GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel & Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execute

[DerekGCWhite]

I have just installed my brand new GA-Z68XP-UD3, I have updated the firmware to F7 (the latest on the Gigabyte website for my MB) and all the latest drivers are installed

I have 2 x Hitachi 500GB drives I am attempting to RAID via the Marvell controller

I have a RUNCORE 60GB SSD in the mSATA slot on the MB and I currently have the Intel RAID configured so the SSD is caching a Samsung 1GB non RAIDed drive however; this requires me to have the Intel RAID configured to be in RAID mode (I intend to RAID all the drives although I am part way through at the moment)

When I have the Marvell controller in AHCI mode all is well however; the moment I follow the instruction in the manual to enable RAID on the Marvell controller I get the following boot up warning and am unable to access Ctl-I menu to configure the Marvell RAID controller

I believe this is a fundemental error in the BIOS set up partly because there is nothing in the manual stating I cannot enable RAID on both and also because in my research I have noticed similar problem with other Gigabyte MB's that provide both Intel & Marvell RAID controllers. It appears BIOS version F9 on some boards resolves this problem

When is the BIOS update that resolves this problem being made available for the GA-Z68XP-UD3 MB?

[Acebmxer]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel & Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

F9b is the latest bios for your motherboard. I would suggest tring that bios. If you still have no luck here is the work around.

You were on the correct path. Leave the intel controller to raid for your ssd caching.

Set the marvell controller to ahci. In windows install the Marvell Storage Utility. In there you can create your raid array for your other drives.

[DerekGCWhite]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel & Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

Many thanks for the fast response, do you have a link for F9B please as I cannot find one on the website

[Acebmxer]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel & Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

look at the stickies on the top of this forum.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...beta-bios.html

[DerekGCWhite]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel & Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

Good news is I have moved past the problem with BIOS but I am not sure how

This is what I did after many vain attempts to either enter BIOS mode <Del> or Qflash <End>:

1) Took a deep breath and changed by trousers
2) Powered off the PC, waited 2 minutes for any static to drain away
3) Removed the Runcore card in preparation for using the CLR_CMOS jumpers
4) Restored power to the PC
5) Wrote the previous post
6) For some reason thought I'd give it one more try to reboot whilst waiting for response to the post
7) Well what do you know I managed to get into the BIOS configuration - Pheeeeeeewwwwwwwww!!!!!
8) Have checked the BIOS version and it is F9B

Not so good news is, I still seem to have the problem when I attempt to BIOS configure RAID on Intel AND on Marvell

The only thing I change in the BIOS configuration is GSATA3 Ctrl Mode from AHCI to RAID and I get the following:

Warning ...
To many option ROMs execute during
POST may cause certain option ROM
not working properly.
SAVE to CMOS and EXIT (Y/N)? N

I answer y and during the reboot I receive a couple of messages that do not allow me to <pause> them but they seem to relate to option ROM

[DerekGCWhite]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel &amp; Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

Please ignore the lines through the text, not sure how they go there

[DerekGCWhite]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel &amp; Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

For completeness I need to mention I have reinstalled the Runcore 60GB mSATA-600 drive and I do have the same problem still on F9B

[DerekGCWhite]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel &amp; Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

I have now started the Marvell Storage Utility and I see the 2 drives and can configure them as either RAID0/RAID1

Yeah!!!! It appears that F9B does the job functionally even if it does not implement the full procedure as yet (i.e. <Ctl-M> configuration during boot)

I have chosen to configure them as RAID0, for performance (I have an automatic overnight backup scheduled), and I am currently testing the performance whilst I write this

I get a Passmark composite average of 1255.1 for the RAID0 disks compared to the Samsung Spinpoint F3 (non RAID) that is cached by the Runcore mSATA-600 drive 982.7 (seems at the moment 1 up for the RAID) however; the Randown Seek + RW performance was 6 for RAID0 but 26.5 for the Samsung with Runcore cache

The jury is out on this one yet

[DerekGCWhite]

[DerekGCWhite]

[DerekGCWhite]

Re: GA-Z68XP-UD3 boot problem Intel &amp; Marvell Raid both enabled - Too many ROMs execu

I have received further information when I suggested I was to post the info on the Forum
Question - 1149579
From : Derek GC White [ [email protected] ]
Sent : 11/3/2011 17:30
Question : I would like to clearly understand this answer so I can post the answer on the Forum
Although all the documentation and publicity for the GA-Z69XP-UD3 board clearly states there is both an Intel & Marvell RAID controller you are saying it is not possible to use both at the same time

Answer : Hi,

If,

- Set up either Marvell GSATA or Intel SATA in Raid mode with no problem.
- There may be no raid configuration option appeared in POST when both controllers are set in Raid mode.
There is shadow ram limitation as a general answer in public after confirming with bios engineers.
The shadow memory is fixed, so that there may be not enough shadow memory for raid controllers.

This is interesting if you refer to the Wiki entry
Shadow memory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Which suggests there are efficient and inefficient ways to organise memory - I am sure that applies to BIOS as well

To disable one of the other is a way to get enough shadow memory for the configuration.