvell's sata3 out of the water. !? -ahh well, so much for the upgrade path sata3-wise on this MB. :(
Still, for the money, this Gig-MB was worth it for everything else.
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sigh....I should shold check this forum before I go hardware shopping............yesterday I bought this MB as well, and found the same problem as you mentioned.......now I just switched back to SATA 2 port for RAID 0 instead of SATA 3.
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Well, the only somewhat good news is the sata3 ports appear to atleast work faster in Ubuntu 64-bit:
I deleted the crappy Marvell(Gsata) Raid0 configurator in BIOS, but kept the Marvell 9128 "onchip" controller enabled.
-then just set both drives connected on the SATA3 ports to AHCI mode, in bios.
finally in Ubuntu, just use "mdadm" software Raid manager to create a "Raid0" xfs.
-the colums may be a little mashed below but atleast now I'm hitting ~265MB/sec steady write transfers. But this is still along way off from the "5 Gb/sec" (500Mb/sec) capacity of Sata3, as mentioned by gigabyte.
-And of course, to really find out ?, I would need 8 more of these SATA3 drives and ports-which of course this board doesn't have.
Or, a couple of Intel SSD's. -which of course, I cannot afford.
:)
Bottom-line is Linux "mdadm" raid manager is BETTER than Marvell fake-hardware-raid in BIOS !!!
MARVELL, was, and will probably always be a junk-semiconductor maker.
-------------------------------------------
Device: rrqm/s wrqm/s r/s w/s rkB/s wkB/s avgrq-sz avgqu-sz await svctm %util
sda 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.67 0.00 16.00 12.00 0.01 5.00 1.25 0.33
sdb 0.00 1817.33 0.00 246.67 0.00 126161.33 1022.93 130.48 505.04 4.05 100.00
sdc 0.00 1815.00 0.00 249.33 0.00 127658.67 1024.00 73.92 286.40 4.01 100.00
md0 0.00 0.00 0.00 4150.67 0.00 265313.33 127.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
------------------------------------------
I'm happy with "10" Sata2 ports.
I may have expected too much with this sata3/usb3 marketing ploy by Gigabyte, but for the money the X58A-UDR3 is still well wrth it.
Again, to me, this MB is very stable and feels quality-built all around.
It OC's like a champ and Ubuntu 64-bit screams on this board. :)
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... my last little test was just with Win7-64, I had my two sata3 drives setup on the Marvell(sata3) ports in ahci-mode,
used the Win raid-manager and striped the disks (raid0) and got:
Write -> 220 MB/s
Read -> 250 MB/s
- even Windows software Raid had much better perf than Marvells' own crappy hardware driver.
comon' Gigabyte, kick their ____'s to get this fixed will ya ?
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... my last little test was just with Win7-64, I had my two sata3 drives setup on the Marvell(sata3) ports in ahci-mode,
used the Win raid-manager and striped the disks (raid0) and got:
Write -> 220 MB/s
Read -> 250 MB/s
- even Windows software Raid had much better perf than Marvells' own crappy hardware driver.
comon' Gigabyte, kick their ____'s to get this fixed will ya ?
Thanks for info and tests!
Try contacting the GIGABYTE support with a description of the problem - perhaps they will fix or send a request to Marvell. It will be interesting to read that they will answer about this problem
There is Western Digital SATA 6Gb/sec 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Review on PC Perspective. You can compare your performance with these speed tests.
http://pcper.com/article.php?aid=870&type=expert&pid=1
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My X58A-UD7 won't allow me to undertake a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 using the Marvell SATA 3 Controller to manage a RAID 0 Array using 2-off WD Caviar Black 1TB 6GBit/S Drives......which negates most of my reasons for buying this board in the first place.
It would appear that the MV91XX.SYS pre-install Driver File is pretty flawed/feeble!
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Thanks for info and tests!
Try contacting the GIGABYTE support with a description of the problem - perhaps they will fix or send a request to Marvell. It will be interesting to read that they will answer about this problem
There is Western Digital SATA 6Gb/sec 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Review on PC Perspective. You can compare your performance with these speed tests.
http://pcper.com/article.php?aid=870&type=expert&pid=1
[/quote]
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Thx for the review link skiigor, the 1TB sata3 Blacks aren't bad at all, and the $99/each was good too ;)
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My X58A-UD7 won't allow me to undertake a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 using the Marvell SATA 3 Controller to manage a RAID 0 Array using 2-off WD Caviar Black 1TB 6GBit/S Drives......which negates most of my reasons for buying this board in the first place.
