Crucial M4, Slow?

[Bezzaboy1234]

Hi Guys,

So managed to replace my crappy OCZ Vertex 2 40GB after it died on me again -.-

Been using the M4 64GB for a few days now, Checked the AS SSD and ATTO benchmarks and it isnt getting great scores, Is it me or is there something I can do to fix it?

Cheers

 

[stulid]

Do you have AHCI enabled in the BIOS?

Are you using intel SATAIII ports (Grey/White?)

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

Using Sata III with 6GB/S Cable same As what My previous SSD was In, AHCI enabled in Bios

 

[Surveyor]

Doesn't m91xx indicate a Marvell SATA 3 port (the dark blue ones)?

You need to use an Intel SATA 3 port, one of the white ones.

Also you need to update to firmware 0309.

 

[cmndr_andi]

That board has two different types of SATA III ports, the two controlled by the Intel PCH (grey) and the two controlled by a marvel 9128 controller (blue).

Make sure the SSD is plugged into a grey one, not a blue or navy blue one.

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

Okay, I'll Check that and the Firmware update

 

[matty114]

Install Intel rapid storage technology http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...rodId=2101&DwnldID=20624&keyword=rst&lang=eng

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

Looks like you are using the marvell controller, i used mine when i first got it and it was ****.

Edit: Heres mine using Intel Sata 3 and 4096KB alignment

 

[PiKe]

0309 doesn't add any speed increase over 0009.

It's the controller.

Should be getting this:

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

Here's the test with it plugged into the gray SATA ports (whoops! didn't know they were the 6GB/s Ports =P)

 

[PiKe]

Here's the test with it plugged into the gray SATA ports (whoops! didn't know they were the 6GB/s Ports =P)

That's better but install the iastor drivers for the intel controller.

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

Also I cannot seem to be able to do the Firmware upgrade,
I Download the thing for windows, It shuts down and reboots, the thing gets to "finding drives..." and just sits there, its been there for like 10/15 minutes, so I restarted back into windows, Any thoughts? should I try using the bootable media option rather than the windows 7 download?

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

That's better but install the iastor drivers for the intel controller.

iastor drivers??

 

[cmndr_andi]

Looks good.

Now I would suggest you update your firmware to 0309. As mentioned above, it won't increase your performance, but the 0009 has an issue where after ~5200 hours of use (~7 months) it will crash your system every hour. The 0309 firmware fixes this problem.

To update the firmware you may need to run it on the standard blue Intel SATAII ports.

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

Looks good.

Now I would suggest you update your firmware to 0309. As mentioned above, it won't increase your performance, but the 0009 has an issue where after ~5200 hours of use (~7 months) it will crash your system every hour. The 0309 firmware fixes this problem.

To update the firmware you may need to run it on the standard blue Intel SATAII ports.

So not the Gray ones, or the marvell ones but the other ones?
Okay, I'll give that a shot aswell

 

[cmndr_andi]

Aye, the lighter blue ones (there should be six of them), try and put it in one of the lower numbered ones (1-4).

You just need to have them on these for the firmware update. Once that has been completed you can move it back over to the gray ones.

 

[matty114]

iastor drivers??

My first link and enable write caching and turn off write cache buffer flushing for more speed.

 

[Bezzaboy1234]

Ok, tried the M4 in the light blue ports, still gets stuck at "Finding drives.."

Any thoughts?

 

[matty114]

Try flashing it from a usb stick?

 

[Avathar77]

Edit: Heres mine using Intel Sata 3 and 4096KB alignment

Why does it have to have 4096kb alignment?
Default is 1024 isn't it?

 

[matty114]

Been using it for a few days and it seems faster to me, Go to post 4 in this and read Q&A/Facts http://www.overclock.net/t/1156654/seans-windows-7-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds