Is M17x R3 Port 0 TRUE and ALWAYS SATA 6GB/s ?

OK so I got the Vertex 3 about a month ago, and recently got the Intel 510. Both are 120GB.

After trying switching both drives on port 0 and port 1 in my M17x R3, and after many different tests, I came up with these results. All with AS SSD.

First, I started off with OCZ on port 0 and Intel on port 1 - BOTH ARE SEEN AS SATA 6GB/s

I. OCZ port 0 - Intel port 1

A. OCZ = boot drive:



B. Intel = boot drive




Next, I switch the drives, Intel now on port 0 and OCZ on port 1. Things become interesting HERE. Now, the Intel is seen as SATA 3GB/s while the OCZ is still on SATA 6GB/s no matter what drive I chose to boot. And here's the result:




Clearly, I did observe that PORT 0 is SOMETIMES only SATA 3GB/s, but NOT ALL THE TIME. I am still investigating on this issue. But from those results my conclusion is that the OCZ does have better 4k random write and sequential read, while the Intel has better sequential write and about the same random read. The Intel also has much better acc. write time but worse in acc. read time.

Of course those benchmarks does not mean everything to me. Regardless those benchmark, here's what I observe in "real world" performance:

1. Windows 7 installation time (when both are BRAND NEW):

OCZ Vertex 3 120GB - 20 mins
Intel 510 120GB - 22 mins

2. Windows 7 Boot time (exactly the same drivers and software, with same start up settings):

OCZ Vertex 3 120G: 13-14s
Intel 510 120GB: 13-14s

3. Applications start up: (photoshop, lightroom, office, etc.): I hardly see any difference, this is why all SSDs at this level basically have the same "real world" performance.

My conclusion: In benchmark, the Vertex 3 is clearly the winners, and I mean by a lot. DO NOT forget that my Vertex 3 is one month old while the Intel is BRAND NEW! However, during my typical usage in real world, (web, office, video editing) I dont really realize the difference. Both feel very responsive at this level. For that said, I wanted to keep the Intel and would have kept it if the issue of SATA 3GB/s does not happen:

My concern: the alienware M17x R3 port 0 SATA 6GB/s issue: like mentioned above, SOMETIMES it shows SATA 6GB/s (w/ benchmark to confirm that) and SOMETIMES it shows SATA 3GB/s (also w/benchmark to confirm).

I know there are people in this forum are suffering from the same issue,, like ruderthanyou, Azreal,... just wondering if anyone else got the same problem ?

 

Nice post. I wonder what it is that's causing hardware confusion.

 

This is very interesting indeed. In my case, I had issues with the initial clean install on Port 0 and was advised to move the drive to Port 1 to ensure SATA III speeds. I can't confirm what the actual speed of the Port 0 was because I never got W7 to install.

Worth checking out further. Great observations Torai, another step closer to understanding the R3 SSD conundrum. Also speaks volumes for the for the viability of the Intel drive as a serious high performance optio on the machine.

 

You had an OCZ 3, why not do RAID 0 with another OCZ?
Thanks for the post ... but I think buying an intel?

 

Torai,

Great writeup Torai. I wasn't hallucinating my issue. You saved me disecting my perfectly working C300 from my ASUS to test out the 6Gbps ports on my M17xR3. Unlike you, I never was able to get 6Gbps working on port 0 with my Vertex 3.

Dell should be ordering me a replacement M17xR3 today because of cosmetic issues I'm having with my current one...hopefully that new one will work better with my Vertex and Port 0.

You should try. Its really easy to pop them out and switch them. Maybe with a few more real world examples we can get to the bottom of this.

 

I may give it a try this weekend.

 

Here's what I just got today, after leaving the Intel idle to do TRIM for 12 hours. Its now sata 6GB/s again

I am not using 2 SSD... I just bought the Intel in order to compare it to the V3..

I actually do not think the problem related to either Intel or OCZ.. there might be something that we are missing here. Im probably gonna return the OCZ due to the fact that I cannot have Intel RST 10 installed on it (thats what I saw on OCZ forum)

Thank you

If you got the new machine dont forget to give this a test

Please do.

 

I'm going to try and leave mine on overnight...who knows maybe that the fix. I'm really confused after you're results.

Having no problem with RST 10.1.5.1001. Can even run OCZ Toolkit; it sees the drive perfectly (need to run in Admin/Compatiblity mode, but works fine for me). But since you've got both, definitely pick what you feel more comfortable with.

 

We need a response from Dellienware on this issue. This really is a hardware issue at this point. Another recall maybe?

 

Today it shows 3Gb/s. I didnt even restart the laptop



This is WEIRD.

 

I couldn't get my port 0 to do sata 6GB/s, only port 1. I wonder if a future bios update will remedy that issue?

 

+1 victim, lol.

I dont know. I did not have this issue with my Vertex 3, but now with the Intel 510 it appears to be, but not all the time. Can it be the SSD by any chance ?