It would appear that the MV91XX.SYS pre-install Driver File is pretty flawed/feeble!
-------------------------------
Hi,
I haven't tried installing Win7-64 specifically using those sata3's as Raided "boot" disks yet, for reasons everyone else has mentioned,"flakey Marvell...?", but mostly because I wanted them for "striped" multimedia storage.
But, on the ich10r, or gsata (sata2) ports I had no probs installing Win7-64, using my other "boot/OS" sata2 drives.
However, I use ahci mode on "ALL" these controllers (ich10R(sata2), gsata(sata2), as well as the marvell (sata3) ports-where I have the sata3 "Blacks" installed.
Win7-64 should have all the necessary ahci drivers built in to get you started.
But probably on the Marvell sata3 ports, you may need to "pre-install" (F6-floopy)/USB-stick the Marvell drivers ?
I guess that didn't help you much, I'm kinda learning about my new Giga-board myself. Let us know how it goes.
GL
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But probably on the Marvell sata3 ports, you may need to "pre-install" (F6-floopy)/USB-stick the Marvell drivers ?
I've tried but it doesn't seem to work!
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But probably on the Marvell sata3 ports, you may need to "pre-install" (F6-floopy)/USB-stick the Marvell drivers ?
I've tried but it doesn't seem to work!
-----------------------------------------
ok, sry, I stand corrected, according to the manual (page 108) it basically says "...you are NOT required to load the sata/ahci driver first, when installing Vista/Win7 onto the "Raided" drives that you attached to your Marvell9128 controller....."
So, it should work right ? that is, I've had no probs seeing my raided Sata3's on the Marvell controller in either hardware(bios)raid, or just using a software raid.. .
Also, check out http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1558.0.html
-it may be pertinent ?
On a side note, becuase of the crappy driver issue with Marvell's 9128 controller I've emaield Gigabyte:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/ServiceCenter.aspx
-everyone's wishlist here is that Gigabyte go after Marvell's accountability to FIX their "outdated" driver issues.
If that would just happen these would be the perfect MB's for now .
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There is a new interesting article on a respected resource AnandTech
6Gbps SATA Performance: AMD 890GX vs. Intel X58/P55
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3778 (http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3778)
There are several tests with the GA-X58A-UDR3 Marvell SATA3
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There is a new interesting article on a respected resource AnandTech
6Gbps SATA Performance: AMD 890GX vs. Intel X58/P55
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3778 (http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3778)
There are several tests with the GA-X58A-UDR3 Marvell SATA3
ahhh yes, AMD, my first love. -but ya, nice comparison where do you find all these test-reviews? I use google.
Alas, I've always been an AMD-fanboy, (BECAUSE they are SO AFFORDABLY CHEAP !) but my Gig,,,UD3R is my 2nd venture into the Intel-(wannabe)-monoply world, its been a long time.
Right now Intel cpu's rock,
AMD has to come up with another "saber-rattler" CPU again !, one more PUSH, maybe AMD-Fusion will do it, then watch Intel drop those prices on their $1500.00 extreme 9** whatever.
...keeps them both honest. On the other hand, I'm whining again. haha
;)
cheers.
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There is a new interesting article on a respected resource AnandTech
6Gbps SATA Performance: AMD 890GX vs. Intel X58/P55
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3778 (http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3778)
There are several tests with the GA-X58A-UDR3 Marvell SATA3
--------------------
Hi "skiigor" :
just to mention to you, I received a reply from Gigabyte in regards to the Sata3 performance issues, it's over here:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1617.0.html (http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1617.0.html)
thx again,
Rick.
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GA-X58A-UDR3 (with Bios rev. "F5" - latest)
OS: Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
I have (2) Caviar Black (1TB) SATA3 drives.
At first I connected both in a Raid 0 configurations using the Intel Sata 2 ports:
I raided(striped) them using 2 of the Intel SATA2 ports, and created a "RAID 0")
Write -> 200 MB/s
Read -> 200 MB/s
I thought ok, thats is good.
