Intel's Response For LR's D975XBX2 Motherboard Open Issues

[Apoptosis]

Here is Intel's official response to the issues that our members have posted on the forums. I'd like to take this time to thank Intel for pulling a number of guys off other projects and going back to test out their platforms to find possible fixes for those that are having problems with the Intel D975XBX2 'Bad Axe 2' motherboard.

[quote]A vast majority of the issues you listed are completely un-reproducible in our labs—even with identical configs. The causes for these types of issues (ie the reboots, audio driver issues, etc) are most likely setup issues outside 975BX2 itself, such as PSU, memory configs, or 3rd party device. Our labs guys built a system for each issue, they worked their butts off!

Will send an xls later with each finding detailed, most cells say “un-reproducibleâ€

[Dandruff]

Thank you!


Here the remaining problems on my D975XBX2 board (revision AAD53350-505, bios 2507):


1. With "automatic drive configuration disabled", "SATA set to AHCI" and "primary IDE disabled", my machine hangs for about 10 seconds before loading Windows. While it hangs it shows "94" as post-code (means "Clearing keyboard input buffer"). See below for all other bios-settings. If I attach a floppy-drive and enable the floppy-controller in the bios, then the boot-process "hangs" for the same amount of time, but it shows "BA" instead "94" then!

2. After almost every shutdown of my machine, my PS/2 mouse doesn't work on the next boot. I see the mouse-pointer in Windows, but I can't move it. Windows also doesn't show the mouse in the device-manager then! To solve the problem I have to:
-> power down my machine
-> plug the mouse off the PS/2 port
-> start the machine again (boot to Windows isn't required at this step)
-> power it off again (as Windows won't recognise it at this moment if you would boot to Windows)
-> restart

After this procedure I can use my mouse again (Windows shows it again under the device-manager). Maybe this is caused by problem 1?



Two feature requests:

1. I need an option to disable S3-wakeup from PS/2-mouse (to prevent wakeup if the mouse is too sensitive for vibrations)! In Windows you only can disable wakeup when connecting the mouse to a USB-port. So I need this setting for the PS/2-mouse in the BIOS, as I don't want to enable the USB controller at all. Even my old Asus P4T-E had such a setting in the BIOS!

2. An option to disable the serial COM-port would be nice (I really don't need this one).



Here my BIOS settings:

Main
- Core Multiplexing Technology Enabled

Advanced / Boot Configuration
- Numlock On
- CPU Fan Control Enabled
- System Fan Control Enabled
- Lowest Fan Speed Off
- Max CPUID Value Limit Disabled
- Display Setup Prompt Off

Advanced / Peripheral Configuration
- Parallel Port Enabled
- Mode ECP
- Audio disabled
- On-board LAN Enabled
- Secondary SATA Controller Disabled
- Onboard 1394 Disabled

Advanced / Drive Configuration
- Use Automatic Mode Disabled
- Use Serial ATA Enabled
- ATA/IDE Mode Native
- Configure SATA as AHCI
- S.M.A.R.T. Disabled
- Primary Channel Disabled
- Hard Disk Pre-Delay 0

Advanced / Floppy Configuration
- Diskette Controller Disabled

Advanced / Event Log Configuration
- Clear Event Log Disabled
- Event Logging Disabled
- Mark Events as Read Disabled

Advanced / Video Configuration
- Primary Video Adapter Ext PCIE Graphics (PEG)
- Compliance Test Pattern Disabled

Advanced / Management Configuration
- ASF Support Disabled

Advanced / USB Configuration
- USB Ports Disabled

Performance / Memory Configuration
- Memory Correction ECC
- Performance Memory Profiles Automatic

Performance / Bus Overrides
- PCI Express Burn-in Mode Percentage Default
- PCI Latency Timer 32
- HPET Enabled

Security
- Expansion Card Text Disabled
- Chassis Intrusion Disabled
- XD Technology Enabled
- VT Technology Disabled

Power
- After Power Failure Stay Off
- Wake on LAN from S5 Stay Off
- ACPI Suspend State S3 State
- EIST Disabled
- Intel Quick Resume Technology Disabled

Boot
- Boot Menu Type Normal
- Hard Drive Order Hitachi HDT72503
- Boot to Optical Devices Disabled
- Boot to Removal Devices Disabled
- Boot to Network Disabled
- ZIP Emulation Type Floppy




My system:

