M500 Issues with locking up (A TCG Command has returned an error)

Question

Here's the issue, I have researched this A TCG Command has returned an error problem and it seems it's all related to bitlocker problems and or sleep issues, I have all power saving features off, I do "not" have bit locker enabled or running.The problem lies when doing anything that requires hard drive usage other than simple browsing, it can range from 10x in 5 mins on a game and require force reboots and thats the exact error message in the event viewer at the time of crash everytime, I have crashed hundreds of times, and it's getting to the point to where my SSD isn't even fun to own currently, if any of you guru's on here could help that'd be great. Oh and secure boot is turned off (also read about that) It does it with it on or off, doesn't matter. And I had this problem with the default firmware (m03) and the new firmware (m05) I am also on Windows 8.1 64bit. Here are the logs from the event viewer. A TCG Command has returned an error.Desc: AuthenticateSession
Param1: 0x1
Param2: 0x60000001C
Param3: 0x900000006
Param4: 0x0
Status: 0x12
EnhancedStorage-EhStorTcgDrv
Opcode : TcgLib
A TCG Command has returned an error.
Desc: AuthenticateSession
Param1: 0x1
Param2: 0x60000001C
Param3: 0x900000006
Param4: 0x0
Status: 0x1
EnhancedStorage-EhStorTcgDrv
Opcode : TcgLib
Everytime I google "A TCG command has returned an error" the first thing that even comes up in google searches is a slew of M500's with bitlocker problems or sleep / power saving option problems, but I do not have any of those enabled. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

For sure the different speeds is the difference between the ASMedia and the Intel ports - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/storage-controller-performance-ssd,3540.html
In general Intel ports are suggested as preferred. Perhaps they are more reliable (I don't have any data for that) and they have more frequent driver support/updates.
It is hard to tell if it is possible that ASM controller is a contributor to the TCG error messages and/or to system freezes/crashes.
I think it is worth to note that as far as I know hardware based drive encryption (eDrive type) doesn't work with Intel RST drivers and it works only with inbox MSAHCI driver. That makes me think that the storage driver can affect the way the BitLocker works. 
What is your Windows 8.1 version, is it Pro or Enterprise? W8.1 Pro or Enterprise clean installation can switch the drive to TCG Opal mode and it is done silently. W8.1 do it happily without user's permission (and in many cases without user's knowledge). So my guess is that after silent switching the drive to TCG Opal mode the OS is using some parts of BitLocker... code/engine/mechanisms perhaps.
You have notice the crashing only really happens when games are being played. I was wondering that maybe the crashes are not related to TCG errors at all and they are related to some other broken driver rather than TCG thing?
It is possible this is something a reinstall might fix and I would probably try that. But first I would try to switch drive to Intel driven connector and then check and verify all major drivers installed in the system, including motherboard's BIOS - http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VI_HERO/HelpDesk_Download/
If that wouldn't help I would probably do as suggested by r0m30.
4. PSID revert the drive (and possibly secure erase it), set a BIOS password on the drive if your motherboard supports it and reinstall window.
I think romeo was refering to HDD password. It is little weird but motherboard's manual doesn't mention anything about HDD/Drive/Disk/ATA password. 
In case the mobo supports Drive/ATA password I would do following:
- PSID revert the drive 
- set HDD password
- clean OS install
In case it doesn't support ATA password (that would be odd but possible I guess):
- secure erase the drive 
- clean OS install
Drives connected to Intel's ports of course