CONTACTS
SUBJECTS
C21 Video Card Replace $403.28 Fry's Invoice 8181114 Dated 130506 Fu
2903 -
2903 - ..
2904 - Summary/Objective
2905 -
290501 - Follow up ref SDS 77 0000. ref SDS 76 0000.
290502 -
290503 - Visited Morris in Saragota; he found Samsung 840 Pro SSD connected to
290504 - gray ports on Asus motherboard labeled "SSD." ref SDS 0 PQYU Interent
290505 - research suggests Asus may have changed these connectors from Marvel
290506 - 6GB/s to Silicon Image 3GB/s ports, and the manual was not updated.
290507 - ref SDS 0 WI9H Others report slow performance using gray connectors
290508 - on Asus motherboards. ref SDS 0 1Q4K Since the Asus manual indicates
290509 - the Intel brown connectors support 6GB/s SSD operations, ref SDS 0
290510 - L14F, and that gray connectors configure SSD disk caching with HHD
290511 - disks, ref SDS 0 QU6L, Morris switched the 2 Samsung 840 Pro SSD cable
290512 - connections from the gray port marked "SSD" on the c21 motherboard,
290513 - which seems to be a 3GB/s Silicon Image port, to the Intel 6GB/s ATA
290514 - serial port. ref SDS 0 1E8O C21 then showed approximate 100% increase
290515 - in disk performance. ref SDS 0 0K4I In the afternoon, received letter
290516 - from Morris explaining findings and corrections. ref SDS 0 KO5L
290517 -
290518 -
290519 -
290520 -
290521 -
290523 - ..
2906 -
2907 -
2908 - Background
2909 -
290901 - Samsung 840 Pro Slow Correct Disk Controller Error
290902 -
290903 - Follow up ref SDS 77 Y94K, ref SDS 76 Y94K.
290904 -
290905 - On 130522 received letter from Ascendtech with references to Asus
290906 - Internet support services to upgrade disk controller, reported on
290907 - 130522 1741, ref SDS 76 IO93
290909 - ..
290910 - On 130523 called Asus and received case number 2659073; talked to
290911 - Jessie in Motherboard Support Department - 812 282 2787, ref SDS 77
290912 - QM4K, and upgdated Asus Sabertooth X79 motherboard chipset, which
290913 - cleared Windows Action Center error message, but did not improve SSD
290914 - running at only 50% rated performance. ref SDS 77 EJ8F Jessie then
290915 - assisted in updating SATA driver, but this did not improve SSD
290916 - performance. ref SDS 77 GL4F
290918 - ..
290919 - On 130523 Asus support rep noted that since SSD is running 50% of
290920 - rated performance, factory may have connected cables to wrong data
290921 - connectors. ref SDS 77 PSTX Received letter from Asus with manual for
290922 - Sabertooth X79 motherboard. ref SDS 77 RQ6H Review of the manual
290923 - seems to indicate SSD disks should be connected to the gray ports.
290924 - ref SDS 77 PA61
290925 -
290926 -
290928 - ..
2910 -
2911 -
2912 - 0910
2913 -
291301 - Meeting Morris to Review C21 Slow SSD Results
291302 -
291303 - Drove to Morris' place in Saratoga.
291304 -
291305 -
291307 - ..
2914 -
2915 -
2916 - 1012
2917 -
291701 - Meeting with Morris.
291702 -
291703 - Opened c21 case.
291705 - ..
291706 - Had to remove the NVIDIA Twin FrozrIII 3GB video adapter circuit board
291707 - to observe and access cable connections from the disks to the
291708 - motherboard.
291709 -
291711 - ..
291712 - SSD Disks Connected Gray Motherboard Port Labled "SSD"
291713 -
291714 - Morris noticed data cables for the 2 SSD disks in c21 connect to a
291715 - port on the motherboard labeled "SSD." It is gray and located at the
291716 - opposite end from the brown connectors, part of the "Internal
291717 - Connector" group shown in the Asus Sabertooth X79 motherboard manual
291718 - on page 2-19, reported in the record yesterday on 130523 0925.