- PCIe graphic card: XFX GeForce 7600 GS Xtreme 256MB (PV-T73P-UDS3)
- PCI soundcard: RME HDSP9632 @ PCI-Slot 1 (removing this card doesn't resolve any of the problems)
- Power supply: Seasonic S12 Energy Plus (550W)
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 (not overclocked)
- Memory: Kingston ValueRAM KVR800D2E5K2/2G (two matched 800MHz ECC modules running in dualchannel-mode)
- Keyboard: Cherry G80-3000LQMDE @ PS/2
- Harddisk: Hitachi Deskstar T7K500 HDT725032VLA360 @ SATA0
- DVD-burner: Plextor PX-760SA @ SATA1


OS is Windows XP SP2 Professional with the latest Intel Chipset-, Network- and SATA-drivers and all the additional patches (Windows Update) from Microsoft. The board runs very stable. All the issues just seem to be caused by the BIOS.



Here some info from MSInfo.exe:

Systeminformationsbericht erstellt am: 01/20/07 12:49:23
Systemname: PC
[Systemübersicht]

Element Wert
Betriebssystemname Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
Betriebssystemhersteller Microsoft Corporation
Systemname PC
Systemhersteller INTEL_
Systemmodell D975XBX2
Systemtyp X86-basierter PC
Prozessor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~2666 Mhz
Prozessor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~2666 Mhz
BIOS-Version/-Datum Intel Corp. BX97520J.86A.2431.2007.0110.1629, 10.01.2007
SMBIOS-Version 2.4
Windows-Verzeichnis C:\WINDOWS
Systemverzeichnis C:\WINDOWS\system32
Startgerät \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Gebietsschema Deutschland
Hardwareabstraktionsebene Version = "5.1.2600.3023 (xpsp_sp2_qfe.061030-0020)"
Benutzername PC\Dandruff
Zeitzone Westeuropäische Normalzeit
Gesamter realer Speicher 2.048,00 MB
Verfügbarer realer Speicher 1,69 GB
Gesamter virtueller Speicher 2,00 GB
Verfügbarer virtueller Speicher 1,96 GB
Größe der Auslagerungsdatei 5,83 GB
Auslagerungsdatei C:\pagefile.sys

[Hardwareressourcen]



[Konflikte/Gemeinsame Nutzung]

Ressource Gerät
E/A-Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7 PCI-Bus
E/A-Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7 DMA-Controller

E/A-Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
E/A-Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

E/A-Port 0x00002000-0x00002FFF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
E/A-Port 0x00002000-0x00002FFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

Speicheradresse 0x92100000-0x921FFFFF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E2
Speicheradresse 0x92100000-0x921FFFFF Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection

Speicheradresse 0x80000000-0xF0000000 PCI-Bus
Speicheradresse 0x80000000-0xF0000000 Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
Speicheradresse 0x80000000-0xF0000000 NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

Speicheradresse 0x90000000-0x91FFFFFF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
Speicheradresse 0x90000000-0x91FFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

Speicheradresse 0xE0000-0xEFFFF PCI-Bus
Speicheradresse 0xE0000-0xEFFFF Hauptplatinenressourcen

IRQ 16 Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
IRQ 16 NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
IRQ 16 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E2

IRQ 17 Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27D0
IRQ 17 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E0
IRQ 17 Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection

Speicheradresse 0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI-Bus
Speicheradresse 0xA0000-0xBFFFF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
Speicheradresse 0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

E/A-Port 0x00001000-0x00001FFF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E2
E/A-Port 0x00001000-0x00001FFF Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection

E/A-Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D
E/A-Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS


[DMA]

Ressource Gerät Status
Kanal 4 DMA-Controller OK
Kanal 3 ECP-Druckeranschluss (LPT1) OK

[Verankerte Hardware]

Gerät PNP-Gerätekennung

[E/A]

