Testing NICs on my hackintosh. Any tips?

[alfa147x]

I've been having trouble with my onboard NIC on my hackintosh. I may have had this same issue with my old hack too.

When I'm doing heavy transfers over my network my computer slows down. Odd stuttering when scrolling in web browsers etc...

Borrowed an expensive dual port Intel server card that fixed the issue. I've sourced a few cards that people are letting me borrow to test. Here they are:

• Presto Gigabit Ethernet Pro PCIe Card
• Intel PRO/1000 Pt Dual Port Server Adapter
• Intel PWLA8391GTBLK PRO/1000 GT Desktop Network Adapter
• HP 412648-B21 NC360T PCI-Express DP GigaBit Adapter

Now the first this is to get them to work with OS 10.7.3 after that I was going to run Blackmagic Disk Speed Test on my NETGEAR ReadyNAS Ultra 4 or Ultra 2. Running RAID Level 0 and X-RAID2 respectively.

Any other recommendations as to how to test them?

 

[alfa147x]

Can this please get moved to: Networking?

 

[OSXMan]

How are you running your video cards/are they detected properly in the about this mac?

It seems like the network controller and the PCI controller are both running from the same chipset (North/Southbridge) and one is eating the bandwith causing the stutter in the display.

I'd suggest you take one video card out and see if it still does it.

 

[alfa147x]

How are you running your video cards/are they detected properly in the about this mac?

It seems like the network controller and the PCI controller are both running from the same chipset (North/Southbridge) and one is eating the bandwith causing the stutter in the display.

I'd suggest you take one video card out and see if it still does it.

Take a look at this diagram:

Notice how the graphics PCIe slots are on another part of the chipset entirely?
I'm not saying you're wrong. I just doubt that's the issue.

Either way. The goal of this is to get better performance while transferring files with my current hackintosh. Thus keeping the 2x GTX460 1GB installed.

Plus what would I do with the 3rd monitor? 😛

 

[OSXMan]

Actually, the PCIe ports you are talking about are option, I also don't see QE/CI enabled or supported there, also could be the fact that the SATA and LAN are both run from the southbridge as well.....

Edit: I see the PCI graphics now is indeed on the northbridge, point still stands about the QE/CI though.

Edit 2: Can you please send me a screenshot of your entire desktop? That will help me rule out the QE/CI Issue.

 

[alfa147x]

Actually, the PCIe ports you are talking about are option, I also don't see QE/CI enabled or supported there, also could be the fact that the SATA and LAN are both run from the southbridge as well.....

Edit: I see the PCI graphics now is indeed on the northbridge, point still stands about the QE/CI though.

Edit 2: Can you please send me a screenshot of your entire desktop? That will help me rule out the QE/CI Issue.

QE/CI test:
Chess running on monitor 1: Link
Chess running on monitor 2: Link
Monitor 3:

Notice the transparency.

Here I have Chess, Mail, Portal 2, Steam, VLC, and Aperture running.
At least 2 of those run QE/CI
http://i.imgur.com/MNf8B.jpg
(5.3 MB) 5744 × 1193

 

[OSXMan]

Blech. Thats messed up buddy. I actually had that same issue too and I totally don't remember what I had to do to fix it 🙁

 

[alfa147x]

oh well. Most of the NICs will be here tomorrow. Testing will be underway!

 

[OSXMan]

Let me know how it goes with them, then we can go from there.

 

[alfa147x]

Presto Gigabit Ethernet Pro PCIe Card
Intel PRO/1000 Pt Dual Port Server Adapter
HP 412648-B21 NC360T PCI-Express DP GigaBit Adapter

The Intel and HP turned out to be the same card. I didn't have a PCIe 4x card slot so I used a 1x to 16x adapter.

All three cards came up with no driver issues. Didn't have to install anything. Plug an play.
They also all were all about equally fast. The Presto was a 5% faster in sequential read / write. The Intel/HP were 5% faster in random read / write.

With the Presto I had the same problem as the onboard where my computer slows down. The Intel/HP solved the issue. Not bad for $50.