Intel CSA Gigabit Bug in IC7-G Motherboards- Affects Windows/Linux

[Justin Piszcz <jpiszcz@lucidpixels.com>]

Apparently, A-BIT's Intel driver works for some people, but the Linux one 
causes the machine to crash.  The same is also true if you use the driver 
from Intel's website.  I was just wondering if there was any discussion on 
this list concerning this issue?

I have 4 ABIT IC7-G's and this problem only occurs on two of them, which I 
have disabled the onboard CSA gigabit nic and put in PCI NICS (intel 
gigabit) with no problems.

It appears there are some serious problems with Intel CSA GIGABIT with 
this motherboard, just curious to see if anyone out there heard anything 
about this?

The interesting part is the first page of this thread:

http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?t=18707

The author has a "death.zip" file, in which if you copy the file over the 
LAN it causes an instant crash.  He's tried contacting A-Bit, but is it an 
A-Bit or Intel or Driver problem as it has been "reported" to work with 
A-Bit's driver.

I believe this post sums up the problems of IC7-G problems:

--

Yeah, can't have it all, can we? I had serious thoughts about RMA-ing my 
IC7-G last fall, but the 4 week tournaround was a bit too much downtime 
for my taste. To resolve the noisy mic-input issue, I bought a cheap 
soundcard. For the onboard CSA, I did nothing. Running at 1GbE, the NIC 
has worked very well, disregarding the numerous occations it has strangled 
my system to death, of course.

I feel sorry for you Sydtech, myself and everyone else out there ripping 
their hair out over the issues of the IC7. We have spent countless hours 
trying to figure out what's wrong, worrying about a lengthy RMA process 
and the adherent downtime - which in Sydtech's case just as well might 
result in a shabby refurbished MB fixing some problems, but adding others. 
Many of us have simply resorted to buying PCI add-in cards replacing the 
dysfunctional parts of the IC7.

We have paid the bill for ABIT's engineering shortcomings, not to mention 
wasting a lot of time and energy. Last spring I was looking for a MB for 
my new system. I wanted the best and with as many onboard functions as 
possible so I could have a less crammed case. I read all the reviews for 
the new i875 MB:s, where - for instance - HardOCP praised it, especially 
it's superiour sound quality (they did not even try the mic-input). 
Needless to say, I ended up with the expensive IC7-G, "cream of the crop" 
and bucketsful of headache.

Alright, so add-in cards cramming up our cases seem to be the easiest way 
to get the subsystems we've already payed for. But what's really 
infuriating is that ABIT just refuses to address the issues. No helping 
hand, no suggestions on how to get things right. They just keep ignoring 
us. Of course they read the forums, they just think keeping things quiet 
is their best strategy.

Well, anyhow, I have my strategy worked out for future technology 
acquisitions: I'll NEVER again buy first revision products the minute they 
come out. I refuse to again be an unpaid beta tester for an ungrateful and 
unhelpful manufacturer like ABIT. And I will also take reviews with loads 
of salt.

--

I was wondering if anyone from intel.nics@intel.com could comment on this 
issue?

Thanks,

Justin.