Ressource Gerät Status
0x00000000-0x00000CF7 PCI-Bus OK
0x00000000-0x00000CF7 DMA-Controller OK
0x00000D00-0x0000FFFF PCI-Bus OK
0x00002000-0x00002FFF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
0x00002000-0x00002FFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0x000003B0-0x000003BB Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
0x000003B0-0x000003BB NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0x000003C0-0x000003DF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
0x000003C0-0x000003DF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0x00001000-0x00001FFF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E2 OK
0x00001000-0x00001FFF Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection OK
0x00000A79-0x00000A79 ISAPnP-Datenleseport OK
0x00000279-0x00000279 ISAPnP-Datenleseport OK
0x00000274-0x00000277 ISAPnP-Datenleseport OK
0x00000081-0x00000083 DMA-Controller OK
0x00000087-0x00000087 DMA-Controller OK
0x00000089-0x0000008B DMA-Controller OK
0x0000008F-0x0000008F DMA-Controller OK
0x000000C0-0x000000DF DMA-Controller OK
0x00000070-0x00000071 System CMOS/Echtzeituhr OK
0x00000074-0x00000077 System CMOS/Echtzeituhr OK
0x00000020-0x0000003D Programmierbarer Interruptcontroller OK
0x000000A0-0x000000BD Programmierbarer Interruptcontroller OK
0x000004D0-0x000004D1 Programmierbarer Interruptcontroller OK
0x000000F0-0x000000F0 Numerischer Coprozessor OK
0x00000040-0x00000043 Systemzeitgeber OK
0x00000050-0x00000053 Systemzeitgeber OK
0x00000061-0x00000061 Systemlautsprecher OK
0x00000500-0x0000053F Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000400-0x0000047F Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000092-0x00000092 Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000680-0x000006FF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000010-0x0000001F Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000072-0x00000073 Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000080-0x00000080 Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000084-0x00000086 Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000088-0x00000088 Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x0000008C-0x0000008E Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000090-0x0000009F Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x00000378-0x0000037F ECP-Druckeranschluss (LPT1) OK
0x00000778-0x0000077F ECP-Druckeranschluss (LPT1) OK
0x00000060-0x00000060 Standardtastatur (101/102 Tasten) oder Microsoft Natural Keyboard (PS/2) OK
0x00000064-0x00000064 Standardtastatur (101/102 Tasten) oder Microsoft Natural Keyboard (PS/2) OK
0x000003F8-0x000003FF Kommunikationsanschluss (COM1) OK
0x00003038-0x0000303F Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
0x00003044-0x00003047 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
0x0000FFF8-0x0000FFFF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
0x0000FFF4-0x0000FFF7 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
0x00003020-0x0000302F Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
0x00003000-0x0000301F Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller - 27DA OK

[IRQs]

Ressource Gerät Status
IRQ 9 Microsoft ACPI-konformes System OK
IRQ 16 Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
IRQ 16 NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
IRQ 16 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E2 OK
IRQ 17 Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27D0 OK
IRQ 17 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E0 OK
IRQ 17 Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection OK
IRQ 21 RME HDSP 9632 OK
IRQ 8 System CMOS/Echtzeituhr OK
IRQ 13 Numerischer Coprozessor OK
IRQ 0 Systemzeitgeber OK
IRQ 12 Microsoft PS/2-Maus OK
IRQ 1 Standardtastatur (101/102 Tasten) oder Microsoft Natural Keyboard (PS/2) OK
IRQ 4 Kommunikationsanschluss (COM1) OK
IRQ 19 Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
IRQ 11 Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller - 27DA OK

[Speicher]

Ressource Gerät Status
0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI-Bus OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0xE0000-0xEFFFF PCI-Bus OK
0xE0000-0xEFFFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0x80000000-0xF0000000 PCI-Bus OK
0x80000000-0xF0000000 Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
0x80000000-0xF0000000 NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0xF8000000-0xFEBFFFFF PCI-Bus OK
0x90000000-0x91FFFFFF Intel(R) 975X PCI Express Root Port - 277D OK
0x90000000-0x91FFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0x91000000-0x91FFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OK
0x92300000-0x923FFFFF Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27D0 OK
0x92400000-0x924FFFFF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E0 OK
0x92100000-0x921FFFFF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH/GHM (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Root Port - 27E2 OK
0x92100000-0x921FFFFF Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection OK
0x92000000-0x9200FFFF RME HDSP 9632 OK
0x92200000-0x922003FF Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller OK
0xF0000000-0xF3FFFFFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFED13000-0xFED13FFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFED14000-0xFED17FFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFED18000-0xFED18FFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFED19000-0xFED19FFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFED1C000-0xFED1FFFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFED20000-0xFED9FFFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xC0000-0xDFFFF Hauptplatinenressourcen OK
0xFEC00000-0xFEC000FF Erweiterter programmierbarer Interruptcontroller OK
0xFED00000-0xFED003FF High Precision Event Timer OK

[Apoptosis]

Dandruff,

I have passed along this information to Intel on 1-19-07 at 10am. I'll let you know the second I hear something back.

Nate

[FullMoon]

I have the BA problem also
I have the Floppy Drive enabled and IDE enabled, but not Auto.
Someone said to try this.
Have to turn Auto back on.
I also have where the text flickers (flashes) some times in the BIOS

P.S. I am using BIOS 2431

Thanks!

