Intel X25-M 80gb low 4k read/write speeds

[idata]

I use to get 39mb/s write and 14.4 mb/s read using as ssd benchmark on the 4k test. Recently I am scoring 27.50mb/s write and 14mb/s read. What could cause this drop in performance. I am using ahci mode and msahci driver. Thanks

[idata]

Don't be obsessed with benchmark results. What you see for some test results may not be important for what you do on the computer, in fact, most of these tests don't mean much for the average user. You use AS SSD to occasionally check your SSD to make sure TRIM is working. You can use HD Tune or Crystal Disk for an SSD but the method by which it does the tests will differ than what AS SSD does.So, trying to make a comparison between the tests will likely cause you confusion and wasted time. I don't have an hour to waste testing my SSD, or a mechanical drive. I use my SSD for enjoyment. If I feel the unit has slowed down or not performing as expected, then I will investigate, otherwise, my time is better spent with other things.

[idata]

Do I install the msahci driver at the start of WEin7 install where it asks for driver? Where do I get msachi? Maybe that's my solution? I do have RAID off in the BIOS, but there are no options in the BIOS for anything other than OFF or AUTO for the SATA drives, including the SSD.

[idata]

The msahci driver is installed by Windows 7. If you install Windows 7 with BIOS set to AHCI, then msahci will be the driver and Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller will be listed in Device Manager.

The issue here is your BIOS. You could use an Intel driver and also get TRIM, though that would have to be done via SSD Toolbox. The problem is getting your BIOS in AHCI mode. Have you tried contacting the manufacturer of your computer to find out how to set BIOS to AHCI, if that is possible.

There may be some way to configure your BIOS for AHCI, so try Dell support.

[idata]

kurtsimon wrote:

I just figured out how to add a picture to this message.

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/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/16421/as-ssd-bench INTEL SSDSA2M080 3.3.2010 11-01-44 AM.png

OK. The pic above is what you want. So, here is a review of the differences.

First, IDE will test out only about 5% lower than AHCP on the same system, so, only a minor factor here.

Your Sequential Read rate is half of mine. Even old computers should be able to gin out 250 MB/sec--but only if they have a Sata II port. Yours looks like Sata I (150 MB/sec max) or a Sata II port in Sata I mode--or a really slow drive controller. This low sequential speed will slow down all of your read tests. Your Sequential Write rate looks good.

Your 4 KB Block random read is low, but OK--it is slowed down by the max read rate. Your 4 KB Random Write rate is low. AHCI will make its biggest difference here--probably bumping your number up maybe 30%.

The 4K-64Thrd test uses 4KB data blocks with 64 simultaneous random read-write threads. This benefits greatly from a newer I5 or I7 processor and associated motherboard, which handle multithreaded operations much better than older processors. Mine is an I5 @ 4Ghz with memory at DDR3, 2 GHz. Combine a slower processing system with a disk reading at half-speed, any you get your result. Your Write Thread test is not bothered by a slow max write rate, but is affected by the other factors.

Your read access time is too long. Slow drive controlling would explain this too--since the access time due to the SSD is generally independent of any external factors. Write access is just fine, since the write operations operate at a speed much slower than the read ops.

And one last thing. The drive controller intelide.sys, See if you can roll that back to mside.sys (or whatever the Win7 default driver is. Or use "Update Driver" to get a list.

[idata]

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that is what he wants. I think he would rather have this :