-------------------------------
BUT, since they are SATA3 drives I decided to connect them to the 2 "Marvell 9128" GSATA/6/7 "SATA3" ports
( I selected AHCI mode and then created a "RAID 0" again).
Instead of getting "better" results it spewed out a paltry:
Write -> 200 MB/s
Read ->100 MB/s !!!!!!!!!!
---------------------------------------------
I used the exact same tests,... for both the above.
anyway, apparently when using Marvel GSATA Raid configurator in bios its has only 2 options, "AHCI" or "IDE".
Should I have used "IDE" ?
Or is this the same "Marvell" compnay that makes those gawd-awful NIC stuff ?
Anyone else had any issues with these so-called SATA 3 ports??
Hi,
I am new here, but I have a question? From were you got the Caviar Black (1TB) SATA3??? You should look close to the specification of your HDD!!! It is SATA II 3Gb transfer!!!! There is not yet on the marker a SATA III HDD or SDD!!!!!
Enjoy
-
GA-X58A-UDR3 (with Bios rev. "F5" - latest)
OS: Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
I have (2) Caviar Black (1TB) SATA3 drives.
At first I connected both in a Raid 0 configurations using the Intel Sata 2 ports:
I raided(striped) them using 2 of the Intel SATA2 ports, and created a "RAID 0")
Write -> 200 MB/s
Read -> 200 MB/s
I thought ok, thats is good.
-------------------------------
BUT, since they are SATA3 drives I decided to connect them to the 2 "Marvell 9128" GSATA/6/7 "SATA3" ports
( I selected AHCI mode and then created a "RAID 0" again).
Instead of getting "better" results it spewed out a paltry:
Write -> 200 MB/s
Read ->100 MB/s !!!!!!!!!!
---------------------------------------------
I used the exact same tests,... for both the above.
anyway, apparently when using Marvel GSATA Raid configurator in bios its has only 2 options, "AHCI" or "IDE".
Should I have used "IDE" ?
Or is this the same "Marvell" compnay that makes those gawd-awful NIC stuff ?
Anyone else had any issues with these so-called SATA 3 ports??
Hi,
I am new here, but I have a question? From were you got the Caviar Black (1TB) SATA3??? You should look close to the specification of your HDD!!! It is SATA II 3Gb transfer!!!! There is not yet on the marker a SATA III HDD or SDD!!!!!
Enjoy
------------------------------------
Please don't confuse the issue here.
and yes, my Caviar's are Sata3 specs, as far as specs go, but do the PC-hardware makers on our planet lie like marketing pirates !!!??? - ANSWER: -> of course they do. ;)
However, here, and if you also follow this thread
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1617.0.html
you'll know that I easily beat the ich10r (sata2) ports when compared alongside the Marvell sata3 ports by a little bit,, as long as I used a software stripe, in AHCI-mode, - on the Marvell sata3 ports, i was ok. ?
The bottleneck, as others like 'skiigor' have pointed out, really is the 'mechanical' HARDDRIVES somewhat as well.
However, I only have (2) sata3 caviars, if I had the finest sata3 SSD's(ie. Corsair's) sure the performance would be better.
The point is, Marvell, has some driver issues within bios for raiding, and Gigabyte knows it, and they're working on it. And now we know it.
In summary, its not just the sata3 drives in regards to this MB, or for that fact, any other MB manufacturer who is touting SATA3 controllers on thier MB such as ASUS, whooopee!, It is OBVIOUSLY the Marvell9128 'copy' of Intel's ich10r controller, because that is all Marvell has really done here, - reverse-engineer Intel's ich10r and added some cheap cacheing tricks, and then, called it a SATA3 controller !!!???
Do I wish Intel launched its SATA3 controller chipsets for this MB ? - uhhh YES !, as long as it doesn't force me to buy only Intel SSD's.
... In the meantime, lets hope Gigabyte will force Marvell to resolve their issue for us.
Rick.
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I can't offer a solution but only supply another story to confirm that there is an issue here.
I have a Sata3 Crucial C300 SSD with a GA-X58A-UD3R running Windows 7 64 bit with all the latest drivers.