291719 - ref SDS 77 PA61
291721 - ..
291722 - Morris asked who applied the "SSD" label?
291724 - ..
291725 - It is not clear in the record if this is an Asus label notifying OEM
291726 - techs where to connect SSD cables; or, if Ascendtech applied the "SSD"
291727 - lable to facilitate future service.
291729 - ..
291730 - Morris further noted the data cables are labeled 6G, so the problem
291731 - is not with substandard cabling.
291732 -
291733 -
291735 - ..
291736 - Asus Manual Shows Disk Ports Intel X79 Serial ATA 6GB/s Connectors
291737 -
291738 - Morris reviewed the Asus manual page 2-2 showing motherboard layout,
291739 - and pages 2-17 - 2-19, referenced in the letter received from Asus
291740 - yesterday on 130523 0925, ref SDS 77 RQ6H, and transmitted to Morris
291741 - in a letter later that day. ref SDS 77 WQ49
291742 -
291743 - http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA2011/SABERTOOTH-X79/E8040_SABERTOOTH_X79.pdf
291745 - ..
291746 - The Asus manual says on page 2-17 in part that the brown ports on the
291747 - c21 Sabertooth X79 motherboard support...
291748 -
291749 - Intel X79 Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_1/2
291750 - - brown)
291752 - ..
291753 - These connectors connect to Serial ATA 6GB/s hard disk
291754 - drives via Serial ATA 6GB/s signal cables.
291755 -
291756 - [...below on 130524 0754 at 1120, Morris switched SSD
291757 - cables from gray ports marked "SSD" on motherboard, to
291758 - brown Intel X79 Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors, and this
291759 - improved performance about 100%. ref SDS 0 1E8O
291760 -
291762 - ..
291763 - Asus Manual Lists Marvel Serial ATA 6GB/s Gray Connectors Caching with HHD
291764 -
291765 - The Asus manual further says on page 2-19 in part that the ports on
291766 - c21 motherboard labeled "SSD" where cables from the 2 SSD disks are
291767 - connected is...
291768 -
291769 - Marvel Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G [gray].
291770 - These connectors connect to Serial ATA 6GB/s hard disk
291771 - drives via Serial ATA 6GB/s signal cables.
291773 - ..
291774 - For high performance of ASUS SSD caching, please connect
291775 - one HHD and one SSD to Marvell SATA6G_E1/E2 connectors.
291777 - ..
291778 - For regular usage, the STAT6G_E1/E2 connectors are
291779 - recommended for data drives.
291780 -
291781 - [...below on 130524 0754 at 1120, Morris switched SSD
291782 - cables from gray ports marked "SSD" on motherboard, to
291783 - brown Intel X79 Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors, and this
291784 - improved performance about 100%. ref SDS 0 1E8O
291785 -
291786 -
291788 - ..
291789 - C21 Control Panel Admin Tools Disk Management Show Disks Out of Sync
291790 -
291791 - Powered up c1 to examine disk and partition layout.
291793 - ..
291794 - Ran Administrative Tools and checked...
291795 -
291796 - Control Panel
291797 - Administrative Tools
291798 - Computer Management
291799 - Disk Management
291801 - ..
291802 - Morris asked why drive c with the OS on drive c is connected as disk 1
291803 - instead of disk 0?
291805 - ..
291806 - Reviewed the record ordering standard configuration disk 0 drive c
291807 - with OS, reported in a letter to Ascendtech on 130415 1524.
291808 - ref SDS 57 5O5H Ascendtech for some reason changed the order. It
291809 - does not effect performance, reported by Ascendtech on 130521 1233.
