GA-EP45-UD3P rev1.6 for 3TB drives

[gto4ben]

There is supposedly a modified RST ROM that allows TRIM for older chipsets. I have not verified it since I do not have SSDs (yet). No one has indicated a problem with it. Attached is the following.

ICH10R southbridge - v12902006 with the TRIM mod
RTL8111C ethernet - rtegrom260.lom
SATA2 chip - j1.07.24
ICHAACHI 1.2 original from a EP45-USB3P
Updated NCPUCODE

Gigabyte SLIC added

As I reported about a year ago, the changes you made have been running perfect. However, I'm rebuilding my system again thought I'd try my hand at updating some of the OROM files. I've tried to update the RTL8111C ethernet code from v2.60 to v2.63 using the files below, but it adds the module to the ROM instead of updating the code. Is there something I'm doing wrong or is v2.60 the last compatible version with my BIOS?

rtegrom263.lom

It's probably not a big deal but thought I'd ask, anyway. Thanks, again, for your support!

I never used the included patch files. I always modified the bios directly using CBROM. I read the instructions in LOM.txt and I believe the RTPATCH.exe is designed for EFI bios types which would explain why it did not work for you. Try your skills using CBROM.

Once again I didn't explain myself very well. Although the link does contain the patch files, I was NOT using them. I was using CBROM (v1.98) to apply the updated code. After downloading the file above, I extracted everything and tried to apply the rtegrom.lom using CBROM and it always adds the code to the BIOS rather than updating the existing Realtek code.

I even went back to the original factory BIOS with the same results. I then tried all the versions listed below as well. The only version that updates properly is v2.60 which you had previously added for me (and also shown below). Thus my original question.... Is v2.60 the last compatible version with my BIOS or am I missing something else?


rtegrom260.lom
rtegrom261.lom
rtegrom262.lom

Thanks, again, for taking the time to reply.

I tried to replicate your problem and I think you missed an important step. You need to release the file before adding another.
For example, type: CBROM <bios_filename> /pci release
it will then give you a selection of ROM files to remove (A,B,C,D etc). choose the one you wish to remove.
Subsequently, type: CBROM <bios filename> /pci rtegrom263.lom

[picman]

Hi, New to the forum and looking to use 3TB drives on my EP45-UD3P rev 1.0 MB. I tried the Bios update in post #51, loaded Optimized Defaults. Still says 2 TB, a little history on what I did to the drive, I set up a 2 TB partition and loaded data to that partition (is an IDE setup, no RAID or ACHI). I'm assuming I shouldn't need to have a blank drive or should I? Also, using Vista Home Premium OS, which doesn't see the 3TB capacity in the Disk Management app. I tried EaseUS which did see the unallocated 1TB space but couldn't do anything with it. Please, any thoughts on what I'm missing? Thanks

[gto4ben]

It sounds like you are adding a new 3TB drive to an existing system. This is the easiest method to add capacity. Transferring an existing system to a new 3TB+ HD gets tricky but can be done.

We need to initialize your new HD as GPT instead of MBR. This can be done in both the Disk Management app or EASUS. In the disk management app on the left hand side where the "Disk 0", Disk1" etc, right click on it and select "Convert to GPT disk". This will allow windows to use the entire HD as one contiguous partition. You may need to delete the existing 2TB partition first and make the entire HD unallocated. Once the HD is a GPT drive, create a 3TB partition and format.

Just a note: The JMICRON bios for the GSATA ports will see individual GPT 3TB drives in Windows but its RAID modes will not and will show a maximum of ~800GB in RAID1 or 1600GB in RAID0. The JMICRON bios was never updated for large capacity RAID systems. The Intel RAID does not have this limitation.

[picman]

Thanks for getting back to me. More history is needed for me to clarify what i'm trying to do. This PC that I'm adding the 3TB drive to is used as a media server with storage for streaming Blu-ray movies throughout the home. I had a Raid 5 setup with one drive having errors and another getting a whine to it. It was a 3 drive with hot swap array and the drives were all 750GB drives. I wanted to get rid of the array because of the time it took to rebuild it. So, i'm starting with this 3TB drive which is already set as a GPT drive. All the movies I had on the array are now on this drive. Unfortunately, this is my one and only source and backup. I guess I thought I could somehow get back the unallocated 1 TB. It sounds like what you are saying is that I would need to start from scratch and set up a new 3 tb partition in GPT?


One question comes to mind and that is why doesn't the MB in the CMOS see the 3 TB drive as 3 TBs, is it the 2 TB partition it only sees?

I'm not sure if you are referring to the bios I used as the JMICRON bios or a different update.

Thanks for your help

[picman]

After looking into this deeper, I suspect you are going to tell me I have to back this data off the 3TB drive, reformat it as a 3 TB partition(GPT) and move the data back and things will be happy?

[gto4ben]

From your description, it sounds like all you need to do is increase your partition size. If your movies are on the existing 2TB GPT partition and the remaining space is an unallocated 1TB, have EASUS resize your partition  using the "Resize/Move operation". Your data should be preserved using this method.

[picman]

Yea, I looked at EASEUS under that operation and the "Merge" operation and neither one see's the 1 TB unallocated space. The only place you can see the unallocated space is from the launch of EASEUS page showing all drives.

Looks like I'm stuck backing up the movies back to the other smaller drives and rebuilding the partition on the 3TB drive.

Thanks for the help.

[picman]

Still not seeing 3TB on MB. I moved all the data to other drives, ran a DISKPART clean on the drive, rebooted the PC and went into the CMOS and it still reads 2 TB. Now I'm questioning whether the drive is really a 3 tb drive. Looking up the model, ST3000NM0033 9ZM178 SN04 look slike a 3 TB drive to me. Is there any other way to see what the real capacity is of this drive?

The other question is what should the version of the BIOS say on boot up, maybe the update never took?

[gto4ben]

I agree that the ST3000NM0033 is a 3TB drive. The bios update will not show a new number but if you're in RAID mode, you'll see the ROM updates. Temporarily switch into that mode and see if the OROMs version are newer on bootup. The capacity should be displayed in the RAID menu (CTRL I).

The non-raid modes should be seen straight from the OS if the drive is initialized as GPT.

[picman]

Raid shows 2TB the OROM looks correct at 12.9.0.2006. This is more of a challange than I thought it would be! What's next?