When connected to the Sata3 header I get a Windows Experience Index of 6.8 for the primary SSD drive.
Moving it to the Sata2 header results in a score of 7.7
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Hello
Have a read Here (http://www.forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/Marvell-9123-9128-TRIM-yes-no/td-p/11109)
:)
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Thanks twitch.
Interesting reading. No TRIM support either from Marvell. I guess I'll be using the Sata2 header for the foreseeable future.
Gigabyte would have been aware of this limitation.
That'll influence my future buying decisions.
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Thanks twitch.
Interesting reading. No TRIM support either from Marvell. I guess I'll be using the Sata2 header for the foreseeable future.
Gigabyte would have been aware of this limitation.
That'll influence my future buying decisions.
Well you can still use the marvell ports just don't load the marvell driver software, or if you have remove it.
Just use the standard ms driver.
Thats what I am doing, and seems fine..
It's not just gigabyte, Asus have the same problem though theirs is worse as most use the 9123.
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ok, sry, I stand corrected, according to the manual (page 108) it basically says "...you are NOT required to load the sata/ahci driver first, when installing Vista/Win7 onto the "Raided" drives that you attached to your Marvell9128 controller....."
This is not sure. I have two VelociRaptor 600GB 6Gb/s connected to this Marvell stupid thing and set to RAID 0 and still have no luck to install Win 7 Ultimate 64bit! Without preloading the Marvell ahci driver as the manual says, win7 would not read the RAID 0 drives!
After preloaded the Marvell ahci driver, still have problem when the Win 7 installation reaches "updating" stage. I have tried few times and made few adjustments (time/date in bios, formatted the VelociRaptor as prime drives, etc) but still got this stupid error code "0x80FE0000".
I am planning to switch the whole thing to Intel SATA2 in RAID 0! After reading the posts, sounds like Intel SATA2 performs better than Marvell SATA3 in RAID 0 for 6gb/s drives!
Also, I would not trust my OS controlled by this Marvell chip for long term. Not many info that I could find in Marvell website and they don't update their drivers and very bad in support. Who knows if they are still in business in the next five years? Time will tell when Intel releases their SATA3 controller.
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Thanks for the link and info twitch, good to finally find something on the marvell driver issue.
@jojodancer,
Read the thread twitch linked, Here (http://www.forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/Marvell-9123-9128-TRIM-yes-no/td-p/11109)
From what I've read there, I wouldn't install with Marvell drivers.
As twitch said:
Well you can still use the marvell ports just don't load the marvell driver software, or if you have remove it.
Just use the standard ms driver.
Thats what I am doing, and seems fine..
It's not just gigabyte, Asus have the same problem though theirs is worse as most use the 9123.
Don't know what MOBO you have, but disable all power saving settings in BIOS, cool n'quiet, c-1 c-2 etc, etc, I have seen these not allow windows 7 to install.
Disconnect any HDD or SSD that is not required for the installation.
If that doesn't work, pull all but one RAM stick, this helps with win7 x64 sometimes.
Have you tried installing with the HDD(s) not formatted?
Hope this helps,
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I have a p55a-ud6.
I have installed Win7 64 bit through Intel SATA2 without a single problem. Super smooth with one try ;D
So the verdict is that there is nothing wrong with the drives (2 x VelociRaptor SATA3 6GB/s in RAID 0) but the Marvell driver itself.
If you want to install OS through Marvell in RAID 0, forget it :-X
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jojodancer: I am having some crazy issues with my Marvell controller as well which are outlined here:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1866.0.html
Tonight I installed Windows 7 with the 2 600GB WD Raptors on the Intel SATA2 port and have been solid ever since. I even clocked up my RAM per gskills recommendations to 2002mhz. The Windows Experience Rating when I was on the Marvell was 6.3 for the RAID0 and Windows would only boot cold as per my thread above. The RAID0 on SATA2 port comes up with a Windows Experience Rating of 6.2 and everything is 100% stable. Seems like Gigabyte/Marvell have a lot of work ahead of them to get this junk chipset working. I've seen nothing but complaints all over the place on this.
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Zarach,
I am surprised that you could install Win7 64 through Marvell to the two VelociRaptors in RAID O.
