3Ware 9650SE-8LPML and DFI P35 mobo compatibility problem?!

[TheyCallMeSAK]

I bought a 3ware 9650SE-8LPML PCIe hardware RAID controller

I also have a DFI LP UT P35-T2R motherboard


The computer will NOT boot or even post for that matter when I install the 3ware card. Upon power-on, I get NO signal to the monitor. I've tried clearing the cmos, disabling all onboard devices, unplugging all devices (even USB keyboard and mouse), and I've tried various bios settings. There is a PCI express setting, with choices of [x1 x1] or [x4 NC] ("no card" I'm guessing it stands for).

This is driving me nuts. This computer runs AWESOME, everything runs perfectly, except now for this expansion card. I've heard of people having problems with x4 cards in a x16 slot in P35 and X38, etc Intel motherboards. Is this the problem I'm facing? And is there no solution? Great...scratch the idea of hardware raid, or try a different vendor?

The only devices I have in expansion slots are 1) PCIe MSI 8800 Ultra in slot #1 2) PCI SoundBlaster Audigy 4 in slot #5 (PCI slot #2). I removed the soundblaster when I first tried the 3ware, and it didn't work. I've tried the 3ware in both x16 slots. The only x16 slot I did not try it in, is the one occupied by the 8800 ultra video card.

I am pissed. I made the assumption that INTEL would have their !@#$ together with this chipset. It's a very nice chipset indeed. Why the problems? Is the mobo vendor to blame?


Anyone with a similar problems on a DFI and/or P35-based board?

 

[robisbell]

you may want to see if the card has a firmware update, it is not always the motherboard manufacturers fault. as for the NC, I'd suggest you consult the motherboard manual that came with the board for clarification.

 

[TheyCallMeSAK]

Originally posted by: robisbell
you may want to see if the card has a firmware update, it is not always the motherboard manufacturers fault. as for the NC, I'd suggest you consult the motherboard manual that came with the board for clarification.

Thanks, Rob. I did consult the mobo manual, and it didn't offer any insight whatsoever into those two available settings (it merely mentioned that they were there...which is completely unhelpful since I can plainly see that they are there).

I will check into firmware for this card. The only problem is I don't have another handy PCIe mobo around here. I'll have to see what I can do about this. I also verified that no new BIOS is out for my mobo. I'm current -- dated 11/07/07 -- so I still don't know who to blame here.


SOMEONE isn't very close to specs on their parts. It's really irritating when for once you spend more money than you'd normally wish to -- in order to have everything work perfectly -- and you still get screwed.

 

[practor]

If you install a Raid controller! wouldn,t it look for two HDD? R U using one HDD before installing or have you the 2 in?


I am pissed. I made the assumption that INTEL would have their !@#$ together with this chipset. It's a very nice chipset indeed. Why the problems? Is the mobo vendor to blame?

^

Depends I guess. This day in age a MoBo should have Raid 0-5 standed in BIOS anyways

 

[TheyCallMeSAK]

This mobo has raid 5 built in with a 6 channel (ICH9R) controller. I'm running 4 drives in Raid 5 on that controller right now.

The computer will not boot, post, or give any monitor signal when I install the raid card in either of the x16 slots. The mobo has the latest bios, but I don't know if the raid card does -- I am going to bring it to another computer today and give it a try and will update it if necessary.

So even with no drives attached, the raid card prevents the computer from doing anything useful, like posting

 

[robisbell]

so you have 2 spare raid spots left onboard?

 

[TheyCallMeSAK]

I updated the firmware on the 3ware card, using another computer (which booted up fine and worked fine with the card).

That did NOT fix my problem -- my computer still will not post when the raid card is installed.

I don't know if the chipset (Intel), motherboard (DFI), or adapter (3ware) is to blame here. But a problem definitely exists. I doubt anyone else has gotten this card to work with this motherboard. If so, then the only other device I can think of that's causing the problem is the graphics card. I have to pull the graphics card out to fit an aftermarket heatsink anyhow, so maybe for shits and giggles I'll give it a try and see if that was the problem. Either way, this card is going back and will have to be exchanged for a competitor's card. How unfortunate -- it was supposed to be a very fast and, more importantly, reliable card.

Technically I have 4 open SATA ports (2 left on the ICH9R and 2 on another onboard controller) open, but I will not be using these for raid. I have 8 enterprise sata drives that I'm intent on running on a hardware raid controller, raid level 6.

This is really disappointing.

 

[robisbell]

Why not get a NAS and free up system resouces?

 

[TheyCallMeSAK]

I told myself I wouldn't go Highpoint again, but here's a question for you.

Their newest card, the RocketRaid 3520, is a PCIe x8 card. My board has (3) x16 slots, however, only slot 1 runs at x16, PCIe slot #3 at x4 OR x1, and slot #4 at x1 or disabled.

So would this RR card work in the x4 or not at all? I'm admittedly new to PCIe. I'm an old-schooler used to PCI and 66mhz/64bit, all of those PCI variations, except PCIe

 

[boomerang]

Perhaps things have changed, but 3ware used to be quite adept at support. You should contact them.

In looking at their Compatibility List I do not see a P35 board listed.

The 3ware card is a high end card. I'm not suprised it doesn't work on the P35. It's more than likely a driver issue, but when, if ever, 3ware decides to make a driver that supports it is anyone's guess.

I don't think they expect the "average joe" to try and run this card in their gaming rig.

 

[TheyCallMeSAK]

I was surprised too. I would think a popular Intel chipset like the P35 would work with the card. Apparently not. I still have never been able to get the computer to even post when the card is installed.

I really do think I'm going to have to send this back. I will call up tech support, but I'm sure this puppy is going back. I'll pickup a HighPoint RR3520 and see how that one goes. It has a faster processor (supposedly) anyhow. I hope the raid 6 performance is as good as the 3ware, and more importantly, I hope the reliability is there.


after reading a little about PCIe, I am assuming the RR3520 should work in one of my x16 slots (I'll put it in the x4 electrical one) despite it being a x8 card. It should negotiate the speed, and run at x4 I would assume. This is plenty of bandwidth too.

 

[Indyboy2]

Had the same board with the same card and it did the same thing.Its DFI's bios i contacted them they said it will be resolved in a later bios .Meanwhile i returned the board and purchased a different model