Problem getting Crucial C300 128GB SDD recognized by SATA 3 Controller

[John Prikios]

Hi all,

I was hoping someone could help me with the challenge I'm having getting my SSD working. I can see the drive listed under port 0 in the Drive Xpert in the bios however when attempting to install Windows, no drive is detected. When booting to a valid Windows install on my original WD Black drive, the SSD drive isn't recognized by Windows. I only have single SSD drive plugged into the first port of the Marvell SATA controller and the mode is set to AHCI.

I don't believe there's an issue with the SSD drive as it is working properly using the Intel controller on the board. I'm also not conviced that there is an issue with the Marvel SATA controller as my other hard drives work just fine on them. I've also tried using different cables but still no dice.

I think the problem may be in the Drive Xpert option in the bios. There are three modes available here; Super Speed, Storage and Normal. The current mode is set to Super Speed even though I only have one drive plugged in. I've selected the option to set the drive to normal mode, save and exit the bios. After rebooting and accessing the bios again the mode is still set to Super Speed.

Firmware on the drive has been updated to 0006 and motherboard bios has been updated to 0505.

One of the reasons I purchased the Rampage III Formula board is because of the SATA 3 controller to specifically work with the C300 SSD so I'm hoping that this can get sorted out.

[martin_metal_88]

Try to put the controller on IDE mode and see if that change something.

[John Prikios]

When setting the controller to IDE mode, the drive disappears all together from the listing in Drive Xpert.

[Brian@ASUS]

im assuming this is a sata 6 ssd? if you put it on the red port which is the sata6 port, you have to enable the sata6 port in the bios. i dont remember the exact name but it should be something along the lines of sata6. should have a enable disable function. drive xpert is for raid. since youre running single ssd, no need to use this software. be sure the primary booth is on the ssd and not on a hdd. be sure to reformat in ahci mode.

[John Prikios]

Yes this is a SATA 6 SSD. Within the bios under Advanced > Onboard Device Configuration > Onboard SATA6 Controller, the available options are [ Disabled | IDE | AHCI ]. I've tried both IDE and AHCI but still the drive isn't recognized. Other drives work on this same port; the SSD works on the on the other onboard controller.

[martin_metal_88]

Right now I have no other idea but I am searching for some clue about that. Maybe the best thing to do right now would be to get a replacement drive to see if it's the issue. If it still persist then we will see what to do.

[Brian@ASUS]

and this is your primary? drive? did you plug it in ahci blank trying to boot off the cd and install windows on this? bios is updated?

[John Prikios]

I've tried two versions of the motherboard bios and am getting the same results. At the direction of Crucial tech support, I plugged the drive into the Intel controller using AHCI mode and I was able to successfully install Windows 7 off of a DVD. I again took the same drive which is now proven to function properly and plugged it into the Marvel SATA 3 controller and I get nothing. The drive drive isn't detected in the bios therefore I cannot select it as a boot device. I'm considering RMA'ing the motherboard but I'd really hate to go through all that trouble.

[Brian@ASUS]

you said you had another hdd? what happens if you plug it into the 2 sata6 ports?

[John Prikios]

I have a Western Digital Caviar Black drive which is recognized right away by the SATA 6 ports. I don't have another SSD drive to test out.

[Brian@ASUS]

This is odd we'll try to get more info on this Monday

[John Prikios]

I ended up returning the drive since it wasn't cooperating with the 6gb/s controller. I'm debating on whether or not I should try buying the same drive and hoping for the best. According to Crucial, the Rampage III Formula MB and the C300 SSD do work but for some reason, not for me. Another option is waiting for other manufacturers to put out an SSD with a 6 gb/s interface but I'm not a patient man ;-)

[Brian@ASUS]

You'll get better performance from raid or wait for the next gen ssd as they will blow away whats out now

[martin_metal_88]

I second brian...Wait for the next gen. First there will be much more, and faster 6GB SSD and they will also be cheaper. For now get WD 640GB black. You can get one and use it like that or get 2 and set them in raid 0. At this point it's not worth to buy a velociraptor. Or, if you really want something faster than a HDDjust buy some cheap SSD with trim support. You will be able to use it in future and will work well until you get a faster one.

[Tonka]

I'm using the same drive on an r3e with no problems I do know there is a semi recent firmware update for the drive if did talk to crucial tech support I would assume that would of been one of the first things they would of had you check for. Way of checking is to check the sticker on the drive and it should say what version its running.

[John Prikios]

The drive came with version 0002 and I updated the firmware to version 0006. No luck with either firmware versions. I'll use my WD Black drive for now and will wait for the next gen SSD. Does anyone know when those are going to hit the market?

[martin_metal_88]

In a few month or so.

[fyromachine]

Im having the same problem
my ssd crucial arrived today and I tryed 345234324324 ways to get it in sata III, but it just dont go...

what your guys did?
solved?

now Im putting it in sata II, its working, but not full like sata III

[fyromachine]

is anybody out there?!