Crucial M4 speed problems?

[UFN]

So my new Rig has a Crucial M4 128gb, but it seems to be getting lower speed in CrystalDiscMark 3 than quite a lot of people (including the one tested here) especially in the 4k QD32 speeds.

I can't for the life of me figure out what is holding the speeds back... Though it's probably (and hopefully) something simple.

As opposed to these speeds (which are, apparently more common)

HERE is where I got the above picture from, which also includes a number of other examples of M4 performance which, for some reason, blow mine out of the water.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[hmmblah]

Are you connected to a SATAII or a SATAIII port in your PC? What brand controller is it?

 

[S_I_N]

also what mode are ya installed on??? ACHI or IDE or Raid??? Doubt raid as its single drive but in bios if set wrong could hamper speeds.

 

[UFN]

I'm on the Sata III Port on my P67 Sabertooth, which I think is a Marvell controller and i'm in ACHI mode.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Marvel controllers are renowed for problems tbh dude

 

[Toxteth O'Grady]

Download and run AS SSD from here http://downloads.guru3d.com/AS-SSD-Benchmark-download-2569.html

After run, select File --> Screenshot to grab a jpg of your results and post image here. That will show which drivers, port and mode you are using.

You can compare AS SSD bench here http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/ssd-charts-2011/AS-SSD-Overall-Total-Score,2792.html

 

[fcb]

You should try connecting your SATA 3 storage into the x2 brown SATA 3 headers on the motherboard. If I recall, the brown and the black SATA ports are controlled by the Intel chipset on the Asus Sabertooth P67.

ATTO is another great benchmarking tool.

ATTO Disk Benchmark v2.46

 

[Ya93sin]

I guess just make sure your Mobo is set to AHCI mode, you're on the 0009 firmware, the SSD is plugged into the first Marvell controller, and you've installed the latest Motherboard and Marvell drivers. I used to get slightly mediocre speeds but it improved a lot after I updated all the drivers.

 

[S_I_N]

you want to be on the intel controller for ur ssd no doubt. You should be able to just move it over as long as you have the intel drivers installed once it boots you'll be banging it

 

[UFN]

you want to be on the intel controller for ur ssd no doubt. You should be able to just move it over as long as you have the intel drivers installed once it boots you'll be banging it

Where would I get the Intel drivers from?

 

[Ya93sin]

Your motherboard page on the ASUS website

 

[S_I_N]

Your motherboard page on the ASUS website

yup to dl the latest but I'm betting their already installed but never hurts to make sure

 

[Toxteth O'Grady]

If you are on the Intel SATA port it will work just as well (possibly better in some reports) with the Windows native msahci drivers, so using the Intel drivers may not be the right fix.

If you post the AS SSD info we might be able to see better what's going on. For example your slow speeds could be caused by a bad alignment - again, AS SSD will show that.

 

[Blindfitter]

As nobody has said it: Have you updated to firmware 009? or checked your firmware revision?

It will make a big differance if your not on 009.

http://www.crucial.com/support/firmware.aspx

 

[BaMb1N0]

Marvel controllers are renowed for problems tbh dude

i absolutely agree. had the predecessor to the M4. performance dropped about 70 to 80% in the first 6 months (AHCI with TRIM enabled!)

 

[S_I_N]

i absolutely agree. had the predecessor to the M4. performance dropped about 70 to 80% in the first 6 months (AHCI with TRIM enabled!)

Toms referring to the mobo's marvell controller.

UFN just put it on the boards lintel controller make sure its in achi mode reinstall if necessary ( I doubt) and retest bro.

 

[UFN]

You should try connecting your SATA 3 storage into the x2 brown SATA 3 headers on the motherboard. If I recall, the brown and the black SATA ports are controlled by the Intel chipset on the Asus Sabertooth P67.

you want to be on the intel controller for ur ssd no doubt. You should be able to just move it over as long as you have the intel drivers installed once it boots you'll be banging it

Did this, and HOLY BROLY what a difference it made.

Marvell have some serious explaining to do! Almost 200MB/s gained in the sequential read and the 4K QD32 read?! two of the write speeds (4k, 4k QD32) doubled.

Thanks guys

you've been a great help!

 

[S_I_N]

glad its sorted out mate

 

[Ya93sin]

Updated all my drivers yday, decided to give the Intel controller a try, the reads are deffo faster that's for sure