Corsair Nova V128 SSD is so slow - whats wrong?

[Gku]

Hello,

I have a problem with my new Nova V128 GB and I don’t know what’s wrong with this drive. Cut to the chase:

In HD Tune Pro I’ve sooo low score:

Other benchmarks is the same slow&sad story.

I’ve done some optimizations with SSD: Enable AHCI, install new Intel drivers for chipset (got PM55 in my laptop), TRIM, Pretech/Superfetch/Defrag off, Page File 1000/2000, Enable Write caching, install Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers, and above is the performance AFTER this tweaks and optimizations.

My config is: Dell Studio 1747 (Intel Core i7 720QM, 4 GB DDR3, Radeon HD 4650, PM55 Express). This Nova should offer up to 270/190 MB and I get only up to 177,8 MB in read and even slower in writes.

Help me, please. What should I do?

PS Sorry for my English…

 

[Yellowbeard]

We have found ATTO to be the most reliable utility to measure SSD peformance. Test again with ATTO and post a screen shot.

 

[jjmIII]

....and none of these SSDs are as fast as claimed IMO (unless you spend your life tweaking). Plus, those arn't bad scores.

guru3d scores on same drive...

 

[razel]

Try it in safe mode or with your power management settings set to high performance. Also with laptops, I remember back in late 09 that the Intel controller drivers were too agressive with power saving that it reduced my benchmark scores. I haven't tried recently with current versions, I had no need to update the default MS drivers. Easiest way to find out without uninstalling the drivers was benching in safe mode. You may also want to check the alignment of your partition.

 

[Gku]

Hi guys and thanks for opinions!

Yellowbeard…

ATTO score below, please write what do you think:

jjmIII…

I buy Nova V128 after reading this review on Guru3D. Hilbert test it and the average reads in HD Tune Pro is 204,5 MB/s – I have ~170 MB. I think I get the same score or at least 190-200 MB. ^_^

 

[jjmIII]

First off, Welcome to Anandtech.

I do see where your coming from. Your getting 85% of the Guru3D score. Guru is using an x58 board among other differences.

I guess I'm just easy to please. I run my SSD with no tweaks and am plenty happy (220MB/s average on system in signature). Hopefully someone else can be of more help.

As stated check the power settings....especially being a laptop and all.

 

[Gku]

jjmIII...
Thank you, I read Anand since 2000 and in two words: great site!


razel…

Earlier I test in High Performance plan.

But big, big thanks for advice about Safe mode! I test it in Safe mode and the score is 207 MB/s average – it’s great and this is what I paying for.

But what I should do now to get this performance in normal mode? Turn off some power saving feature I suppose?

 

[razel]

Just choosing High Performance should do it, otherwise you can uninstall the Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers. However from what I remember, the Intel RST sometimes installs additional infs for the chipset for proper detection that don't always get fully uninstalled. You have to completely blast it using pnputil. So, I'd just move on and remind myself next time to not install the Intel RST next time. I doubt the drivers are constantly capping your speed and in normal usage I doubt you'll notice the difference in sequential speed. At least you know that your SSD is capable in your system. Enjoy!

 

[Gku]

I choose High Performance and uninstall the Intel RST drivers and… the score is ~175 average. ^_^ Maybe I should do some tweaks in power plan options or so?

Thanks for opinion.

EDIT: Now I have ~185 MB/s average. I think this score is good.

BTW: SSD give me 30 proc. longer battery life in my laptop. It's 55 minutes and it's great!

 

[jjmIII]

So, I'd just move on and remind myself next time to not install the Intel RST next time.

Care to elaborate? I'm interested, and also wonder about this driver.
I actually just installed RST 9.6 on my Lappy (VERY similiar to OPs, PM55 express w/ 720QM) with an 80gb Intel G2 in it.

 

[razel]

Intel recommends installing it for various reasons, but to my best ability of reading the features included for laptops, it appears to enable quite a bit of power management features which in come cases, like myself and Gku have encountered can affect sequential speed performance for more battery life and lower heat output. More recent versions of the RST also I believe will pass TRIM where the older ones didn't, but the default MS Intel driver does so as well. In the end, I found advantage using it.

 

[Gku]

Yellowbeard from Corsair Technical Support help me already on Corsair forum. I test my Nova in ATTO in normal and safe mode and the score it's the same: up to 192 MB/s in writes and 264 MB/s in reads.

Thanks guys!

 

[Yellowbeard]

You are very welcome, glad your drive is performing normally.