Quote Originally Posted by Hooker View Post
I'm building this new rig (specs in signature) and I'm having loads of problems with it. I'm actually starting to think I may have a defective Mobo.

What happens is this:

Problem No1:
I can _NOT_ install Windows (Vista64, Vista32, XP) on the Intel Matrix RAID controller with my Raptors in RAID-0. I can only archieve a succesful OS installation when I use my Marvell RAID controller.

The reason why I can't use the Intel Matrix is due to the fact that the RAID drivers aren't recognised by the Windows install. It just gives an error saying that those drivers aren't meant for my RAID controller. This with the floppy's I got in the box. With the newest drivers from the Intel website (6.2.1 IIRC). It doesn't matter if I load them from the floppy, USB-stick or USB-HDD.

WinXP does load them, but BSOD's as soon as the file-copying is finished and windows tries to start up.
Neither version of Vista needs special drivers for the Intel RAID. Don't use any. If you want latest and greatest, update the driver after the install is complete.

Quote Originally Posted by Hooker View Post

Problem No2:
Like I mentioned, if I use the Marvell controller I can install Windows (only tried Vista32 & Vista64). Everything seems to be in working order until I go and install drivers. The combination of the latest Audio drivers (Sigma something, the intergrated audio chip) and Catalyst (7.2, 7.3 with and without CCC) just gives me BSOD's till I drop. I haven't seen so many BSOD's since WinME, no trouble in safe mode though.

So I can either install the audio's latest drivers, and use the MS-supplied driver for the x1600. Or use the latest Catalyst, and use the default Vista32/64 audio driver.

The board is a rev.505, came with BIOS2333, but I upgraded it to the latest (2674) in hope of solving this. No luck though.

I haven't even got the chance of tweaking/OC'ing the hardware. I've got the QX6700 at 266FSB and 12X multiplier (3.20 GHz) and I'm running the 266/800 strap with 4-4-4-12 timings at 2.16/2.20V. I guess that's a small OC, never ran it at stock speeds hihi. I have disabled all watchdog-like features, although I can still see the multiplier go down in CPUZ when I'm doing nothing (the time I got it stable before updating the sound driver)

Now, my question. Is this something that more of you have experienced. Or is my mobo a lemon?

I tried to give as much info as possible (all by heart, at work now where there's a working computer at my disposal ) I hope some of you have some things I can try.
You only need the audio drivers if you need to use the front panel audio jacks.

The multiplier changing is normal. There's a BIOS bug where disabling C1E doesn't actually disable it.