Really slow SanDisk SSD!

[mancsoulja]

So I just bought a new 120GB SanDisk SSD to replace the 32GB crucial one which died on me recently.

I made a fresh install of windows 8, but this new SSD is seriously slow, often slower than my HDD and sometimes even freezing.

I have it connected to a 6GB/s SATA port and the sequential read/writes are perfectly fine for me, but the 4K read/writes are shocking. I'll be using this SSD primarily as a boot drive, so a decent 4K speed is really what I need.

Here is what kind of performance I'm getting - http://prntscr.com/7x5y8j

Do you guys this there may be a problem with the SSD? Or is this the kind of performance I should expect from a £30 SSD?

Cheers

 

[MarkW]

Your access times are insanely high. I have a Samsung 840 EVO 1TB hard drive. Its over a year old, and here is what I see.

Obviously a 1TB SSD should be faster than a 128GB unit, simply because it has less NAND chips to leverage due to its lower capacity.

But those numbers on your SSD are shockingly low.

Do you have AHCI enabled in your BIOS? If not, enable it.

 

[mancsoulja]

Your access times are insanely high. I have a Samsung 840 EVO 1TB hard drive. Its over a year old, and here is what I see.

Yeah, looks that way mate, but do you have any idea whats causing it? I have the latest bios for my mobo, tried both intel and MS ACHI drivers, even looked to see if the SDD had a F/W update... Nothing seems to help.

My previous SSD ran like a dream for 2 years.

Edit: Also, I just checked and I'm defo running in ACHI mode, not IDE.

 

[MarkW]

See what I wrote below my benchmark above...

I'm still looking at this, but my 4k write speeds are 11 times higher than yours.

My 4k-64 queue depth writes are over 29 times higher.

My write access times are over 14 times lower.

I cannot find a review of the 128GB unit. Every time I find what looks like one, they talk about the 128GB model, but then review the 240GB model. So I have not been able to find a comparison to what that model should be doing.

Personally, I think I would exchange it for a Samsung. Almost universally here on Toms, we like the Samsung SSD's. They just seem to keep working. And are the fastest overall SSD's.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

What is the brand and model number of your motherboard?

What is the model number or name of your SanDisk ssd? If model number SDSSDP18G is correct, then you have a very plain entry level ssd with an iaStoreA controller that is notoriously slow.

 

[mancsoulja]

What is the brand and model number of your motherboard?

What is the model number or name of your SanDisk ssd?

My motherboard is an Asus Maxius IV GeneZ/Gen3

And the SSD is a SanDisk SDSSDP-128G-G25

http://www.sandisk.co.uk/products/ssd/sata/standard/

 

[mancsoulja]

See what I wrote below my benchmark above...

I'm still looking at this, but my 4k write speeds are 11 times higher than yours.

My 4k-64 queue depth writes are over 29 times higher.

My write access times are over 14 times lower.

I cannot find a review of the 128GB unit. Every time I find what looks like one, they talk about the 128GB model, but then review the 240GB model. So I have not been able to find a comparison to what that model should be doing.

Personally, I think I would exchange it for a Samsung. Almost universally here on Toms, we like the Samsung SSD's. They just seem to keep working. And are the fastest overall SSD's.

Thanks for the info mate, I bought it from dabs.com less than a week ago, so I should have no problems returning it. If all else fails, that's my next move!

 

[JohnnyLucky]

You have an older Intel Socket 1155 Z68 motherboard that was released at the end of 2011. It can support two SATA 3 6Gb/s ssd's connected to the two red colored SATA connectors on the motherboard.

You have an older SanDisk entry level ssd that was also released at the end of 2011. At the time of release there were known compatibility issues.