291810 - ref SDS 75 918O Disks out of sync with with drives confuses system
291811 - management, reported previously on 130509 0821. ref SDS 72 ST6M
291812 -
291813 - [...below on 130524 0754 at 1120 Morris changed disk
291814 - connections synchronizing disk order with partitioning.
291815 - ref SDS 0 IB4I
291816 -
291817 -
291819 - ..
291820 - BIOS C21 Shows DiskExpert Mode Might Effect SSD Performance
291821 -
291822 - Morris restarted c21, and opened the BIOS, and found...
291823 -
291824 - Tools
291825 - DiskExpert Mode........................ Normal
291827 - ..
291828 - This feature has an option for........................ Super Speed
291830 - ..
291831 - The explanation sounds somewhat promising for increasing disk
291832 - performance. There is a caution that all the data will be destroyed,
291833 - so would have to re-do all the work setting up c21, shown on 130509
291834 - 0821. ref SDS 72 0001
291836 - ..
291837 - However, "Diskexpert" mode setting in the BIOS is for caching SSD
291838 - disks to a conventional HHD using the gray Marvel ports on the
291839 - motherboard, as c21 is currently configured received from Ascendtech,
291840 - per above, ref SDS 0 TS34, and as set out in the Asus manual on page
291841 - 2-19, also above. ref SDS 0 QU6L
291842 -
291844 - ..
291845 - Internet Indicates Asus Switched Marvel to Silicon Image Controllers
291846 -
291847 - Research on the Internet for...
291848 -
291849 - asus bios diskexpert mode
291851 - ..
291852 - Found source at...
291853 -
291854 - http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20091125232019359&board_id=1&model=P5Q+Deluxe&page=1&SLanguage=en-us
291856 - ..
291857 - This presents "rumor" that...
291858 -
291859 - "...DriveXperT system uses a hardware Steelvine Silicon Image
291860 - controller..."
291862 - ..
291863 - Further references in Internet "chatter" indicate Asus may have made
291864 - this change because Marvel 6GB/s ATA Serial connectors were not
291865 - reliable.
291866 -
291867 - [...below on 130524 0754 at 1630 received letter from
291868 - Morris explaining work today on c21. ref SDS 0 KO5L
291870 - ..
291871 - Evidently, the Asus manual saying gray ports are...
291872 -
291873 - Marvel Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors
291874 -
291875 - ...was not updated, when Asus switched to 3GB/s Steelvine Silicon
291876 - Image controllers for the DriveXperT system. Sources further
291877 - references a report that the Steelvine Silicon Image controller
291878 - operates at 3GB/s rather than 6GB/s....
291879 -
291880 - http://www.bjorn3d.com/2008/05/asus-pq5-deluxe-p45-eaglelake-motherboard/#.UaDIDIzn89A
291882 - ..
291883 - Silicon Image SIL5723 controller (Drive Xpert Technology):
291884 - 2 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
291885 - Supports EZ Backup and Super Speed
291887 - ..
291888 - There is no direct documentation from Asus supporting the above
291889 - Internet representations on undocumented changes to the Sabertooth
291890 - X79 motherboard.
291892 - ..
291893 - Problems from delays keeping product manuals synchronized with
291894 - manufacturing changes are cited in the "Typical Day Scenario using
291895 - SDS." ref OF 9 H68J
291896 -
291897 -
291899 - ..
291900 - Slow Performance Gray Connectors with SSD Common Complaint
291901 -
291902 - Another search for...
291903 -
291904 - asus marvell 6gb very slow
291906 - ..
291907 - Found some Internet comments saying in part...
291908 -
291909 - http://rog.asus.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-10904.html?s=c54057ed7d0106af75dbb10838183442
291910 -
291911 - Anyway, movIng on from that. I just got a nice little
291912 - upgrade to a 256GB SSD Crucial M4. I connected it to the
291913 - Marvell 6G port [...on Asus motherboard...] which I had
291914 - heard some negative things about when people was using
291915 - RAID. However, I'm using a single drive here so thought I
291916 - shouldn't have a problem. I done a benchmark using ATTO
291917 - and was extremely shocked to see the poor results.