[Apoptosis]

I just wanted to let everyone know that Intel got a BIOS to me over the weekend that does fix the "HD LED stuck on issue" that many people are complaining over. I can't leak this out, but Intel will send me over the release date today or tomorrow.

[Dandruff]

nice! sounds good ...

[Dandruff]

I just wanted to let everyone know that Intel got a BIOS to me over the weekend that does fix the "HD LED stuck on issue" that many people are complaining over. I can't leak this out, but Intel will send me over the release date today or tomorrow.

does it fix this

With "automatic drive configuration disabled", "SATA set to AHCI" and "primary IDE disabled", my machine hangs for about 10 seconds before loading Windows. While it hangs it shows "94" as post-code (means "Clearing keyboard input buffer"). See below for all other bios-settings. If I attach a floppy-drive and enable the floppy-controller in the bios, then the boot-process "hangs" for the same amount of time, but it shows "BA" instead "94" then!


too?

[MrStumpy]

What does the BA at post stand for? I get the BA at the "Enter Bios" screen then I get a 0 next, then the SATA array setup screen, then it goes to XP. I must have missed something. Are users having the system hang just after the BA shows on screen?

[Dandruff]

BA: Detecting presence of a removable media (IDE, CD-ROM detection, etc.)


I'll get this too (with certain bios-settings, as written above)!

[Dandruff]

good news for this problem:

1. With "automatic drive configuration disabled", "SATA set to AHCI" and "primary IDE disabled", my machine hangs for about 10 seconds before loading Windows. While it hangs it shows "94" as post-code (means "Clearing keyboard input buffer"). See below for all other bios-settings. If I attach a floppy-drive and enable the floppy-controller in the bios, then the boot-process "hangs" for the same amount of time, but it shows "BA" instead "94" then!

from the intel-support:

"In regards to this issue with your Intel(R) Desktop Board D975XBX2, indeed, there seems to be a bug in the BIOS related to this situation. We will proceed and forward this information to the engineering department, to be able to come up with a resulution with the new BIOS version."

[hox]

I have had my BX2 for about 4 weeks. Running the most recent bios Jan 2007 #2431

Annoying issues,
1. HDD activity light stays on when second controller disabled, called intel tech support Jan 22, case number 7206936. Waited 30 minutes to have the tech rep tell me its supposed to stay on when you disable the secondary controller.

2. Intel Desktop control center repeatedly crashes in Windows XP. It runs about 50% of the time. I verifeid with the tech rep that I had the latest version.

3. The rep told me that I had set up my Win Xp pro sp2 incorrectly by loading both the intel and marvel raid drivers using the f6 specify other devices during install and said this was why Desktop control center was crashing. Did a clean install on a new hard drive, it stil crashed.

4. Mouse and keyboard will occasionally go dead when I have entered the bios, initially things are working and then they just go dead.

5. I am using the following hardware
QX6700
4 x 1gb Crucial DDR2-1000 ram (ballastix)
EVGA 8800gtx
1 IDE DVDRW
four WD raptor 150s
two Maxtor 300gb hard drives on the marvel controller. Raid kept degrading so I took them out. Even had two extra drives which are new and checked out on my old system, still had the raid degrade.

PC Power and Cooling 850W PS
Logitech G5 mouse
MS natural keyboard 4000

6. The mavel raid manager software from the intel web site also crashes at startup about 50% of the time saying an error with the apache server.
When this happens you can not manage the raid as the utility finds nothing.

7. Ram is not correctly listed in the bios: it should be 5:5:5:15 2.2 volts
not 5:5:5:18 1.8v in the bios spd.


8. The machine seems working very hard to transfer any data, very slow I/0 a 102 mb file is taking 152 minutes to go from 1 drive to another.

9. The machine shows 99% idle in activity, no spyware, worms, or viruses according to my sofware.
10. Random freezes then everything works again.

This is my 25th system build. Roughly 50% AMD CPUs and roughly 50% intel CPUS. Motherboard makers, Supermicro, Epox, Asus, FIC, Iwill.

I recognize that any of my other components may also be bad.
I am trying an ASUS board in about a week using all the same components. I am hopeful the board is the underlying cause. So far I have tested the graphics card and hard drives in other machines and they are all fine. (sata cables too).

I can not find any error codes, hardware errors, or detected incompatabilities , nothing happended during my install of Xp pro sp2.

I am not overclocking. All of these errors occur at stock speeds
2.6 GHZ default voltages, default fsb 1066.


