GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3 F6 bios issues - write bottleneck with Vertex 3 ssd

[GTZaskarLE]

Hi, I am experiencing an annoying Vertex 3 maxiops 120GB write bottleneck with ATTO disk benchmark on my GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3 mobo having the latest F6 bios. The ssd is connected to the intel Z68 sata3_0 port.

I tried almost everything to locate this problem but it appeared to be the latest motherboard bios F6.
Switched back to F5 and it all just worked as expected.

It didn't make much difference for the performance when I used standard win7pro-64bit MS AHCI or latest Intel RST AHCI drivers.

See also:
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?91864-Vertex3-Agility3-Solid3-Revo3-Firmware-ver-2.11-is-live-discuss-it-here.&p=662938&viewfull=1#post662938

I am also having this issue with the xmp profiles for the memory switching unexpected cpu frequency's.
(Switching 4x Vengeance CML16GX3M4A1600C9B to 1600 MHz, which is standard)

It looks like Gigabyte has a wide spread issue with their new bios versions because I also read this thread:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=6194.0
It seems there are more Gigabyte motherboards having similar issues.

Although I am glad with my Gigabyte mobo I hope Gigabyte will solve these bios issues quickly.

I can't wait.


F6 bios (=latest)


F5 bios

[panthal]

EXACT same issue please see my thread    http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,6321.0.html

[GTZaskarLE]

I just read your thread.
A few Gigabyte motherboards seem to have the same issue.

I also have, but didn't place, results from the ATTO results with MS and Intel AHCI driver.
At forums for SandForce SSD's it seems the latest Intel RST driver are hihgly recommended.
However I didn't see almost any difference at all and just stick to MS.

When I switch the memory to XMP profile 1 (1600MHz) the processor switches automatically to 3,8GHz minimum.
This is not supposed to happen, although my cooler can handle that.
It's just weird.

[Dark Mantis]

There does seem to be a problem with this BIOS version and I asked Gigabyte UK about it today. Their response was to get everyone that has this issue to contact GGTS so that they are aware of the of the problem and hopefully write a fix for it.

Just enter your email address and click on the language of choice.
GGTS   http://ggts.gigabyte.com/

Please expect several days for a reply.

[GTZaskarLE]

I already informed Gigabyte about this and I got an answer from the Dutch department.
This person said the issue was clear and reported it into the proper Gigabyte channels.

As soon as there is a bios version available which fixes these issues they would let me know.

And now we wait...

[GTZaskarLE]

UPDATE

Gigabyte just released the F7A (beta) bios for the GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3 motherboard.
Gigabyte description: "Improve OCZ PCIe SSD compatibility"

Well, this probably won't solve the sata 3 SSD write bottleneck issue with F6 because it's meant for PCIe SSD's, but I decided to test it anyway. You never know...

The result:
No, it does not solve any of the issues I described with F6.

Let's just wait for Gigabyte to release a new version.
As soon as they do I'll try again.

F7A bios (see attachment)
Latest version of Gigabyte website, 30-aug-2011
Status: issues not yet solved.

[TAFB]

I had the exact same problem.  Try disabling C3/C6 State Support in bios. 

[Dark Mantis]

I see that TAFB got in there first! I was just going to pass on this bit of information in the hope that it might help with your problem GTZaskarLE

[GTZaskarLE]

Hi TAFB and Dark Mantis,

Thank you for this interesting information.
TAFB, I saw your thread about this too.

I'm going to try this right a way and let you know how it went.

The only concern I have, and not have checked with F5, is why F5 did not have any problems with default settings en F6 did.
I don't know if F5 had different C3/C6 States.

To be continued!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi TAFB and Dark Mantis,

Thank you for this interesting information.
TAFB, I saw your thread about this too.

I'm going to try this right a way and let you know how it went.

The only concern I have, and not have checked with F5, is why F5 did not have any problems with default settings en F6 did.
I don't know if F5 had different C3/C6 States.

To be continued!

I don't know why but our security system decided not to display your post so I have quoted it here so people can see it. I notice it has relented now and your post is showing!

