Sandforce and HD Tune "roller coaster" issue"

[G.SKILL]

Hi tubesaq,

I mean as this thread title, Sandforce controller got this issue.

My personal opinion, if you want to keep this SSD performance, backup and secure erase regularly.

[codester]

I agree about this issue!! 100%

I think i got 2 worst performing Phoenix SSD 60GB from Gskill, after spending roughly $500 AUD on 2 Gskill SSD, i was expecting some sweet raid-0 performance out of it. Boy was i wrong....

After bringing them home updating to firmware 2.1 (then latest firmware), and all correctly setup & aligned, and with only just windows installed on the RAID-0 array then benched it with HD Tune. And this was the shocking result.....

64KB Block size


System spec:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
* underVolt + defaultClock & defaultTurbo @ 1.325v, 3.2GHz - 3.6GHz

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD7 rev2.0

Memory: G.Skill P.I DDR3-2300 (2G x 4)
* underVolt & underClock + tighterTime @ 1.31v, 1600mhz, CL6:7:6:19:1N

SSD: 2 x G.Skill Phoenix 60GB - Model: FM-25S2S-60GBP1
* Firmware v2.1, connected to AMD SB850 chipset

Performance was even worser than it's single drive counterpart. Shocking, i've tried everything to boost the performance after that. But no good, so Gskill ship faulty drive? i think i was the unlucky one.

After that i was pissed thinking it might of been the firmware, so i took the 2 new SSD out and stop using it altogether. Waiting for a new firmware to come out to see if performance would improve.

Now 3.2 and 3.1 is released, so i thought maybe i'll give it another try. And the result is.... TADAHH!!!......I can't even flash upgrade the bloody firmware!!!, it keep saying "Firmware for this drive not found in package" WTF >___< the only firmware im able to flash is 2.1

These two drive i got are seriously faulty.

[grits]

CPU usage

codester,

I had the same problem. Do you see where the CPU usage is 5.3%? The OS is probably throttling your RAID0 set-up because of C1 is enabled in BIOS. Turn C1 off and see if the CPU usage goes down. Check some of the other posted graphs for comparable percentages. I would also turn-off Intel's SpeedStep and any other power-saving features in your motherboard's BIOS.

grits

[codester]

grit

thanks for the advice, i will give it a try once i get this business of flashing it to a newer firmware soughted out.

[G.SKILL]

Hi codester,

I used as the same as your motherboard.
Performance is not good.
I suspect the problem is this motherboard RAID driver.
It really make me crazy.
Could you check which IDE SATA driver you use.

Right, Disable C state (C1) will let performance back.

[codester]

Re: Gskill Admin

Hi codester,

I used as the same as your motherboard.
Performance is not good.
I suspect the problem is this motherboard RAID driver.
It really make me crazy.
Could you check which IDE SATA driver you use.

Right, Disable C state (C1) will let performance back.

Yep it make me crazy also

The driver that i'm using are AMD's one that can be found on Gigabyte's website for my motherboard, so they are the latest one and not the default windows driver or the one that came on the CD with the motherboard.

So you reckon i'd be better off using them as single drive on this motherboard instead?

[G.SKILL]

Hi mate,

After my testing, I found this chipset for RAID is not good.

RAID mode is useless at this motherboard. (for this SSD)

[codester]

RE: admin

Hi mate,

After my testing, I found this chipset for RAID is not good.

RAID mode is useless at this motherboard. (for this SSD)

Hmm sad to here that, but i thought that RAID controller that come with motherboard are essentially software raid. Meaning their performance depend on your CPU? if i remember correctly. And since this motherboard sata bus, have a max bandwidth of 6Gbps i don't think the port or the controller is a limiting factor. Oh well...