GA z68x-ud3h-b3: Slow SATA3 performance

[cjreed]

Hi there,

I have the following combo:
GA-z68x-UD3H-B3,
i7 'Sandybridge' CPU and
WD Caviar Black 1Tb Drive

But I'm having a problem with SATA3 performance: for example When Windows (7 64) boots the "Welcome" message is visible for around 12 seconds, and applications are similarly slow to load.

I ran the CrystalDiskMark tests and got the following results:
Sequential  - Read: 102.3 mb/s, Write: 100.2 mb/s
512kb -         Read: 44.66 mb/s, Write: 63.54 mb/s
4kb -             Read: 0.681 mb/s, Write: 1.234 mb/s

In trying to fix the problem, I've
1. flashed the bios,
2. checked ACHI mode in the bios settings,
3. checked the cable is the black ones provided with the motherboard
4. checked the cable is plugged into the white SATA3_0 socket on the motherboard.
5. reinstalled the latest "mb_driver_marvell_sata_controller" drivers from the Gigabyte website
But none of this made any difference.

If anyone can help I'd be massively grateful for any advice on what could be the issue here and what else I should try.

Many Thanks,
Chris.

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi cjreed, 

Have you installed a IRST : Intel® Rapid Storage Technology ?
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%C2%AE+Rapid+Storage+Technology

What is your exactely model of WD Caviar Black 1Tb Drive?
With a weblink please.

Gloup_Gloup

[cjreed]

Hi cjreed, 

Have you installed a IRST : Intel® Rapid Storage Technology ?
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%C2%AE+Rapid+Storage+Technology

What is your exactely model of WD Caviar Black 1Tb Drive?
With a weblink please.

Gloup_Gloup

Hi there,

I hadn't installed IRST,but have now, unfortunately still the same, no improvement.

The model is "WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0" as in http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=100

Many Thanks,
Chris

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi cjreed,

I check a infos about hard disk:
Transfer Rate (Buffer To Disk)   126 MB/s (Max)  it seems not very speed...

Other things : How you format a disk?
What is the parameters?
NTFS...
512 bytes
1024 bytes
....
64 kilo-bytes

One or many partition on Hard Drive?
Same parameters or not... etc

Gloup_Gloup.

[cjreed]

Hi there,

The disk is partitioned as follows:

"System Reserved" 100Mb NTFS (Healthy, System, Active, Primary Partition)
(C:) 589.62Gb NTFS (Healthy, Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)
(X:) 146.48Gb NTFS (Healthy, Logical Drive)
(F:) 195.31Gb NTFS (Healthy, Primary Partition)

I didn't specify a cluster size on formatting partitions so must be default.

btw driver details are Microsoft, 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255), 21/06/2006

Kind rgds,
Chris

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi cjreed,

Remove the Marvell driver:
First : Marvell RAID Utility (SATA3)
Second : Marvell Console Driver (SATA3)

AND other generic Microsoft AHCI driver, if you have it

Because the Marvell chips is a very poor performer. So do not use a marvel connections on the motherboard.
In principe the SATA3_0 is not a Marvel connection. So this port is ok.
If you prefer, check in your manual.

Clean register base with:
Ccleaner http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
jv16 PowerTools 2011 http://www.macecraft.com/downloads/jv16pt_setup_hb.exe
Wise Registry Cleaner Pro http://www.wisecleaner.com/soft/WRCPro.exe

If you are not sure about Intel Rapid Storage Technologies, infos here:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/17882/eng/readme.txt

and Reinstall Intel Rapid Storage Technologies...

You find more infos about Installation AHCI here:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,6721.0.html

Try again your performance Test...

Gloup_Gloup

[cjreed]

Hi there, thanks for the suggestions for me here.

I removed the Marvell Driver, RAID Utility and Console Driver.

I didn't remove the Microsoft ACHI Driver, if I do that won't I lose access to the drive?
(I'm assuming that's the Driver for the Drive under Computer Management > Device Manager > Disk Drives > [Drive] > Properties > Driver Tab > Uninstall)

I ran the three registry tools you listed

but sadly the performance doesn't seem better:

CDM 3.0.1 x64
Seq   > Read: 49.79 Mb/s, Write: 65.99 Mb/s
512K > Read: 44.91 Mb/s, Write: 68.69 Mb/s
4K:    > Read: 0.568 Mb/s, Write: 0.976 Mb/s

Would there be anything else that I could try?

Many Thanks,
Chris.

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi cjreed,

Many factors can influence the result of tests.

Remove PageFile (SWAP file) pagefile.sys
Remove hiberfil.sys http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/1269d1228654799-hibernate-enable-disable-disable.jpg


So check if you have a possibility to deactivate more Windows Services? With Administrative Tools, Services.
Like Defrag Windows, etc...

Using MSCONFIG to deactivate other programs and services in the Startup tab and Services Tab.

Have you Defrag your disk, before test? Me I use Perfect Disk 11 server. you check a case : At startup.

It is best to test drive as secondary drive. In other words, do not use it as a system disk during the test.

Me I prefer use HDD Tune for tests.  http://www.hdtune.com/files/hdtunepro_500_trial.exe  (In my test l have 4.61, in past time...)
In the Options Tab, Benchmark section, I put a cursor to Accurate (Below), check Full Test, check Include raw graphics, Block size : 1MB
In the AAM Tab, I check Enable, put a cursor at 254 , Default Value at 128 (maybe is different for you)­...

With my test I have a Pagefile on Drive C: ( Next time I make a Test without pagefile.sys) 
and C: is a disk system of course.  (Western Digital Velociraptor 300 gb.  ( WD300HLFS)

My disk tested is other partition of same drive OS disk.
So I view when my partition disk tested are formated at NTSF 8192, this give a better result. I make a test with 4096-8192-16384 (16K)
I speak about Block size Read speed and Write Speed in Raw graphics Files.

So I hope this info is util for you....

Gloup_Gloup