Z68-UD7-B3Solid State Drvie speeds not up to spec

[MojoNixon]

Note: see update below

I just built a new system using:
Z68-UD7-B3 motherboard
OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

The SSD drive is connected to the SATA 3_0 port (SATA 6 GB/S).

Running the industry standard benchmark Crystal Disk Mark 3.0.1 x64, I get significantly slower speeds than it should.

I'm only getting 328.6 MB/s seq reads (online benchmark using P67 board gave 497 MB/s)
My 4K QD 32 reads = 23.6 MB/S (online benchmark using P67 board gave 118.5 MB/s)

Note: see update below.

Why is the Z68-UD7-B3 motherboard SATA III controller giving me such slow response?   Would it be faster if I moved to connection from SATA 3_0 to one of the Mavell SATA 6 GB/s slots?

The link to the online benchmark: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1624/5/

UPDATE:
I just realized that I setup the SSD using IDE mode in the BIOS.
I went to the following webpage to convert my SSD to AHCI mode: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976
Changed the BIOS to use AHCI instead of IDE mode (in the BIOS its under "Integrated Hardware" -> "PCH SATA Control Mode"
Reran the benchmark and the speeds are up to spec now (470 GB/s seq reads, 114.0 GB/s 4k QD32 reads)
Problem solved!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Yes glad you realised your error. AHCI mode can make quite a difference especially with these newer SSDs and trying to run them on IDE mode seriously damages the performance.

[appy]

Hey, I made the exact same mistake. Then i changed from IDE to AHCI in BIOS. Now i have this little icon "safely remove hardware" and both my internal disk's show up.

I just want the internal disk's to disappear from this feature. I'm also using a Z68-UD7-B3 mobo.

Is this a proper solution for me or is there a better way?
http://www.overclock.net/raid-controllers-software/974023-fix-ahci-sata-drives-showing-safely.html

/appy

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

This is how you stop the problem you have with the internal drives appearing as external drives.

Right Click the command prompt and select 'Run as Administrator';

Copy and paste the following command into the command prompt:
reg.exe add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\msahci\Controller(n)\Channel(N)" /f /v TreatAsInternalPort /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001

Change (n) for the contoller number – 0 on my machine ie. 'Controller0' and change Channel (N) for the SATA port number – 1 – 5 on my machine ie. Channel1, Channel2, channel3....etc

You can check which controller number and port(s) by using regedit to check the registry keys. The keys can also be be added while your there.


reg.exe add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\msahci\Controller0\Channel1" /f /v TreatAsInternalPort /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001

[appy]

Hi DM and thanks for the reply.

The only folder that I have in "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\msahci" is "Enum" and no "Controller0" or anything like it.

So for me it looks like this:  "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci\Enum"

Is this weird or can I still make these changes?

[Dark Mantis]

Hi appy,

What OS are you running ?

It may well be that you will have to insert the setting.
 
If you want to do some reading up on it then check here:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/eSATA.mspx

[appy]

I'm on Windows 7 Ultimate.

However it worked to insert the keys and stuff in regedit!


/appy

[Dark Mantis]

Yes that's what I figured would be necessary.