8K9A2+ Raid 0 Performance Problem

Thank you for your answer!

Sorry for my question, but what are proper board level and windows level
RAID drivers?

I am using the one from the epox website, although there is one
interesting thing: the driver on the epox site is v2.31, and i am using
v2.32. I tried to "downgrade" the driver, but XP says, that there is no
proper or better driver then the already installed available. So no
downgrad possible.

I did the Test with Sandra 2002 or 2003(?) and the througput was as low as
with only one harddrive, without Raid, I do not remember the exact value
right now. I will retest it with Sandra 2004
The Raid is configured correctly with a blocksize of 128k. (Shown by the
Highpoint ATA Raid Management Software).

Which BIOS Settings can be optimized?

The only thing I´d like to achieve is high throughput. I do not need any
redundancy, and I am performing a backup on a regulary basis.

Thank you again,
Gerald

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:22:34 GMT, Derek Wildstar <gunner.TakeThisOut@argo.mil> wrote:

 >
 > "Gerald Fingerlos" <spammersunited.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
 > news:oprw1zpnkuf6dr2r@news.cis.dfn.de...
  >> Hi!
  >>
  >> I am using the above mentioned board and I have a poor performance using
  >> RAID 0 (2 disks, Seagate Barracuda 7200V). Today I checked it with
  >> Sisoft
  >> Sandra, and the results show, that the harddisk performance is nothing
  >> faster than using only one disk.
  >>
  >> Anyone who experienced similar problems? Or any suggestions?
  >>
  >> Thank you in advance for your help.
  >>
  >> Gerald
 >
 > Are you using the proper board level and windows level RAID drivers?
 > Assuming yes..(and that's a big assumption, I recall one of those
 > versions
 > was recalled, and then replaced with a slight naming change. Be extra
 > careful with these drivers)
 >
 > If you are running RAID 0, you should definately see, with Sandra 2004, a
 > similar level of performance to other RAID 0's, which is noticably higher
 > than most single drives.
 >
 > 1) Cables, are they mated properly to the drive they are connecting? One
 > per
 > drive.
 >
 > 2) Are the board level drivers installed an working properly? Are the
 > BIOS
 > settings which govern drive I/O optimized?
 >
 > 3) Is Windows interfacing correctly with the Array?
 >
 > 4) What exactly is benchmarking showing as the problem, write speed, read
 > speed? What does HD Tach report?
 >
 > I have had many troubles with these embedded HPT raid controlers, I can
 > not
 > recommend them for data redundancy or data integrity. However, if all you
 > care about is increased speed, they are probably acceptable assuming your
 > *getting* that speed.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 8K9A2+ Raid 0 Performance Problem 

Quick question Gerald,
Are the two drives on separate channels of the controller? That means a
single cable going to each drive from the motherboard.

