GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 and SSD

[IDumb]

Hi guys,

After 5 years, I decided to build a new desktop machine. Unfortunately I had not been keeping up with all the technological changes so I am slightly confused and ask for your help.

My build is as follows:

CASE CORSAIR | CARBIDE 500R WT R

512 MB GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 R

VGA DIAMOND|A4890PE51G HD4890 1G %

PSU COOLER MASTER RS800-80GAD3-US R

CPU INTEL|CORE I7 2600K 3.4G 8M R

MEM 4Gx2|PNY MD8192KD3-1600-X9 R

HDD 750G|HITACHI HDS721075DLE630

SSD 120G|MUSHKIN MKNSSDCR120GB-DX R

Yes the videocard is *** but I will work on that later.

Anyway, I assembled my PC and everything looked great. Then I started the Windows 7 installation on the Mushkin SSD. Somewhere along the install, it needed to restart, and it did. After the restart, the SSD is gone. I mean the computer is stuck on detecting IDE devices for like 2 mins and then proceeds as if the drive is not there. I can only see my mechanical drive.

After doing some research, I decided to upgrade the SSD firmware. Now the SSD people say you have to plug it into an intel controller. Now my new pc doesn't have OS, so I decided to use my old computer which has an Asus P5N-e SLI motherboard. Does this thing have intel SSD controllers? Nevertheless, I plugged in the SSD drive and it didn't find anything in BIOS. I let it boot to Windows anyway and ran the firmware update and it couldn't find anything either.

Bottom line is, was it a mistake to get this SSD with this motherboard? Should you only get an SSD if you buy high end motherboards? Should I just give up and try to return this SSD instead of asking for an RMA in case it turns out to be bad? I would really appreciate some advice.





PS how do I know if my Gigbyte motherboard has an intel SSD controller? The mobo manual says

1x Marvell 88SE9172 chip: 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors.

So that means the other 4 3 Gb/s have intel controller? I mean how is one to find out the controller for the SSDs? Does that question even make sense?

 

[BerylLee]

it is z68 model so it must have intel sata controllers. it has marvell sata controllers as well.
you need to check chipset controller in user manual.
motherboard bios is supposed to recognize your ssd anyway, or the ssd is failed in firmware update process and you can check if it can work on other motherboard such as your asus p5n.

 

[DefCon1]

I tried installing Win 7 Ultimate onto an SSD with a Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 (Rev 1.3) mobo. Halfway through the install, it crapped out with a "critical driver not found". When attempting to reboot, I got a "BOOTMGR Not Found message".

The fix was to boot into the BIOS, and reset it to safe defaults. Apparently there is a boot manager component in the BIOS. Try resetting the BIOS - and be sure the SATA ports are set to IDE mode until AFTER the OS installation. Be sure there is NO OTHER HDD connected to your system until AFTER the OS is installed.

After you install the OS and want to install other drives, go into the BIOS and there is a separate place (Advanced BIOS or Integrated Peripherals page, I forget) where you select WHICH drive is the first boot device.

By the way, when Win 7 crapped on me, it had already partitioned my SSD (and apparently corrupted it); I had to put my corrupted SSD into my trusty XP box and delete the partitions.

 

[alexpho]

I have the same set up that you do. Initially, the installation process was a nightmare and I don't even wish it on my worst enemy. LOL. But everything is running fine now. I have installed Win 7 solely on the SSD drive and my other standard HHD for storage on the Marvel Sata port. I think it is important to let people know that in order to make the system run correct, you must install the Intel Rapid Response driver. And if you are using the Marvel, update that driver too. Otherwise, the speed and advertised performance of the SSD drive might not be up to par.