SSD problem

[Savas]

Greetings,

I just bought a OCZ 120GB Vertex 3 2.5 SSD (from scan.co.uk) and I was thinking at least I'd get 400MB/s read/write speeds, but I seem to only be getting roughly under 150 write, and a little less than 380 read speeds.

I'm using CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 64. So is it the SSD or the way I've set it up or is my benchmark method or am I simply reading the results wrong?

Motherboard: P6X58D-E

I'm a noob with SSD and thought I'd upgrade my main disk and use my old one as storage. I did make sure I set the BIOS to ACHI Mode before installing windows, I also made sure it was connected properly to the 6Gbps port on my mobo.

As for the drivers, I'm not quite sure :/ but I did install everything and windows update doesn't seem to offer anything anymore. Even though I've said all this stuff, please assume I could have done it wrong so if I need to double check, please let me know.

Here's the results:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
                           Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

           Sequential Read :   374.447 MB/s
          Sequential Write :   142.218 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :   345.742 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :   126.314 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :    26.838 MB/s [  6552.4 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :    59.063 MB/s [ 14419.7 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :   106.302 MB/s [ 25952.7 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :   138.029 MB/s [ 33698.5 IOPS]

  Test : 1000 MB [C: 32.4% (36.2/111.7 GB)] (x5)
  Date : 2011/09/17 11:07:21
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)

Really appreciate the assistance.

EDIT: I just did a ATTO benchmark:

[GoNz0]

download as ssd from http://downloads.guru3d.com/AS-SSD-B...load-2569.html, run it on the ssd and print a screenshot of the app please

[mrt9888]

I'm not sure if it really makes a difference but do you have a 6gb SATA cable?

[Savas]

As for the cable, I'm not quite sure, I used the cables provided by the motherboard. I will check and confirm again.

[barry2811]

Looking at the specs for your board, the SATA3 6gb/s are provided by the Marvell chipset, which sadly, isn't very good and would explain your less than expected performance.

[GoNz0]

yep no intel chipset showing there so its as good as it gets.

[kalniel]

Looks fine for random data from that drive. To test non-random data go to Crystal Disk and select one of the fill test datas (file->test data->0 fill). Post those results too.

[Savas]

Thanks for your answers.

If indeed it's the chipset and there's nothing I personally can do then that's fine. Another question would be if changing to the cheaper Corshair one (or another) would give me the same performance I'm getting now for pretty much a cheaper price (bang for buck)? Can't really be bothered with the sending back either though tbh.

Here's the non-random test:


Thanks.

[Sputnik]

Even at those speeds it is still a huge increase in performance over a HDD and if you change your motherboard in the future you will be able to get the extra bit from it.

I was disappointed with the benchmark result I got from my Vertex but, It still performed well in reality.

You might be able to find a Sata 3 PCI card that you can boot from which has a more suitable chipset ?

[GoNz0]

nope, intel dont do a add on card and the other options are not cost effective. ie buying a top end motherboard would probably cost less

[Sputnik]

I'd try plugging the SSD into one of the ICH10R Sata connectors (blue ones) on the board, Although they are only Sata 2 you might get a better result overall.

Worth a try, I know another Hexite had a similar thing and got better speeds on Sata2.