Slow transfer between HDDs

[scaryjeff]

Hiya

I have two maxtor drives, one is a 5400 RPM 60 gig, and the other is a 7200 RPM 20 gig. They both support ATA66, and are running on a controller that allows ATA66 operation, but transfers between the drives are slow. Copying a 100 meg map pack from the 20 to the 60 today took minutes where in theory it should have taken 10 seconds.

I don't know for sure that ATA is enabled. Is there a program that can find out the details of my HDD setup? Also it may be useful to have a small simple HDD benchmark program to see what their individual read / write speeds are (sustained).

Thanks!

 

[microAmp]

If the two HDD's are on the same ribbon that could be one problem there.

If you are using WinXP, XP Pro, or 2K
To see if DMA is enable, right click on 'My Computer' icon, select properties, 'hardware' tab, device manager. I can seem to remember what it is after that, but check the HDD, or chipset properties.

Can remember for Win98 but similar to WinXP.

 

[scaryjeff]

Thanks for the reply

Yes they are on the same cable, might that be a problem? I have a spare ATA66 socket on the board, so it would be easy for me to put one of the drives on that (after I got another ATA66 cable).

I just looked and for all the controlers it says current DMA mode is 'not applicable' . I have set the DMA mode to 'DMA if available', so what would be really useful would be some program that worked out if DMA is on or not.

Thanks again!

 

[bacillus]

Yes they are on the same cable, might that be a problem?

almost definitely!
best to have the hdds on seperate channels is you frequently transfer files from one hdd to the other.

 

[scaryjeff]

OK I will have to sort that out then.

Does anybody know of a simple HDD benchmarking / information program that I could use?

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: scaryjeff
OK I will have to sort that out then.

Does anybody know of a simple HDD benchmarking / information program that I could use?

I know a decent freebie one, can't remember, Draco? Give me a few minutes while I do a search on myself to find that link for you.

Also, don't forget to change the jumpers when moving that other HDD to it's own channel, if you make it on the master ribbon, instead of the slave ribbion.

 

[scaryjeff]

Thanks!

My normal problem is panicing that I have borken the drive when in fact I forgot to put the power in

 

[microAmp]

Ok, found it in this thread..

Dracis was the name.

 

[scaryjeff]

There is definately something wrong.

The 7200 RPM drive got 6 megs/second, and the 5400 RPM one got 6.2.

I must have done something horribly wrong.

 

[bacillus]

yeah something's wrong there!
is dma enabled for the hdds?
what OS are you using?

 

[scaryjeff]

It is win2K with SP2.

The drives are connected to a CMD controller that has it's own drivers etc, but even if it is only running at UDMA33 I should get a better speed than that shouldn't I? Might the slow speed reading from individual drives also be due to me having two on the same cable?

I am not sure if DMA is enabled or not. All the controllers are set to 'DMA if available', and in the box that tells you the DMA mode, it says 'not applicable' (for all the controllers).

 

[microAmp]

I take it that is your computer in your signature?

 

[scaryjeff]

Yes it is

* Hangs head in shame *