291918 - Seriously, how can you advertise SATA III 6GB on this board
291919 - when you're extremely lucky to achieve half the rated
291920 - speed!!!
291922 - ..
291923 - Don't get me wrong, I like ASUS and will buy from them
291924 - again but I think the RIIIE was a mistake, maybe they
291925 - released it too soon to compete against EVGA?
291926 -
291928 - ..
291929 - Another source says...
291930 -
291931 - http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2299742
291932 -
291933 - Date: 130204 0135
291934 -
291935 - How do I get faster read speeds with my Samsung 840 Pro?
291936 -
291937 - I just installed my Samsung 840 Pro SSD and running AS
291938 - SSD benchmark shows that I'm only getting a read speed
291939 - of about 270mb/s.
291941 - ..
291942 - I'm using an ASUS PX58D-E mobo w/ AHCI enabled and
291943 - Marvell 91XX 6G Controller.
291945 - ..
291946 - I've seen people post higher read speeds (500mb/s+) on
291947 - the same SSD.
291949 - ..
291950 - What am I doing wrong?
291952 - ..
291953 - These reports seem to align with experience running c21 with SSD at
291954 - 50% of rated performance, shown on 130509 0821. ref SDS 72 5W6L
291956 - ..
291957 - Response...
291959 - ..
291960 - Date: 130204 0323
291961 -
291962 - These users probably have connected the SSD to a
291963 - native Intel 6G SATA AHCI Controller as part of their
291964 - Southbridge. This combination is much faster than
291965 - yours.
291966 -
291968 - ..
291969 - Further research today found that references in the Asus manual on
291970 - page 2-17 to...
291971 -
291972 - "Intel X79 Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors..."
291973 -
291974 -
291975 - ...refers to connecting SSD disks.
291977 - ..
291978 - Thus, it appears that the 2 Samsung 840 Pro SSD disks are connected
291979 - with 6G cables to 3G ports, labeled "SSD," and so yield 50% througput
291980 - for Samsung 840 Pro SSD disks designed to yield 6GB/s performance.
291982 - ..
291983 - It further appears this is a common problem with Asus motheboards, at
291984 - least for the Sabertooth X79, due to a confusing manual.
291986 - ..
291987 - Evidently, the "SSD" presented on page 2-19 in the Asus manual
291988 - explains configuring a hard disk cache with an SSD using DiskExpert
291989 - mode in the BIOS, per above, reported yesterday on 130523 0925.
291990 - ref SDS 77 PUVQ
291992 - ..
291993 - This research aligns with Jessie's recommendation yesterday on 130523
291994 - 0925, ref SDS 77 1O86, that SSD disks should be connected to the brown
291995 - Intel X79 Serial ATA 6GB/s connectors, as shown in the Asus manual
291996 - received from Asus later yesterday afternoon. ref SDS 77 RR4N
291998 - ..
291999 - We can submit this background for comment to Jessie at Asus, who
292000 - provided the Asus manual and recommended connecting SSD disks in c21
292001 - to the Brown Intel 6GB/s connection ports, reported yesterday on
292002 - 130523 0925. ref SDS 77 1O86
292004 - ..
292005 - Will submit also to Ascendtech to assist other customers.
292007 - ..
292008 - It's possible Ascendtech connected the SSD cables to the gray ports
292009 - because the manual mentions "SSD" in the section on page 2-19, per
292010 - above, ref SDS 0 QU6L, and placed the "SSD" label on that port.
292011 -
292012 -
292013 -
292015 - ..
