• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Terribly slow SSD write speeds

N

Nilsch

n00b
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Messages
50
I installed a new system a few months back and have from the beginning felt that something was off regarding the SSD speeds. Never got around to testing it until now, and these are my results:
ssd-samsung.png


The motherboard is an ASUS P9X79 Deluxe and the SSD is a Samsung 830 Series 256GB. I also have an Intel 330 Series 180GB SSD installed which has similarly bad results from the AS SSD test.

The SSDs are installed in the grey SATA ports which should be the SATA3 ports. AHCI is enabled in the BIOS and in Windows:
regedit.jpg


This is what Device Manager displays:
devman.jpg


I would really appreciate it if someone could help me out.
 
Last edited:
Marvell controllers can be.. Bad.

Try it on the Intel ports, make sure you have the latest Intel storage drivers installed and see what happens. Your numbers are really strange-even ignoring the write speeds. The other thing I'd try is a new/known-good SATA cable, just in case. I've had strange voodoo that just replacing cables fixed. Might've been the cable, might've been phase of the moon.
 
You can also try a Linux Live CD and some benchmark...Mint 14 Live DVD has a benchmark program built-in. That will tell you if its a software problem.

Once it boots, open the "start" menu and look in the applications, should be a drive benchmark app.
 
Rendus said:
Marvell controllers can be.. Bad.

Try it on the Intel ports, make sure you have the latest Intel storage drivers installed and see what happens. Your numbers are really strange-even ignoring the write speeds. The other thing I'd try is a new/known-good SATA cable, just in case. I've had strange voodoo that just replacing cables fixed. Might've been the cable, might've been phase of the moon.
Click to expand...

They were connected to the Intel ports already with SATA3 cables. I tried connecting with different SATA3 cables to the Marvell ports. This time the write speeds were better, but the read speeds got worse:

ssd-samsung2.png


Also, they don't show as ATA drives anymore on the Marvell ports.

I connected them back to the Intel ports again, and got the same bad results as before.

Maybe there is something wrong with the AS SSD software, because when I copied a 7 GB file from the Samsung to the Intel drive and another file from the Intel to the Samsung, Windows showed 450 MB/s while copying.

I will try the Linux Live DVD that westrock mentioned and see what I get.

The reason I was unhappy with the SSD speeds in the first place was actually the boot up time, which is about 30 seconds. On a mini-ITX PC I have with an Intel SSD and it boots in 9 seconds.
 
The reason I was unhappy with the SSD speeds in the first place was actually the boot up time, which is about 30 seconds. On a mini-ITX PC I have with an Intel SSD and it boots in 9 seconds.
Click to expand...
Probably because there's wayyy less junk starting and an SSD really has no control over the booting process.

Coupla other things.....there's no such thing as a SATA3 cable (all SATA cables are the same), and never use the Marvell controller if you want the best performance, always update the Intel drivers, and in the device manager enable write caching and turn off the write-cache buffer flushing.

Good Luck!
 
It is because it is an X79 system.

In the device manager for your SSD, under the policies tab, try experimenting with the write-caching policy check boxes (start by checking write-caching and checking turn-off buffer flushing).

Also, in your BIOS, try disabling anything related to C-states, C3, C6, etc.
 
Thanks! Turning off buffer flushing made a big difference. Now I get more reasonable results:

ssd-samsung3.png


The boot time is still slow, but I do have a lot of crap loading, mostly Canon stuff (camera, printer, scanner).
 
Alternatively you could have uninstalled RSTe. That may have given you a similar score (probably better) and you'll have less stuff loading during startup. ;)
 
I tried googling RSTe, but have a hard time understanding what it does and how to install it. Found many references to server boards and such and people getting BSOD...

Is this something I should install on my Asus P9X79 with a Samsung 830 SSD?
 
Nilsch said:
I tried googling RSTe, but have a hard time understanding what it does and how to install it. Found many references to server boards and such and people getting BSOD...

Is this something I should install on my Asus P9X79 with a Samsung 830 SSD?
Click to expand...

Rapid Storage Technology Enterprise

I'm assuming it's already installed on your computer because it says, "iaStorA" in your AS SSD Benchmark screenshot. The default driver from Microsoft will say "msahci".
 
I'm assuming it's already installed on your computer because it says, "iaStorA" in your AS SSD Benchmark screenshot. The default driver from Microsoft will say "msahci".
Click to expand...
I must be missing something.

Are you suggesting he uninstall the Intel drivers? If so, that would be a mistake as the Intel drivers are better.

There is a small control panel for RAID arrays that some get in the download but that can be uninstalled seperately and it's not needed.
 
I actually did uninstall the RST, after reading something on the almighty interweb that it would be wise to do so with the Samsung 830. Alas, doing so had no effect on the performance, whatsoever. :) Neither did reinstalling it for that matter. I don't think it uninstalled the drivers, only some utilities.
 
Well, it must be true if you read it on the internet. LOL!

I've seen some horrible advice given and once it's posted, the same horrible advice works it's way to search engines and if you read it on the internet........:)

Keep the Intel drivers and keep them updated....that's your best shot.

Corse.....you're reading this on the internet! LOL!
 
I will heed your advice, wise one! The Intel drivers will be kept safe from now on. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top