Slow HDD...Am I missing anything?

[Schmekelhoff]

I have a IBM 40GB 60gxp 7200 HDD and it has very slow transfer rates. I tested it with Sandra and it received marks similar to an ATA/33 5400 drive. I'm running win2k sp2 on an Epox 8k7a+, but am not using RAID. The drive is by itself on the second IDE channel on an ATA100 cable. DMA is enabled and I have installed the latest via 4in1 drivers.

Can anyone think of any steps I might have missed or messed up on? It's probably something simple that I'm overlooking. I appreciate any help!

 

[mikef208]

Edited, since the mods moved it

 

[spanky]

u might want to try to post in the tech support forums.

 

[yodayoda]

you might want to check the settings you have in your Device Manager. sometimes it defaults to PIO mode instead of DMA mode. also make sure you are running the newest versions of your IDE drivers (AMD or VIA or whatever). i think that has the Via 686B southbridge, so get the newest version of its driver.

 

[yodayoda]

also be advised that each speed is theoretical, not actually. you will not actually get 100 MB/sec ever, as there are other bottlenecks in the performance, not just the data path (i.e. rotational spin rates, seek time, etc.)

 

[Schmekelhoff]

Thanks, Mod...

yoda,
I have checked on DMA for the drive, it is not set on PIO
I have installed the most recent Via 4in1 drives for the IDE controller
I understand that there are bottlenecks, but I'm running a 1.4 TB with 512DDR and the drive seems much too slow

Can anyone recommend a good HDD benchmark program so I can post some numbers that show my speed troubles?

Thanks

 

[Schmekelhoff]

Anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

HMM have anything else hooked up to the same ide channel?

 

[Schmekelhoff]

No, sure don't...it's by itself on the 2nd IDE channel

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

well have latest version of sandra? if so. RMA it ?

or call ibm up cause atm i have no idea hehe

 

[Aihyah]

very good hd site, just checkout your benches compared with theirs

 

[Pabster]

The problem is with the 686B (VIA) south bridge. IDE performance is dismal, no matter what board. Your best bet is to either go SCSI (my preference) or throw in a cheap ATA/100 (PCI) controller card and run the drives off that.