So far my two VelociRaptor 600gb runs super smoothly in RAID O using Intel SATA2 :) I am thinking getting one more 600gb to expand my RAID 0 setup :p
Also, Window experience shows at 6.3. I have not switched to Marvell and why bother anyway?
If you look at the Marvell driver version at Gigabyte website, it is still dated 2009!!!! This company is so lame and I am sure Gigabyte will ditch them very soon.
By the way, I have tested the speed of my RAID 0 setup at Crystal Disk Mark and it shows:
Seq
Read 256.5 Mb/s
Write 256.8 MB/s
Pretty good huh?
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I have an Intel SSD X25-M which is twice as fast on the Intel SATA2 ports as it is on the Marvell SATA3 ports, using Gigabyte's drivers. ???
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looks like Gigabyte finally get rid of Marvell:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/MicroSite/186/default.htm
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Well ah jojdancer,
That's an AMD board with an AMD chipset providing SATA3 functionality, it doesn't mean Gigabyte is ditching Marvell on the Intel platform.
It also doesn't help the multitudes of us who have already bought boards with the Marvell chipset on board and who aren't rich enough just to bin it and buy another. (I paid AU$439.00 for my GA-X58A_UD7 which is cheap here in Australia). I for one chose this board over a competitors board purely for the sata3 RAID functionality which is clearly and "BOLDLY" stated on the flamboyantly flashy packaging "SATA 3.0 4X SPEED VIA RAID 0". Did they not test this before going to market ? Perhaps if they had paid as much attention to testing as they did marketing and flashy packaging, we all would not be having these problems and Gigabyte would not have aquirred my hard earned cash under such false pretenses.
(aren't there serious legal ramifications for false advertising on this scale...lol :-\ I'm only "HALF" joking)
.....anyways enough bitching........It is now late in June 2010, does anybody know if Gigabyte are working on a Bios update to address this issue, if they even can or are even willing to address the problem.
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Well I would have to agree in principal to all you have said >:( As you rightly say the AMD platform has it iall on chip whereas the Intel relies on a discrete chip(Marvell). Gigabyte is looking at a new BIOS update for the UD7 while we speak but whether it will be able to address this issue is unknown at present.
Of course the Law does cover this issue but to start up a Class Action takes time and resources. I 'm sure the company will address this issue as soon as it can but how that will leave us existing owners is another matter. We tend to get forgotten in the history of the board's progress. :'(
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Hi runn3R... please look into this MARVELL SATA3 problem... customers are waiting and would like to know the stance of Gigabyte.
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Hi scjet
As I can see in this topic (http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1617.0.html) you contacted our tech support through GGTS and received following reply:
My Questions:
Question 1./ The (Marvell)SATA3 ports in ANY Raid configuration do not work well at all ?!
I was only able to achieve approximately Write->200 MB/s, and Read->100 MB/s ???!!!!!
Intels' onboard ICH10R (sata2) beats Marvell's onboard 9128 SATA3 controller. And why is this !? This is very bad on Gigabytes part.
Question 2:/ The Marvell 9128 is the controller of the new SATA3 generation and it definitely have to surpass the speed of all controllers of the previous SATA2 generation.! Why has Marvell not updated their drivers in this regard ?.
Question 3:/ Did GIGABYtE tech support "speed test" a RAID0 disk array configured(via BIOS configurator)
and connected to the Marvell 9128 ports ? and if so, please post me your specific speed test results for Sata3 "Raid 0"?
Question 4:/ Did Gigabyte also "test" these Marvel 9128 Sata3 controller ports using a "Raid 0" with SSD (Solid-State-Drives) ?
------------------------------------------
Giga's Answer : Dear Customer
Question 1 Our team is currently investigating the matter and are checking on this matter internally and with Marvell
Question 2 Our team is currently in contact with Marvell regarding this matter
Question 3 Find in attachment
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9986/sata3hdd.jpg)
Question 4 Find in attachment
(http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2843/sata3ssd.jpg)
please set it as AHCI mode which will have better performance then IDE mode
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1587.0.html
I haven't seen that you asked for speeding up the reply for Q1 and Q2 except for "I hope yourselves and Marvell can sort this all out" sent through GGTS to our FAE who supports Canada on beginning of April.