Here are some things to try:

1. Check for and install motherboard system BIOS updates.
2. Check for and install Intel Z68 chipset updates.
3. Download and install SanDisk Dashboard utility.
4. Try different SATA data and power cables.
5. Try a different port/connector on the power supply.
6. Try the second red SATA header/connector on the motherboard.
7. Prior to installing Microsoft Windows access the motherboard's UEFI BIOS and make sure AHCI mode is enabled and the ssd is selected as the primary boot drive.

If nothing helps, then I would suggest returning the ssd.

I normally recommend Samsung solid state drives. They perform exceptionally well and have a proven track record. Intel and SanDisk are also worth considering. However, it is the newer SanDisk ssd's that perform well.

I maintain the ssd database listed in a sticky at the very top of this forum section. Here is the link:

http://www.johnnylucky.org/data-storage/ssd-database.html

Scroll down to the SATA 3 6Gb/s section and look for Samsung, SanDisk, or any other brands and models you are interested. Follow the links to the technical reviews.

 

[mancsoulja]

You have an older Intel Socket 1155 Z68 motherboard that was released at the end of 2011. It can support two SATA 3 6Gb/s ssd's connected to the two red colored SATA connectors on the motherboard.

You have an older SanDisk entry level ssd that was also released at the end of 2011. At the time of release there were known compatibility issues.

Here are some things to try:

1. Check for and install motherboard system BIOS updates.
2. Check for and install Intel Z68 chipset updates.
3. Download and install SanDisk Dashboard utility.
4. Try different SATA data and power cables.
5. Try a different port/connector on the power supply.
6. Try the second red SATA header/connector on the motherboard.
7. Prior to installing Microsoft Windows access the motherboard's UEFI BIOS and make sure AHCI mode is enabled and the ssd is selected as the primary boot drive.

If nothing helps, then I would suggest returning the ssd.

I normally recommend Samsung solid state drives. They perform exceptionally well and have a proven track record. Intel and SanDisk are also worth considering. However, it is the newer SanDisk ssd's that perform well.

I maintain the ssd database listed in a sticky at the very top of this forum section. Here is the link:

http://www.johnnylucky.org/data-storage/ssd-database.html

Scroll down to the SATA 3 6Gb/s section and look for Samsung, SanDisk, or any other brands and models you are interested. Follow the links to the technical reviews.

I've made further progress, when I run a fast S.M.A.R.T. test with the SanDisk toolbox it runs and finished with no errors, If I run the longer version, it errors out with error code 15, after a google, i see that is some kind of power error. I have my SSD connected via a molex to SATA connector, could it be that the molex is not providing enough power?

 

[MarkW]

Your power supply does not have SATA Power cables?

What power supply do you have?

 

[mancsoulja]

Your power supply does not have SATA Power cables?

What power supply do you have?

Of course it does, I have a 1KW XFX modular PSU. But the SSD mount in my case is behind the motherboard,

I don't have room because of all the other crap behind there like the power cables for my case lights and pump power cables.

I used the same setup on my old SSD with no issues, I literally just unplugged my dead SSD and replaced it with the new one.

This is the PSU I have...

http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/all-previous-psus/pro-series-1000w-psu-limited-black-edition-p1-1000-belx

 

[MarkW]

That is a nice big power supply!

StarTech.com 12-Inch 15-Pin SATA Power Extension Cable with SATA Power Male to Female Extender $4.65
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-12-Inch-Extension-Extender-SATAPOWEXT12/dp/B008ZB50SS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437934223&sr=8-1&keywords=SATA+POWER+EXTENDER

 

[mancsoulja]

That is a nice big power supply!

StarTech.com 12-Inch 15-Pin SATA Power Extension Cable with SATA Power Male to Female Extender $4.65
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-12-Inch-Extension-Extender-SATAPOWEXT12/dp/B008ZB50SS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437934223&sr=8-1&keywords=SATA+POWER+EXTENDER

When I built my PC like 3 years ago, I had a GTX 690, so I wanted a nice big PSU to make sure it didn't go hungry =P

Also, great link, that may be just what I need

 

[MarkW]

I remember those heaters... 😛