The machine was to be my dream workstation for the next couple of years. I am very disappointed that I had to spend days troubleshooting this system. This morning when the mouse went dead, I decided enough is enough and pushed the system over to the side of my office and rolled my old machine back in place, a dual opteron system (5 years old thank you)

When the P5dg2 WS pro arrives I will rebuild and follow up.

Regards,
HOX

[seanriddle]

4. Mouse and keyboard will occasionally go dead when I have entered the bios, initially things are working and then they just go dead.

Hox-

I can't speak for the mouse, since I can't use it in the BIOS, but my USB keyboard sometimes quits working in the BIOS. I found that if I press and release the 2 ALT and 2 CTRL keys (one at a time), it works again. I think somehow the ALT or CTRL flag gets set, and this clears it.

Sean

[Dandruff]

please report these issues to the intel-support to get them fixed!

http://supportmail.intel.com/scripts-em ... ,2386,2578



thanks guys!

[Apoptosis]

please report these issues to the intel-support to get them fixed!

http://supportmail.intel.com/scripts-em ... ,2386,2578



thanks guys!

Dandruff -- That's what this thread is doing... This thread has gone directly to the Intel engineers and has gotten BIOS's already completed as a result.

[Dandruff]

do you really think they will read this thread always? i don't think so.

[hox]

@ dandruff: I will be happy to copy my original post and send it to the support section at intel.

@ Seanriddle: Thanks for the suggestion about hitting the alt and ctrl keys. I am not sure if I will ever get to try it. I have decided to gut my new system and put the bx2 in a box. I am a total hardware enthusiast, but since this new system is for work, I can not spend any more time (4 weeks is enough) trying to trouble shoot this motherboard.

I will definitely let everyone know how the new Asus board works using the same components. I will also follow the forum and add suggestions when I can contribute in a positive way.

Regards,
Hox

[Apoptosis]

do you really think they will read this thread always? i don't think so.

daily... yes they sure do ;) This whole thread is to give you guys direct access to Intel's BIOS team and bypass that route. This was Intel's idea and I talk with them daily on this issue, so I know for certain they read this thread and forum daily.

[Dandruff]

alright. thanks!

[Dandruff]

just got a response from intel on this

4. The displayed automatic memory timings differ from the displayed SPD values. In my case they read "5-5-5-16, 1.84V". The SPD values read "5-5-5-15". Why? According to CPU-Z, SPD-values @800MHz should be 5-5-5-16 (as displayed in the automatic timings).

"In the Intel(R) Desktop Board D975XBX2 BIOS, onder Performance > Memory Overrides, you can see two different system memory timing configurations. The first one (blue) is the one that is to be used if you configure the RAM manually; they have nothing to do with the ones shown at the bottom of the page (black), that are the ones actually being used at the moment."


now i got it! this makes sense

[Apoptosis]

I just wanted to let every one here on the forums know that I just talked with several people at Intel on a 30+ minute conference call and went through an Excel spreadsheet that dealt with every post and issue here on the forums. After going through the 20+ issues 2 were confirmed and fixed by the latest bios version that is in their qualification testing labs.

Problem #1: Disable secondary SATA in BIOS menu (but would result in HDD light constantly remain on...

Solution: This was a known issue and due to LR and Intel their BIOS 2505 fixes the problem

Problem #2: Auto default to Non-ECC when memory profiles are set to manual in BIOS. (ECC memory not run as ECC when manually adjusting timings)

Solution: Issue replicated and BIOS 2505 fixes the problem.

Intel has been unable to do anything with a number of open issues like the the 'hang' that some users have complained about on the forums. A normal hang of up to 5-6 seconds is expected while the system detects everything. One forum member has a Cherry PS2 keyboard that might be hanging the system longer than usual. Intel has Cherry USB brand keyboards and they work fine. If the keyboard is causing a longer post the only fix is to replace the keyboard with a newer USB model. The same forum member also has a Sharkoon PS/2 mouse that stops working when he reboots the system. Intel and I both don't have that mouse to try and replicate the issues with. Again USB mice and keyboards are the way to go... Even I just had to upgrade the test bench to all USB devices as numberous chipsets are no longer playing nice with legacy PS/2 devices now that the majority of new device sold are all USB powered. A number of users want the ability to disable the COM port. I understand this request, but adding features like this to a production BIOS isn't going to happen (Yes, that means Intel isn't going to add it). As for installing audio drivers neither I or Intel have had any issues, so some piece of hardware or software on that unique system is causing the conflicts... I can go on and on, but most all the other problems can't be confirmed. Intel of course doesn't support overclocking, so no answers from them on that for those that submitted those questions.