Possible SSD problems (M4)

Adster3000

Adster3000

Adster3000

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Going by the SSD mega test thread and various other posted benchmark results, it seems mine isn't performing as it should be.

This is my first SSD, it is al very new to me. Here are my results from AS SSD and ATTO:

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The drive is my main OS drive, with a couple of games installed. Firmware is 0009. I'm aware it isn't the latest but I am also aware that 0009 is the firmware that increases the performance.

Thanks for any help.
 
Is it connected to the Sata3 port on your motherboard, are you using a certified Sata3 cable? and is your Sata set to ACHI in your BIOS as opposed to IDE?
 
It is in a SATA3 port, I used a brand new cable (it's blue, no idea if SATA cables are colour coded) and ACHI was not enabled.

I enabled ACHI and when Windows booted, it installed some drivers. Though when I did the benchmark again, it seemed to have no difference.

In answer to the other question, it was a clean install. Do I have to enable ACHI and then install Windows? Or will it not matter?

Appreciate the help everyone.
 
All SATA cables are the same, I'm using a random SATA cable from 2006 odd, and i'm still getting 500MB/s + on my M4.

It's best to put AHCI mode on before installing windows. But IIRC theirs a way to change it if you've already installed using some registry changes I think.
 
djabs786 said:
All SATA cables are the same, I'm using a random SATA cable from 2006 odd, and i'm still getting 500MB/s + on my M4.

It's best to put AHCI mode on before installing windows. But IIRC theirs a way to change it if you've already installed using some registry changes I think.
Click to expand...

Not true regarding cabling, Some older cables work fine indeed, some do not, I've ran into the cable problem myself. My Force GT was not writing at the right speeds, I changed to a S3 cable and viola it worked.

Heres a link http://www.serialata.org/documents/SATA-6-Gbs-The-Path-from-3gbs-to-6gbs.pdf
also copy and pasted from someone else's post but explains some of the stuff included in that .PDF.

"1. A cable which truly met the SATA 2.6 standard would work fine at 6 Giga Bits ( Sata 3.0 ) but one that worked fine at 3 Giga Bits but did not really meet the 2.6 standard might fail at 6 Giga Bytes.

2. Longer SATA 2.6 cables approaching the length limit of the standard are more likely not to work at 6 Giga Bytes than SATA 2.6 cables half as long. "

Anyway this probably isn't the OP's problem, but potentially could be a problem for someone reading this.
 
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I have done the changes in the registry and have enabled AHCI in the BIOS. It's still telling me that pciide is bad though.

There are two options that can be changed to AHCI in the BIOS: "On chip SATA type" which defaults to "Native IDE." When I change this, it doesn't boot at all and give me the option to repair Windows. The other option is "Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl mode" which defaults to "IDE." I assume this is the one I change because it boots with it.
I thought I'd mention this just in case I'm doing something wrong. I've tried with them both on, also and it doesn't boot into Windows.

I guess my next move is to reinstall Windows?
 
It won't boot once it's changed I'm sure. I'd personally reinstall, if your previous install was a clean one then it shouldn't take to long to get back to the same position.
 
LanceCrossfire said:
It won't boot once it's changed I'm sure. I'd personally reinstall, if your previous install was a clean one then it shouldn't take to long to get back to the same position.
Click to expand...

Alright. I'm gonna flash the drive to the latest firmware first, then reinstall. Do you, or anyone else know anything about these two different options? I'd like to know if I actually need both of them enabled or just the one I have been enabling.
 
You need to do the registry hack once you change it. Your board has two SATA chips, one for SATA 3 (The native AMD one) and the other for SATA 2. When you change it without doing the hack beforehand it won't boot.

So the one that causes the no boot is definitely the one your SSD is conncted. Do the registry hack again, then reboot straight into BIOS, turn the onboard SATA chip to AHCI and boot.

If that doesn't work then consider reinstall of Windows while in AHCI mode. Make sure only the SSD is connected when installing so all boot files goes to the SSD instead of any other drives which could cause problems.
 
Adster3000 said:
Alright. I'm gonna flash the drive to the latest firmware first, then reinstall. Do you, or anyone else know anything about these two different options? I'd like to know if I actually need both of them enabled or just the one I have been enabling.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with your motherboard, to be honest, they both sound right:D I'd personally change both then roll with that. Alternatively consult your motherboard manual:)
 
chaparral said:
Try the hack first http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

It easy to do (done it before myself when i first got an SSD)
Click to expand...

I did try the registry edits. Didn't seem to work.

Another concern I'm having is AHCI drivers. Do I need to bother with them?
On the product page for my motherboard, under the "SATA/RAID" section, is has this driver:
"AMD SATA AHCI Driver (Preinstall driver, press F6 during Windows* setup to read from floppy)"

.. Should I bother with this? If so, can it be done with a USB stick? No floppy drive.
 
Ah heck with it. Do a fresh install. Seems the registry hack's not working.

Back up all personal files and unplug everything except the optical drive/SSD. Then turn everything in BIOS related to SATA to AHCI, and install Windows. That should get Windows to install in AHCI mode.
 
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I managed to sort it out without doing a clean Windows install. The only problem is, I'm not 100% sure what sorted it.

I was preparing for the reinstall and removed my 320GB drive and put the SSD in SATA port 0 (was originally in port 1.) I had changed BIOS settings to AHCI then tried to boot off CD. Accidentally missed the CD boot so it booted into Windows. Thought I'd try to see if it still told me pciide is still bad. Turns out, it sorted it. I plugged in my 320GB drive into port 1 to see if it was gonna be an ass and screw it back up and it didn't.

Thank you for all your help and suggestions. :D

EDIT: Forgot that I did update the firmware before attempting the clean install and I did check if that affected it and I'm 100% sure that it didn't.
 
Well you're getting better speeds now :)

Might've been the HDD causing problems initally and the replugging solved it.

Run ATTO as it gives a better representation of SSD speeds.
 
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:)

When I plugged it into a different port, it did reinstall all the drivers again. I have a feeling it might have been that.

Just want to add, just in case someone with a similar problem might come here from a search engine, that the "Onboard SATA/IDE Ctrl mode" option in the BIOS is for the two SATA2 ports.

Thanks Orc. And everyone else!
 
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