Anyway...
What is exact model number of your HDD's (WD100xxxxx)?
Please notice since that date new bioses and raid utilities appeared.
So my suggestion for you is to try as follows:
1) use built-in Microsoft driver
2) use latest Marvell RAID utility:
http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/motherboard_driver_marvell_mru.exe
3) enable write caching and change write cache buffer flushing settings (this can be done under Device Manager -> Drive/RAID Properties -> Policies when using MS driver or under Marvel utility when using their driver)
4) use latest bioses:
F6j: http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/BIOS/mb_bios_ga-x58a-ud3r_f6j.exe
F6m: http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/12/20/2696817/x58aud3r.f6m.zip
5) use more than 1 benchmark for checking the performance
If above will not help then please contact our GGTS and ask to follow up your inquiry by providing newer drivers / firmware for Marvell (inside the MB's bios) or any other suggestions.
Please keep us informed, thanks.
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Not sure if I have missed something but, looking on the net today I stumbled upon this article at tweaktown from February: http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3122/gigabyte_sata_6g_update_raid_0_just_how_we_like_it/index.html which is testing a Firmware update for the Marvell chip.
I personally haven't come across a Firmware update from Gigabyte or Marvell so am wondering what, if anything, I've missed.
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Good point absic, I too have come up with something but let's see what answer you get from this first so as not to cloud the issue.
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Hello, this is my first post on the forums.
I'm interested in finding out the rest of this "story", as I've recently run into problems with the Marvell SATA3 controller on this motherboard.
I've had my machine for almost five years now with the GA-X58A-UD3R and an Intel SSD on the Intel SATA2 controller. One year ago, I bought a larger Samsung 840 Pro SSD and connected it to the Marvell SATA3 controller in AHCI mode to get the most speed out of it (note, not RAID 0, just a single SSD in AHCI with the standard Windows drivers); as a primary Windows disk.
It worked fine for almost two years until I installed an old, unrelated HDD to the Intel SATA 2 controller to get some files. When I started Windows it started hanging repeatedly in periods of 30 seconds or more. I checked the Windows logs and noticed lots of disk timeout errors coming from the standard Windows atapi driver; I also checked back and noticed many such timeouts over the course of two years in the log. It just probably hasn't been as bad as it was now, me not noticing, but now it's unbearable. I am very careful when I open my computer, I even wear an EST wrist strap. I installed the Marvell drivers from Gigabyte's web site, and still same problem, only timeout messages coming from the mv91xx driver. I installed the newest SSD firmware and a new BIOS version, still same problem. Then I tried to re-install Windows. At the first restart the computer booted past the BIOS screens, but then nothing; only a cursor blinking. The installation never finished. I connected the SSD into the Intel SATA 2 controller, and now the installation finished, everything working nice, but when returning to the Marvell SATA 3 controller, it won't boot, not even if I install the Marvell drivers while on SATA 2, switch, and restart.
Then I removed the Samsung SSD and installed my old Intel SSD to the SATA 3 controller instead. It still had Windows installed on it, so it booted into that, and no problems, no timeouts, everything works. So I naturally assumed there was something wrong with the Samsung SSD and almost sent it in for replacement; until I had packed it down for the next day and wanted to re-install Windows on the Intel SSD on SATA 3. Now the same happens on this disk! At the first restart of the installation, the disk won't boot and is stuck on a blinking cursor.
SO! Sorry for the long post, but I guess I am looking for help on this. Now it seems the Marvell SATA 3 controller doesn't work at all. Are there any new drivers for the Marvell chipset past those posted on Gigabyte's web site? And is this the same problem as people have experienced when running RAID 0 on the controller?
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I don't know if this could be the same problem you are having but look at this thread. http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=15885.0
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Maybe. I tried with only the SATA3 disk connected and tried starting a fresh install of Win 7 64-bit installed through SATA2 with the Marvell drivers. Now I get past the blinking cursor and into windows, but after a long time, and it finally shuts down or BSODs anyway.
I've pretty much decided the Marvell controller must be bricked on my system and installed a fresh Windows on the Intel SATA2. I can't send it in since it's over five years since I bought it, and the mobo has outlived its life expectancy, most likely, at least the Marvell chip.