Help! Low performance w. U160 scsi

[DaFinn]

Hi,

I just built a new rig around Epox 8kha+ mobo.
I have an Adaptec 19160 U160 scsi card and 2x IBM 18,3Gt 36LZX drives (10k rpm/ 4Mb), which I took from my old rig.
My problem is very low performance of the drives in my new setup.

1.) My write perfomance is very low at ~6 mb/s. Sisoft Sandra gives a warning: W5205 Low write index, Check that write verify is off! ...ok, HOW?

2.) Overall performance is much less than in my old setup (Asus CUSL2 mobo, P3 800/133Mhz). Is there a problem with the PCI performance of the VIA chipset or what?

3.) PCI latency settings in BIOS. Could changing the value improve performance of the scsi card? Higher is better, right?


I have the latest Via drivers, and latest Bios for my board. Tried the PCI latency patch, but my machine would not boot with it installed?


Rest of my system:

Mobo: Epox 8kha+
Processor: AMD XP 1700+
Memory: 2x256 Mb Crucial DDR CAS2
Graphics: Leadtek Winfast GF3 Ti200
Sound: SB Live Player
LAN: Intel Pro 100+
SCSI: Adaptec 19160 U160 scsi card
HDD: 2x IBM 36LZX 18,3 Gb
DVD: Toshiba M1212 (Primary Master)
CD-RW: HP 9500+ (Secondary Master)
Power: Codegen 400W

Loads of irrelevant stuff outside the case.

Running Windows 2000 Professional SP2.

Any help will be appreciated!

 

[bacillus]

are the hdds identified correctly as U160 at startup?
are you using a lvd cable with a terminator at the end of the cable? it's a must!
what are the ID of your scsi devices?

 

[DaFinn]

Hi,

Yes, Hardrives are correctly identified as U160 at boot.
Drive id's are 4 (lun0) and 6 (lun1), scsi card id is 7 by default.
I have a high quality lvd cable, with an active terminator in the end.

This setup worked well in my previous setup/ Asus CUSL2, P3 800/133, 512 Mb, Win98se /Fat 32.

I have now Win 2000 sp2, and I formatted the disks prior to installation. I am now using NTFS. I know this is slower than FAT32, but ... I use to get around 26000 disk mark in Sandra. Now I get 12000. It cant be that much slower?



DaFinn

 

[Apex]

You may want to try a HD benchmark that actually works. 🙂

Sandra rates a RAID0 of 3 Seagate X15-36LP about 15% faster than a single IBM 60GXP.

 

[DaFinn]

Ok... Sandra no good, but Sandra give indication how performance has changed. It has not changed to good direction.

Is there any "tool" I could use to see my HDD settings and alter them?

As Sandra says:
"W5205 Low write index, Check that write verify is off!" ...ok, HOW?

 

[ManuTOmanU]

I used to get the same message, with a tekram DC-390U3W and a Atlas 10KII, but on HDtach everything was fine, only high cpu usage... On win98 there was a trick to fix the problem, but that isn't your case, I would just try HDtach, and see what they say...


The message disappeared after a while on sandra...

 

[Apex]

ATTO is another good one to use.

http://www.attotech.com/software/appname.html

 

[tristramshandy]

Adaptec has upgraded drivers for its Ultra160 family of adapter cards. It also has bios upgrades. Have you availed yourself of these resources (well, have you?).

Warm Safe Place (for drivers)

 

[DaFinn]

To: Apex

Tried ATTO, Atto likes my disks. No... truly with atto, everything seems to be ok! Read and write speeds are not too different (like according to Sandra???).
I dont know what to believe??? Maybe I worry for nothing...

To: Trimsr... Trimmerss...umm Tristramshandy

Been there, done that...Latest BIOS and Drivers, check!