To copy a 200 MB file from one partition to another on my Seagate ST3120026A 120 GB 7200 RPM 8 MB cache hard drive takes about 40 seconds. Now I know modern IDE is 133 MB/sec max, but that is the connection speed to the motherboard. Is that also the transfer speed for internal drive transfers, like from folder to folder? Should it be faster than this?
What should the true transfer speed be internally on a regular IDE 7200 RPM HDD?
- Thread starter archcommus
- Start date
fixed...
Anyways, that is just the connection speed. Even though data can be transferred that fast, the drive is not capable of those speeds. An average IDE drive should get a sustained rate somewhere between 50-60 MB/s (IIRC).I think you would need a huge RAID array with to start pushing 133 MB/s...
biostud
Lifer
- Feb 27, 2003
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When you move stuff on same partition the data doesn't move, it just changes the data in the FAT (don't know what it's called in NTFS). So the data is physically stored the same place on the harddrive, the pointers to the data is just changed, which happens really fast.
When you copy on the same drive the data must first be read then written, so it's slower to copy on the same drive than to transfer from one drive to another.
When you copy on the same drive the data must first be read then written, so it's slower to copy on the same drive than to transfer from one drive to another.
Actually copying a file from one partition to another on the same drive is the slowest possible scenario for file copying. Here's the sequence: read to buffer-stop-write back to drive-stop-read to buffer-stop-write back to drive, etc. This would be about the same using two drives on the same channel. You could speed it up a bit by temporarily changing the Win HD cache setting to the largest possible size. Or use a copy program that intelligently uses the maximum available memory space to buffer copies in this type of scenario. There are LOTs more efficient copy programs than that in Win Explorer, etc. Say, XXCopy for example.
. IAC, most recent 7200rpm IDE or SATA drives can't exceed about 50MB/sec anyway - they may even be able to hit that speed occacionally on cross-channel transfers.
. Moving a file between directories on the same partion should happen VERY quickly as it's just a matter of changing values in the two directories and the Access Table - no file data has to be moved at all.
.bh.
. IAC, most recent 7200rpm IDE or SATA drives can't exceed about 50MB/sec anyway - they may even be able to hit that speed occacionally on cross-channel transfers.
. Moving a file between directories on the same partion should happen VERY quickly as it's just a matter of changing values in the two directories and the Access Table - no file data has to be moved at all.
.bh.
Partition to partition transfer speed is around 19 MB/sec, plus or minus 4 MB/sec. The type and size of data, fragmentation of each partition, and the current load on the CPU will also affect the transfer speed.
Best real world transfer speed (partition to partition) on my Seagate ST3160827AS is 20.1 MB/sec. HD Tune reports the best transfer rate as 56.8 MB/sec.
My 3 year old 60 GB Maxtor is running at 13.8 MB/sec (partition to partition). It appears that you're getting about 5 MB/sec. I would remove the IDE channel that is connected to the hard drive in DEVICE MANAGER. Reboot into the BIOS and verify that the hard drive is set to AUTO detect. Save the BIOS setting and reboot to windows. Verify that the hard drive is running in DMA mode 4, 5, or 6 in Device Manager (set transfer mode to DMA if available).
Best real world transfer speed (partition to partition) on my Seagate ST3160827AS is 20.1 MB/sec. HD Tune reports the best transfer rate as 56.8 MB/sec.
My 3 year old 60 GB Maxtor is running at 13.8 MB/sec (partition to partition). It appears that you're getting about 5 MB/sec. I would remove the IDE channel that is connected to the hard drive in DEVICE MANAGER. Reboot into the BIOS and verify that the hard drive is set to AUTO detect. Save the BIOS setting and reboot to windows. Verify that the hard drive is running in DMA mode 4, 5, or 6 in Device Manager (set transfer mode to DMA if available).
The drive is set to Auto Detect in the BIOS and the IDE channel has DMA if available selected. I just put this system together on Sunday so no settings should be too wacky right now.
The drive does indeed successfully pass a run of DFT.
