Hunanazhi X99 F8 is a model number for a specific product.
Hunanazhi X99 F8 is a model number for a specific product.
I purchased one of these boards and it operates smoothly, running perfectly with a 2680V4 14 core/28 thread CPU, 8 Dimm slots (64GB) and passing all stress tests. Currently, I’m using it for Proxmox. However, I’m encountering some issues. It has 8 SATA 3.0 ports and two NVMe drives; I installed one MP510 as the main drive and placed five HDs inside—4x8TB and a 12TB—still functioning perfectly. I set up a Truenas configuration and everything works fine. The 4x8TB drives now run via the SSATA controller, while the 12TB IronWolf on the ESATA port (which can be external if needed) is also operational. Adding two more 4TB drives caused CRC errors in my setup, so I upgraded to two EXOS Enterprise drives. Now I’m facing problems with the 12TB drive, which keeps throwing CRC errors. It’s frustrating—Windows works without issues, but I can’t create pools or complete scans. The system has about 9 hours of runtime. There are three defective SATA ports, which seems odd but still functions in Windows. It might be related to a timeout or BIOS settings, possibly because I’m trying to run my MEGARAID card, which lacks IT mode. This could be a problem with the board itself, especially since it’s from ALIEXPRESS. It feels like something is wrong, even though I took this chance.
Dunno if you solved this or not, but these Chinese recycled x99 boards are full of "quirks" There is a good YT channel from a fellow who only does these boards and modifies a ton of the BIOSes for better performance, bug fixes, etc. http://www.miyconst.com/ There is a huge community (most of Russians, go figure) invested in fixing these boards. Good luck!
Explore this website—it’s written in Russian but contains useful details, especially regarding BIOS updates that might ease your SATA issues. I’m using a Chinese board with an E5 2690v2 (X79 v2.71, 2.72 under the Machinist brand). I’ve noticed similar SATA problems. My setup has only one SATA III port and three SATA II ports; the II ports function perfectly, but the III port is unreliable. It seems everything was consolidated onto a single controller, which didn’t work out. I’ve received a partial refund from the seller on eBay so I can adapt for my needs. If you’re serious about fixing this, consider getting a RAID controller—it adds some bulk and might be the best solution. Good luck!
Ended up purchasing a Flashed raid controller supporting IT mode at a reasonable price. It offers eight ports in total, with five functioning ports out of the eight available on the board. The system is performing exceptionally well—remaining stable and consistent 24/7 since purchase. The 2680V4 14 core /28 thread operates flawlessly for my Proxmox setup.