SSD slow on Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3

[Tutmozis]

Subject:
SSD slow on Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3

Hello.

I have SSD:
(SSD SATA3 120GB Silicon Power Velox 60 550/500MBs, SP120GBSS3V60S25 )
Link:
http://www.silicon-power.com/product/product_detail.php?currlang=utf8&main=17&sub=48&pro=172&type=sp#a_9

Motherboard:
GA-Z68AP-D3 ( rev. 1)
Link: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3897#sp

Processor:
Intel i3 2100

OS:
Windows 7 Ultimate SP 1

Testing with:
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.2 Shizuku Edition x64

I should get this speed:
http://i48.tinypic.com/w0tis0.jpg

My speed is:
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9710/srgz.jpg

As you can see, something is wrong…

Here what I did so far:
- SSD is connected to SATA 3 port
- SSD run with AHCI
- I refreshed my Bios from F2 to latest F8
- C3 / C6 state support is disabled in BIOS

So any ideas ?

 

[RetiredChief]

Not familiar with your specific SSD, But
.. I'm guessing that it uses the Sandforce Controller, if so then the benchmark performance is greatly effected by the data used by the benchmark - Highly compressable data vs compressed data. I believe that with crystal Diskmark you can select the type.
.. SSDs using the SF2xxx controller score very well when using data that is highly compressable, reason manuf you ATTO (A HDD Benchmark) to post INFLATED Sequencial performance - IF this is the case simply ignore the benchmark.
.. If your SSD uses Asynchronous NAND Simular to the OCZ Agility III (I do have this one), the problem is compounded in that in real life it performs no better on SATA III than on sata II - STILL WAY faster than a HDD.

I use AS SSD as a benchmark (it uses compressed data) which is more realistic to real life performance.
Don't need to run the benchmark, just download, install/run. In the upper left you should see:
.. For driver - either msahci or better yet iaSTor (Intels version of uSofts default msahci driver) = OK
.. also should see partition alignment = "OK"

PS do Not run benchmarks to often as it is not good for a SSD (increased writes) and the test performance will tend to decrease between passes until TRIM can restore to optimum performance.

 

[Tutmozis]

Not familiar with your specific SSD, But
.. I'm guessing that it uses the Sandforce Controller, if so then the benchmark performance is greatly effected by the data used by the benchmark - Highly compressable data vs compressed data. I believe that with crystal Diskmark you can select the type.
.. SSDs using the SF2xxx controller score very well when using data that is highly compressable, reason manuf you ATTO (A HDD Benchmark) to post INFLATED Sequencial performance - IF this is the case simply ignore the benchmark.
.. If your SSD uses Asynchronous NAND Simular to the OCZ Agility III (I do have this one), the problem is compounded in that in real life it performs no better on SATA III than on sata II - STILL WAY faster than a HDD.

I use AS SSD as a benchmark (it uses compressed data) which is more realistic to real life performance.
Don't need to run the benchmark, just download, install/run. In the upper left you should see:
.. For driver - either msahci or better yet iaSTor (Intels version of uSofts default msahci driver) = OK
.. also should see partition alignment = "OK"

PS do Not run benchmarks to often as it is not good for a SSD (increased writes) and the test performance will tend to decrease between passes until TRIM can restore to optimum performance.

Thx 4 answer.

Another pesron told me to do this test:

hmmm, I guess they guy with better results did it with Fill 0

Here the results:

Random

Fill 0

Random - Save Mode

Fill 0 - Save Mode

AS SSD Score

 

[Dereck47]

31 K - BAD in your AS SSD results means that your drive is not properly aligned.
If you cloned or imaged your O/S to your SSD then it was done incorrectly and not properly aligned.

You'll have to use some partition manager software to properly align the drive. A fresh Windows install will also properly align the drive.

 

[Tutmozis]

Well, first I made 2 partition with Partition Magic 9. Installed 2 windows. Xp and 7... later I realized, XP doesn't support AHCI... so I deleted the two partition and created just one and installed new windows 7 - 2 days ago.

At 31k say: offset / alignment @ 4K cluster

I don't know is it worth it to made again because of that 31k

 

[RetiredChief]

2nd added, as above posts were nt present when writing my response - SEE 2nd bold
And yes a clean intall would be the best option - BUT first delete ALL partitions, can do by selecting Custom Mode and on page asking where to insall select adavance and deete all partitions. End 2nd added

Your drive score is LOW, The Low end Agility III scores around 400->450, AS Overall score.
You need to Fix that 31 K-BAD. This is your partition alignment. I'm guessing you Cloned your HDD to the SSD - Bad Move. This is But one of the reasons a Clean install is recommended when going from HDD-> SSD. As is the problem with your partition alignment is that it not only effects performance, but also LONGEVITY!!!!