Now, when I transfer to my external USB2 HDD, I usually don't achieve much faster than 6 MB/sec. I'm not sure if that's due to a poor controller in the enclosure, or perhaps it's being caused by the same thing that's causing slow internal drive transfers.
I'm using the default MS IDE drivers. Should I have installed the IDE drivers that are part of the nF4 standalone driver kit?
The drive does indeed successfully pass a run of DFT.
Now, when I transfer to my external USB2 HDD, I usually don't achieve much faster than 6 MB/sec. I'm not sure if that's due to a poor controller in the enclosure, or perhaps it's being caused by the same thing that's causing slow internal drive transfers.
I'm using the default MS IDE drivers. Should I have installed the IDE drivers that are part of the nF4 standalone driver kit?
Check/reseat the IDE cable. I would also delete the IDE channel in Device Manager and let windows reload it. Which DMA mode are you running? Download HD TUNE from the web (free) and test your throughput speed. You should see 30 to 50 MB/sec.
Move the drive to the other IDE channel and retest. You may have a bad IDE controller on the motherboard.
Are you mixing hard drive and optical drive on the same IDE channel? Connect only the drive to the primary MASTER IDE channel. Set the jump to MASTER. Retest.
And make sure you DEFRAG each partition before running the test.
The MS drivers work best for most systems. You may want to try the NF4 drivers, but only as a last option. NF4 drivers tend to foul up some DVD burn applications.
Move the drive to the other IDE channel and retest. You may have a bad IDE controller on the motherboard.
Are you mixing hard drive and optical drive on the same IDE channel? Connect only the drive to the primary MASTER IDE channel. Set the jump to MASTER. Retest.
And make sure you DEFRAG each partition before running the test.
The MS drivers work best for most systems. You may want to try the NF4 drivers, but only as a last option. NF4 drivers tend to foul up some DVD burn applications.
I downloaded and ran HD Tune, it reported an average of 8.9 MB/sec, with a maximum of 9.1. So there's definitely a problem.
I have not tried reseating the cable, another port, reloading the channel, or defragging yet, but I think I found the problem. The drive is hooked up to the primary IDE channel. In the properties of that channel, it is set to DMA if available, but under that, next to Current Mode, it says PIO Mode. Is that the problem? Why am I not in DMA mode?
I have not tried reseating the cable, another port, reloading the channel, or defragging yet, but I think I found the problem. The drive is hooked up to the primary IDE channel. In the properties of that channel, it is set to DMA if available, but under that, next to Current Mode, it says PIO Mode. Is that the problem? Why am I not in DMA mode?
Yup...need to remove BOTH the Primary and Secondary IDE channels in Device Manager. Reboot Windows and the system will auto load the proper drivers.
You want to see ULTRA DMA mode 5 or 6 with that hard drive. PIO is VERY SLOW!
You want to see ULTRA DMA mode 5 or 6 with that hard drive. PIO is VERY SLOW!
You da man! I removed both channels, rebooted, it said it installed a new device, rebooted again, checked it, and it said Ultra DMA Mode 5. I ran HD Tune again, my average was 43, and the max was 55. Awesome. Thanks a lot.
Now the question, why was it set to PIO in the first place? You would think it would load it right when the OS is being installed.
Another question, for my DVD burner on the secondary channel, it says Ultra DMA Mode 2, but that's fine for a burner, correct?
Now the question, why was it set to PIO in the first place? You would think it would load it right when the OS is being installed.
Another question, for my DVD burner on the secondary channel, it says Ultra DMA Mode 2, but that's fine for a burner, correct?
No problem. Must be a problem during windows installation. Quite rare, but it happens to you.
Most popular DVD burners like NEC and BenQ are set to operate at DMA mode 2. You don't need faster speed, even with 16x burns.
Recheck you partition to partition transfer speed. Should see at least 15 MB/sec if the partitions are defragged.
Most popular DVD burners like NEC and BenQ are set to operate at DMA mode 2. You don't need faster speed, even with 16x burns.
Recheck you partition to partition transfer speed. Should see at least 15 MB/sec if the partitions are defragged.
They're not defragged, don't really have the time to right now, but I got 12-13. So that should be okay.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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