----
JimmiLeg


"Gerald Fingerlos" <spammersunited.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:oprw3mj7i6f6dr2r@news.cis.dfn.de...
 > Thank you for your answer!
 >
 > Sorry for my question, but what are proper board level and windows level
 > RAID drivers?
 >
 > I am using the one from the epox website, although there is one
 > interesting thing: the driver on the epox site is v2.31, and i am using
 > v2.32. I tried to "downgrade" the driver, but XP says, that there is no
 > proper or better driver then the already installed available. So no
 > downgrad possible.
 >
 > I did the Test with Sandra 2002 or 2003(?) and the througput was as low as
 > with only one harddrive, without Raid, I do not remember the exact value
 > right now. I will retest it with Sandra 2004
 > The Raid is configured correctly with a blocksize of 128k. (Shown by the
 > Highpoint ATA Raid Management Software).
 >
 > Which BIOS Settings can be optimized?
 >
 > The only thing I´d like to achieve is high throughput. I do not need any
 > redundancy, and I am performing a backup on a regulary basis.
 >
 > Thank you again,
 > Gerald
 >
 > On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:22:34 GMT, Derek Wildstar <gunner.DeleteThis@argo.mil> wrote:
 >
  > >
  > > "Gerald Fingerlos" <spammersunited.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
  > > news:oprw1zpnkuf6dr2r@news.cis.dfn.de...
   > >> Hi!
   > >>
   > >> I am using the above mentioned board and I have a poor performance
using
   > >> RAID 0 (2 disks, Seagate Barracuda 7200V). Today I checked it with
   > >> Sisoft
   > >> Sandra, and the results show, that the harddisk performance is nothing
   > >> faster than using only one disk.
   > >>
   > >> Anyone who experienced similar problems? Or any suggestions?
   > >>
   > >> Thank you in advance for your help.
   > >>
   > >> Gerald
  > >
  > > Are you using the proper board level and windows level RAID drivers?
  > > Assuming yes..(and that's a big assumption, I recall one of those
  > > versions
  > > was recalled, and then replaced with a slight naming change. Be extra
  > > careful with these drivers)
  > >
  > > If you are running RAID 0, you should definately see, with Sandra 2004,
a
  > > similar level of performance to other RAID 0's, which is noticably
higher
  > > than most single drives.
  > >
  > > 1) Cables, are they mated properly to the drive they are connecting? One
  > > per
  > > drive.
  > >
  > > 2) Are the board level drivers installed an working properly? Are the
  > > BIOS
  > > settings which govern drive I/O optimized?
  > >
  > > 3) Is Windows interfacing correctly with the Array?
  > >
  > > 4) What exactly is benchmarking showing as the problem, write speed,
read
  > > speed? What does HD Tach report?
  > >
  > > I have had many troubles with these embedded HPT raid controlers, I can
  > > not
  > > recommend them for data redundancy or data integrity. However, if all
you
  > > care about is increased speed, they are probably acceptable assuming
your
  > > *getting* that speed.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 8K9A2+ Raid 0 Performance Problem 

"Gerald Fingerlos" <spammersunited DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:oprw3mj7i6f6dr2r@news.cis.dfn.de...

 > Thank you for your answer!
 >
 > Sorry for my question, but what are proper board level and windows level
 > RAID drivers?


For the 8K9A2+, you should be using the 09-23-03 BIOS file : K9A23924.BIN

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.epox.nl/english/support/bios/socketa.htm" target="_blank">http://www.epox.nl/english/support/bios/socketa.htm</a>

Then make sure you have the Via v4.49 4-1 driver

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.epox.nl/Drivers/via/VIAHyperion4in1449v.zip" target="_blank">http://www.epox.nl/Drivers/via/VIAHyperion4in1449v.zip</a>


That should allow you to then set up the RAID array properly.


 > Which BIOS Settings can be optimized?


In the BIOS, ATA RAID or SCSI boot, is [RAID], Boot Other device [Enabaled],
Floppy Seek [Disabled] (Unless you like to add floppy drives willy-nilly).
Enable APIC 1.4 as well.

Unshadow every and all option, video, ram, rom. No need.

Make sure each drive has it's own cable, and make sure the CD-drives have
their own cable as well (DVD and CD-R can share a cable), then activate UDMA
for the CD drives. Check the cables carefully, they must have a blue
connector plugged into the system board and the MASTER end plugged into each
drive. Two cables, two sockets, two drives, both master.

IDE Raid enabled (duh) and SATA disabled.

HDD power down *off*

Pay very close attention to page 4-26 in your manual, notice that the raid
controller shares interrupt line B with PCI device 2. (Just like the AGP
shares line A with slot #1). To ensure fastest, trouble free operation, do
not have any device in PCI slot #2. While the APIC should be able to deal
with this 'issue', you want fastest, trouble free operation, do not share
IRQ's with a raid array.




 > I am using the one from the epox website, although there is one
 > interesting thing: the driver on the epox site is v2.31, and i am using
 > v2.32. I tried to "downgrade" the driver, but XP says, that there is no
 > proper or better driver then the already installed available. So no
 > downgrad possible.

Here's a potential issue: Epox Europe has, for the Windows GUI of HPT373
2.332

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.epox.nl/english/support/drivers/raid.htm#HPT" target="_blank">http://www.epox.nl/english/support/drivers/raid.htm#HPT</a>

I say, give it shot.

If it directly conflicts with the board level driver, you will know very
quickly. I suspect not, seeing as how the BIOS is very recent.