Once you correct that, then you should download the Intel driver to replace msahci
Intel RST driver:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&keyword=%22Intel+Rapid+Storage+Technology+(Intel+RST)%22
AHCI: Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver for Intel Desktop Boards
Installs the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (AHCI) driver version 12.5.0.1066 for Intel® Desktop Boards.

Added:
Caution -
1) Remember that you should only use about 90 Gigs, the rest of the drive should be UNSED to allow wear leveling, Garbage collector and TRIM to work their magic o maintain the drive performance.
2 Do NOT recommend running anymore benchmarks on that drive, wait about a week after you have corrected your problems.

Yo may be able to correct with-out re-install, Read his:
http://lifehacker.com/5837769/make-sure-your-partitions-are-correctly-aligned-for-optimal-solid-state-drive-performance
NOTE Gparted is also on the UBCD (under /HDD/Partition Management)
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[Dereck47]

Also FYI,

Advertised speeds for your drive using CrystalDiskMark are up to 200MB/s Read and 150MB/s Write.

Advertised speeds for your drive using AS SSD are up to 200MB/s Read and 140MB/s Write.

Advertised speeds for your drive using ATTO are up to 550MB/s Read and 510MB/s Write.

http://www.silicon-power.com/product/product_detail.php?currlang=utf8&main=17&sub=48&pro=172&type=sp#a_9

 

[Tutmozis]

2nd added, as above posts were nt present when writing my response - SEE 2nd bold
And yes a clean intall would be the best option - BUT first delete ALL partitions, can do by selecting Custom Mode and on page asking where to insall select adavance and deete all partitions. End 2nd added

Your drive score is LOW, The Low end Agility III scores around 400->450, AS Overall score.
You need to Fix that 31 K-BAD. This is your partition alignment. I'm guessing you Cloned your HDD to the SSD - Bad Move. This is But one of the reasons a Clean install is recommended when going from HDD-> SSD. As is the problem with your partition alignment is that it not only effects performance, but also LONGEVITY!!!!

Once you correct that, then you should download the Intel driver to replace msahci
Intel RST driver:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&keyword=%22Intel+Rapid+Storage+Technology+(Intel+RST)%22
AHCI: Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver for Intel Desktop Boards
Installs the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (AHCI) driver version 12.5.0.1066 for Intel® Desktop Boards.

Added:
Caution -
1) Remember that you should only use about 90 Gigs, the rest of the drive should be UNSED to allow wear leveling, Garbage collector and TRIM to work their magic o maintain the drive performance.
2 Do NOT recommend running anymore benchmarks on that drive, wait about a week after you have corrected your problems.

Yo may be able to correct with-out re-install, Read his:
http://lifehacker.com/5837769/make-sure-your-partitions-are-correctly-aligned-for-optimal-solid-state-drive-performance
NOTE Gparted is also on the UBCD (under /HDD/Partition Management)
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Thanks again for your long post.

I did clean windows install from DVD, HOWEVER I not formatted with install Windows. My bad I guess, I trusted to Partition Magic 9 for work.

Okey, I will do everything again, I just hate installing windows + programs...

Also one more question, I bought SATA 2 kabel, since they say it is for SATA 3 stuff + I check two shops, and no of them has Sata 3 kabel only Sata 2...

 

[RetiredChief]

"SATA 2 kabel" Kabel = compatible???

If you are saying you bought a SATA III SSD that had a label saying that it is Compatible with Sata II - Just means it will work in both SATA II and SATA III ports. For your SSD, not a biggy as that only affects Sequencial performance using highly compressible data.

NOTE: Without deleting the partitions prior to windows install, Windows will use existing partition boundaries without aligning for SSD. Reason I stated you ned to delete ALL partitions.

 

[Tutmozis]

Hi.

Okey, I did like you said, I don't have anymore BAD.

However, I was unable to install IATA_ENU -> it's said something like "I don't have minimum requirement".
I see on intel some F6 install version... its quite complicate, dono do I try that.

I also installed (AHCI) driver version 12.5.0.1066 for Intel

As you can see, my score is better:

Dono, maybe this is the best what I can achieve...

 

[RetiredChief]

The driver iaSTorA is fine.

Score looks Ok, slightly low in overall, But I would NOT run anymore benchmarks for about a week to let GC and Trim to sort the drive out. SO ENJOY!!!

The difference between Your score of 377 and say a Overall score of 500 may sound like a big diff - BUT it is NOT and the day-2-day performance would be VERY VERY close.

IE. My Crucial M4 and Samsung 830 bout score around 750. My Samsung 840Pro scores an 1100, a whopping 53% gain, Yet you would be hard pressed to tell which system had which SSD installed.

 

[Tutmozis]

Okey guys, thx 4 help !

I can load fully Windows 7 from Bios PEEP in 22 sec, and its fine.
And I also noticed some improvement !
And I also learn few stuff about SSD, so thx again !