[Carvetii]

 Maybe you will find this relatively useful...and, make sure you read reply (groberts101   03-23-2011 at 07:00:39 PM)

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/267511-32-experts-wanted-benchmark-scores-vertex-raid0-setup

[GTZaskarLE]

UPDATE

Hi TAFB and Dark Mantis,
Thank you for the "disabling C3/C6 State Support" tip: it worked!!!

I never expected this could make such a difference and it makes me wonder what the setting was for the F5 bios when I had no problems.
I think I'll just go back to F5 to check the setting for [C3/C6 State Support].

Status: one down, one to go.

There is still the weird 'high cpu clock with XMP memory profile 1.
This clocks the CPU to 3.8 GHz minimum when the XMP memory profile 1 is activated.

@Carvetii
Thanks, I'll start reading this thread.

See attachment for the ATTO Disk benchmark with C3/C6 State Support disabled.

[Dark Mantis]

Good news that! The figures look more like what they should do now. You wouldn't really expect  a couple of wait states to make so much difference but then we are talking about computers!

[GTZaskarLE]

Yes, good news.

In mean time I loaded and tested bios F5, F6 and F7A to investigate why F5 had no problems with the write speed and F6, F7A did.

My routine to load a new bios:
-  Download the bios from gigabyte and put it on a memory stick
-  Boot to bios and load the bios with Q-Flash from the memory stick: keep DMI data [Disable], Load CMOS default [Enable], reset
-  Load fail-safe defaults [y], F10 Save & Exit setup [y]
-  Load optimized defaults [y], F10 Save & Exit setup [y]
-  Manually check and set if needed all but the MIT-settings
-  M.I.T. setting: X.M.P. [Profile1] 1600MHz
-  M.I.T. setting: C3/C6 State Support [Auto/Enabled/disabled], F10 Save & Exit setup [y]
     -> This is the variable to play with
-  In Windows 7: run WEI and reboot again
-  Done.

For bios F5, F6, F7A the default setting for C3/C6 State Support is [Auto]

TESTS concerning write bottleneck with sata 3 SSD and ATTO Disk benchmark:

M.I.T. -> Advanced frequency settings -> Advanced CPU core features -> C3/C6 State Support [AUTO]
F5   : OK, no write bottleneck
F6   : Not OK, write bottleneck
F7A : Not OK, write bottleneck

M.I.T. -> Advanced frequency settings -> Advanced CPU core features -> C3/C6 State Support [Enabled]
F5   : Not OK, write bottleneck
F6   : Not OK, write bottleneck
F7A : Not OK, write bottleneck

M.I.T. -> Advanced frequency settings -> Advanced CPU core features -> C3/C6 State Support [Disabled]
F5   : OK, no write bottleneck
F6   : OK, no write bottleneck
F7A : OK, no write bottleneck

Conclusions:
-  C3/C6 State Support should always be set to Disabled (thanks TAFB)
-  It's not clear why [Auto] works for the F5 bios and don't for F6 and F7A.
   Only Gigabyte could probably know the answer.


TESTS concerning CPU frequency 3.8 GHz with X.M.P. memory profile1 1600 MHz:

M.I.T. -> Advanced memory settings -> X.M.P. [Profile1] 1600 Mhz
F5   : M.I.T. -> Advanced frequency settings -> Advanced CPU core features -> CPU Clock Ratio: 34x
F6   : M.I.T. -> Advanced frequency settings -> Advanced CPU core features -> CPU Clock Ratio: 38x
F7A : M.I.T. -> Advanced frequency settings -> Advanced CPU core features -> CPU Clock Ratio: 38x

The processor score in WEI goes from 7.6 to 7.7 with CPU Clock ratio 34x to 38x.

Conclusion:
This is unexpected/weird and I can not explain it.


I hope Gigabyte will do something good with it.

[Dark Mantis]

No I too am at a loss to explain why it is happening. Doesn't seem to make sense at all. I suggest that you note all that down and send it to GGTS for analysis and rework.


Just enter your email address and click on the language of choice.
GGTS   http://ggts.gigabyte.com/

Please expect several days for a reply.