I just picked up a Netgear gigabit switch to allow faster transfers within my network. In one box I have the Gigabyte DS3 rev 1, c1 with E2140 OCd to 3.0 Ghz. the other box is the P5B Deluxe with a E6420 oc'd to 3.6 ghz.

I connected the switch to my router and have absolutely no problems with the GB ethernet card connecting to the switch at 1GBps, however the POS nics on the Asus board will sometimes connect at 100 MBps, sometimes at 1GBps - more than anything 100 MBps. I have swapped patch cables, jacks on the switch, drivers through all the drivers Asus and Marvell have offered - and it's always the same thing. Its a crap shoot, 1 out of 5 boots it will come up and run 1GBps, 4 outta 5 100 MBps.

Any thoughts?? I've gone through all the settings, tried different buffer sizes, etc. In the drivers they give you the options for 10 and 100 full duplex - there is nothing to force 1GB. Btw this is with both onboard nics. Nic2 is a bit better, maybe 3 outta 5 will connect at 1GB. Either way I'm ready to rip it out and swap it just because of this problem. I've really grown to hate the p5b deluxe because of a few different issues I have with it. However, the one thing that keeps me coming back - the easy vdroop mod that allows me to OC higher than with a DS3 (which doesn't have a working pencil vdroop mod). Otherwise I would have gotten rid of this board awhile ago...


I also need to add, this is with XP-32. However, in Vista x64 it always shows 1GB, but the transfer rate is definitely 100MBps. I know this because I have a folder of 2GB of data - to transfer at 100MBps takes 6-7 mins. When its working in 1GBps mode (which lights green on the switch vs. orange at 100) I can copy the same folders in 40 seconds. So in Vista x64 I never get 1GBps operation even though it shows me it is in network connections.

Let me know if anyone has any thoughts, or the same problems...


EDIT: My solution was to order a GB P35-DS3R yesterday. I have no issues with the nic on the ds3. its too bad though.