 > I did the Test with Sandra 2002 or 2003(?) and the througput was as low as
 > with only one harddrive, without Raid, I do not remember the exact value
 > right now. I will retest it with Sandra 2004
 > The Raid is configured correctly with a blocksize of 128k. (Shown by the
 > Highpoint ATA Raid Management Software).
 > The only thing I´d like to achieve is high throughput. I do not need any
 > redundancy, and I am performing a backup on a regulary basis.
 >
 > Thank you again,
 > Gerald

You are quite welcome, I hope these small adjustments will give you the
speed you expect, and the stability you require. <!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 8K9A2+ Raid 0 Performance Problem 

Yes, they are on separate channels (two cables).

Gerald

 > Quick question Gerald,
 > Are the two drives on separate channels of the controller? That means a
 > single cable going to each drive from the motherboard.
 >
 > ----
 > JimmiLeg
 >
 >
 > "Gerald Fingerlos" <spammersunited.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
 > news:oprw3mj7i6f6dr2r@news.cis.dfn.de...
  >> Thank you for your answer!
  >>
  >> Sorry for my question, but what are proper board level and windows level
  >> RAID drivers?
  >>
  >> I am using the one from the epox website, although there is one
  >> interesting thing: the driver on the epox site is v2.31, and i am using
  >> v2.32. I tried to "downgrade" the driver, but XP says, that there is no
  >> proper or better driver then the already installed available. So no
  >> downgrad possible.
  >>
  >> I did the Test with Sandra 2002 or 2003(?) and the througput was as low
  >> as
  >> with only one harddrive, without Raid, I do not remember the exact value
  >> right now. I will retest it with Sandra 2004
  >> The Raid is configured correctly with a blocksize of 128k. (Shown by the
  >> Highpoint ATA Raid Management Software).
  >>
  >> Which BIOS Settings can be optimized?
  >>
  >> The only thing I´d like to achieve is high throughput. I do not need any
  >> redundancy, and I am performing a backup on a regulary basis.
  >>
  >> Thank you again,
  >> Gerald
  >>
  >> On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:22:34 GMT, Derek Wildstar <gunner.RemoveThis@argo.mil>
  >> wrote:
  >>
   >> >
   >> > "Gerald Fingerlos" <spammersunited.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
   >> > news:oprw1zpnkuf6dr2r@news.cis.dfn.de...
   >> >> Hi!
   >> >>
   >> >> I am using the above mentioned board and I have a poor performance
 > using
   >> >> RAID 0 (2 disks, Seagate Barracuda 7200V). Today I checked it with
   >> >> Sisoft
   >> >> Sandra, and the results show, that the harddisk performance is
  >> nothing
   >> >> faster than using only one disk.
   >> >>
   >> >> Anyone who experienced similar problems? Or any suggestions?
   >> >>
   >> >> Thank you in advance for your help.
   >> >>
   >> >> Gerald
   >> >
   >> > Are you using the proper board level and windows level RAID drivers?
   >> > Assuming yes..(and that's a big assumption, I recall one of those
   >> > versions
   >> > was recalled, and then replaced with a slight naming change. Be extra
   >> > careful with these drivers)
   >> >
   >> > If you are running RAID 0, you should definately see, with Sandra
  >> 2004,
 > a
   >> > similar level of performance to other RAID 0's, which is noticably
 > higher
   >> > than most single drives.
   >> >
   >> > 1) Cables, are they mated properly to the drive they are connecting?
  >> One
   >> > per
   >> > drive.
   >> >
   >> > 2) Are the board level drivers installed an working properly? Are the
   >> > BIOS
   >> > settings which govern drive I/O optimized?
   >> >
   >> > 3) Is Windows interfacing correctly with the Array?
   >> >
   >> > 4) What exactly is benchmarking showing as the problem, write speed,
 > read
   >> > speed? What does HD Tach report?
   >> >
   >> > I have had many troubles with these embedded HPT raid controlers, I
  >> can
   >> > not
   >> > recommend them for data redundancy or data integrity. However, if all
 > you
   >> > care about is increased speed, they are probably acceptable assuming
 > your
   >> > *getting* that speed.
   >> >
   >> >
   >> >
   >> >
   >> >
  >>
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 8K9A2+ Raid 0 Performance Problem