Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Motherboard Boot Problem
The GA-X58A-UD3R motherboard doesn’t boot consistently (Mostly it fails to boot).
I’ve finally tracked the problem down to an incompatibility between the BIOS version (FA) and the SSD (Solid State Drive).
The boot problem occurs when the Sata Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is also plugged in, as in the normal situation where we have the primary disk as the SSD (drive C:) and the secondary disk as the HDD (drive D:). If the HDD is unplugged the system boots just fine.
The solution appears to be to update the BIOS to version FC from the original FA version. Now she still doesn’t boot properly.
Curiously Gigabyte does not recommend updating the BIOS unless there is a problem. They site the fact that re-flashing the BIOS is risky. I say, the development team has not finished their job until re-flashing the BIOS is safe.
I should also state that the GA-X58A-UD3R motherboard is the Rev 2.0 version.
I’m placing this info on the web so that it may hopefully help others. When I was having my boot problems I couldn’t find reasonable help on the web.
Since I originally wrote this article I’ve upgraded the SSD to a Vertex3 120 Gbyte model and the computer is now booting much more reliably. I originally bought the smallest SSD that would do the job the Vertex2 60 GByte model, figuring that by the time I needed more space the price and speed of the SSD’s would have come improved. Well in 10 months the speed has improved as the next generation is out, but the price hasn’t moved much.
Oh, and by the way moving Windows 7 from the old SSD to the new one was a pain in the ass, thanks Microsoft. You know, moving the operating system to a new drive is something that should be expected on any computer through it’s life time and thus it should really be simple.
Here are the other particulars of the computer that might be relevant:
CPU – i7-950
CPU heat sink – Noctua NH-D14
Motherboard – Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R version 2.0
BIOS updated to version FC
Memory – G.SKILL F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 9-9-9-24 Triple Channel Memory Kit
SSD – OCZ Vertex 2 Extended Sandforce 60GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive SSD
HDD – Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB – internal – 3.5″ – SATA-300 – 7200 rpm – buffer: 32 MB (ST31500341AS)
Bluray – Samsung SH-B123L 12X BD-ROM & DVD Burner Combo
Graphics card – ASUS EAH5450 SILENT/DI/512MD2 (LP),RADEON HD5450
Case & PS – Antec Sonata III 500
OS – Windows 7 Home Premium 64b
