Mini ITX HTPC/NAS build Fusion 350 AMD AHCI issues

[gaidin43]

After deciding I needed a new NAS to replace old WD MyWorldBook, which was just too slow when it came to transferring data and the fact that I was interested in buying a blu ray player, I ended up choosing this AMD 350 build as a baseline to make my first HTPC/NAS. I was originally going to use the drive out of my old NAS box (1tb Green WD), but of course it came out with bad sectors after a couple of years of use.



I am getting no where near the 6GB speeds with the SSD, mostly I am seeing around 190 MB/s with crystaldiskmark. After figuring out the drivers for AMD AHCI I took off the Zotac webpage I didn't notice too much of a difference in performance. I am getting no S.M.A.R.T data returns either.


Any suggestions for getting the speeds up? Should I stick with the stock MS drivers or use the AMD specific ones off the the zotac website?

As an HTPC it runs great, haven't tried it as a NAS yet since I want to try to get the AHCI issues fixed first.

I flashed the bios to the updated version off Zotac website and have I am running windows 7 pro.

Here is a link to my build.
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?BundleExist=N&ID=23163347&ChangeQty=0&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4166869&SID=h5ynu49fr8iq

in case my link doesn't work again.... here are the parts that matter.

ZOTAC FUSION350-A-E AMD E-350 APU (1.6GHz, Dual-Core) AMD Hudson M1 Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo
Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BC1067
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136891"]Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX 2TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive[/URL]SAMSUNG Black Blu-ray Combo SATA Model SH-B123L/RSBP LightScribe Support

 

[jpeyton]

What SSD do you have?

 

[gaidin43]

I have a OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD). The WD isn't hooked up when I am trying the tests, but I did plug my old WD 1tb and it didn't show S.M.A.R.T data either.

 

[mfenn]

Is the performance your only issue? 190MB/s is actually quite good for a 60GB drive in CDM, there is just not enough flash onboard to saturate SATA 6Gb/s.

 

[gaidin43]

Do you think 8gb of ram will help more then the 4gb? Or is getting more ram even worth it for a secondary NAS/HTPC computer? Most of my data will be stored on the 2TB harddrive and just running the OS and programs off the SSD.

Also, what about the SMART data? I am not able to view any of it while in AHCI but it is there when i go back to IDE.

 

[sm625]

It is a 60GB drive. It is not going to perform at the levels shown on all the benchmarking sites. I have been harping on them because they refuse to review the drives us normal people actually use, such as the 60GB agility and the 64GB M4. They just keep on reviewing these 256GB drives as if we are all made of money and love to just throw it out the window.

 

[mfenn]

Do you think 8gb of ram will help more then the 4gb? Or is getting more ram even worth it for a secondary NAS/HTPC computer? Most of my data will be stored on the 2TB harddrive and just running the OS and programs off the SSD.

No, going to 8GB of RAM will not help in HTPC/NAS type tasks.

Also, what about the SMART data? I am not able to view any of it while in AHCI but it is there when i go back to IDE.

What tool are you using? CrystalDiskInfo reads it just fine for me over AHCI.