2921 -
2922 -
2923 - 1120
2924 -
292401 - C21 Tests Near 100% Improvement SSD Performance with Intel 6GB/s Port
292402 - SSD Cables Switched from Gray Silicon Image 3GB/s to Brown Intel 6GB/s Ports
292403 - Disk 0 Changed to 256 GB SSD Drive C Disk 1 Made 512 GB SSD Drives DEFGHI
292404 -
292405 - Based on this research, Morris disconnected cables from the gray
292406 - Steelvine Silicon Image caching ports labled "SSD" on the motherboard
292407 - and connected them to the brown Intel X79 Serial ATA 6G/s ports, per
292408 - manual guidance, above. ref SDS 0 O26X
292410 - ..
292411 - He further switched connections making disk 0 the Samsung 840 Pro 256
292412 - GB SSD with the OS on drive c. He connected the 2nd SSD 512 GB as
292413 - disk 1, adjusting the order shown in Admin tools Disk Management, per
292414 - above. ref SDS 0 6O9L This corrects report of disks not synchronized
292415 - shown on 130509 0821. ref SDS 72 ST6M
292417 - ..
292418 - Testing then showed 100% inmprovement compared to prior testing on
292419 - 130509 0821. ref SDS 72 5W6L
292420 -
292421 - 130509 130524
292422 -
292423 - Overall rating.............. 2134 3823.0
292424 - Sequential read............. 268 MB/sec 463.3
292425 - Sequential write............ 158 MB/sec 399.3
292426 - Random read write........... 139 MB/sec 194.5
292428 - ..
292429 - This approximate doubling of performance for drive c, substantially
292430 - resolves issue presented on receiving c21 from Ascendtech, as reported
292431 - on 130509 0821. ref SDS 72 5W6L
292432 -
292433 - [...below on 130524 0754 at 1630 received letter from
292434 - Morris explaining work today on c21. ref SDS 0 KO5L
292436 - ..
292437 - Results continue well below 540/520 MB/s sequential read write ratings
292438 - for Samsung 840 Pro SSD, shown in the record on 130404 1453.
292439 - ref SDS 51 MV4L
292440 -
292441 -
292442 -
292444 - ..
2925 -
2926 -
2927 - 1210
2928 -
292801 - Went to lunch at Five Guys on Prospect Road...
292802 -
292823 -
292824 -
292826 - ..
2929 -
2930 -
2931 - 1630
2932 -
293201 - Morris Confirms Findings and Corrections to C21 Disk Connections
293202 -
293203 - Received letter from Morris saying...
293204 -
293205 - 1. Subject: RE: ASUS Sabertooth X79 Manual
293206 - Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 11:48:21 -0700 PDT
293210 - ..
293211 - 2. Rod,
293213 - ..
293214 - 3. The SSD caching connector appears to be now constructed with a
293215 - Silicon Image caching chip (According to internet chatter "The
293216 - DriveXperT system uses a hardware Steelvine Silicon Image
293217 - controller"
293218 -
293219 - http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20091125232019359&board_id=1&model=P5Q+Deluxe&page=1&SLanguage=en-us
293221 - ..
293222 - 4. This chip only supports 3gb SATA and is intended to cache a
293223 - regular HD to a SSD.
293225 - ..
293226 - This aligns with work earlier today, above. ref SDS 0 WI9H
293228 - ..
293229 - 5. The SSDs were moved to the two 6GB SATA ports (brown) on the
293230 - intel chipset. Performance doubled, improving to within 10% of
293231 - the manufactures rating. (About as good as you will get without
293232 - hardware disk exercisers).
293234 - ..
293235 - Morris' report aligns with the record of work today, per above.
293236 - ref SDS 0 1E8O
293238 - ..
293239 - 6. According to internet chatter, the change in chip was made for
293240 - a good reason, but the documentation has not been updated.
293242 - ..
293243 - This point aligns with the record above. ref SDS 0 SM4G
293245 - ..
293246 - 7. Morris
293247 -
293248 -
293249 -
293250 -
293251 -
293252 -
293253 -
293254 -
293255 -
293256 -
293257 -
293258 -
293259 -
2933 -