 

Hi, I'm going to add my experiences here as I think they're related and may help others.

A week after I received my laptop I bought an Intel510 120Gb SSD. Naturally still being attuned to the master/slave setup of the old days I added it to Module0 and moved the original drive to Module1. I rebuilt the OS from scratch, installed the drivers that were supplied and from then on I kept getting freezes, both on startup and when opening windows (e.g. Firefox) where the whole system was unresponsive.

OK, so I tried to apply a bit of logic. Rebuild the OS without drivers but with Win7SP1. Crash. Rebuild without Win7SP1. Crash. Install the Intel Chipset drivers first, then the video, then the rest. Crash. Video first, USB, chipset. Crash. Create a Ghost image from the original HDD and restore it onto the SSD with resizing. Crash.

By 'Crash' I mean either full lockups at boot, within the OS or simply blue screens. I didn't really keep track. I must've rebuilt the laptop at least a dozen times, a literal dozen. Tried AHCI and RAID0 too.

Then for no real reason I changed the SSD to use Module 1 and the HDD to Module0, swapped the boot order in the BIOS, rebuilt and...nothing. No problems, no crashes, no blue screens and it's been that way for a week. So an hour ago I wondered what would happen if I swapped this stable SSD build back to Module0. Booted twice. First time froze at a black sceen with a cursor, second Bluescreen/crash dump.

Nuts to that. Swapped the SSD back to Module1 and all is well again. It's possible that it's the access profile of the SSD that's has a hand in this as well as the module speed. I went for the Intel over a Vertex because although it's slightly slower (can't remember the specific sites but they were pretty fact heavy) from the reviews the OCZ seems to burst data, leading to peaks/troughs but when running benchmarking tools these peaks are higher than the Intel and so the average is at a higher speed. The Intel by contrast apprently has a smoother, almost constant data throughput. So without any scientific proof beyond a 'hunch' my first guess might be that if the speed of the Module0 is fluctuating then simply because the OCZ is bursting data it can cope better with this 'defect' wheras the Intel is expecting to do things at a steady pace.

Like I said, that's a guess but if I wanted to look any more closely I suppose I'd start there. As it is for my Intel510 SSD, Module1 is the only one that's fully reliable on my system.

 

Sounds like a BIOS issue more than anything.

 

I would be very interested to resolve it as well.... ordered an R3 and receiving it in 2 weeks & my first day plan was to swap out the 320gig 7200 rpm disk with 2 Vertex 3 SSDs having SATA III 6Gb/s... reading about this, makes me wonder!

Shouldn't DELL receive a call from one of us to fix it ?

 

ive read all these about 3gig and not 6 and the price of the ssds for space was to much for me as space is what i need

so i am taken my 750 out my acer and got a new 750 aswell so 1.5teras

speed is an advantage but space is a premium

would i put my op drive on left or right side saying top laptop it at top ?

 

Read his signature. He have Crucial M4, so no, unless you both are very unlucky

 

I have the 510 and had to switch it to port 1 as well.

 

I posted this in DELL Alienware Club on Dell's support forms and here is a solution to this issue. I will do this as soon as my m17x arrives (i am already buying 2 vertex 3 Sata III 6gb/s 120 gig SSDs).

I'll let you know my findings but may be if someone wants to try this please share your results as well. We need to nail this one...

M17x R3 - hard disk port 0 / 1 certified for SATA III 6Gb/s ? - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community

 

is there an update to this? I'll be doing a SSD install soon.

So from what i gather, plug SSD into module 1, set AHCI in bios, reinstall windows.

 

That's exactly what I did, with the added step of making the secondary hard drive (port 1) your first boot device in the BIOS.

 

Is your computer stable? No issues with freezing or bsods?

 

Zero issues. For an SSD, I strongly recommend the Crucial M4 in either the 128 or 256 GB flavors. Great performance, price, and reliability.

 

I had to move my SSD to Port 1 since my speeds where bouncing around. Since I did that its been solid on Port 1. And that's saying alot with a SandForce controller SSD from what I have read lol

 

I put my M4 256GB out of box right in port 1. al the stuff i read about port 0 made me not even wanna try port 0 with an ssd
since installation of ssd in port 1 never had one hickup or issue at all. full 6GBS speed.

 

Did you need to perform any type of fix for you HyperX SSD? Being SandForce and all did you apply the LPM fix?

 

I did do the LPM fix but after I moved it to port 1. As I can see with LPM fix and other various tweaks, the drive is fast. If I have time this weekend I am going to switch it back to Port 0 to see if I still have the same issues.

 

Call Dell (malaysia) support on this issue, just to see if they were aware of this issue. The guy told me to put the power settings in performance mode instead of balanced. Did that, and 2 boots later, still in sata 3, 6gbps mode. Will keep monitoring over the next few boots. Hopefully, its that simple!

 

Dang, good to see all the old-school R3 brothas in one thread

So, by any chance does this problem have to do with the old Intel fiasco issue?

 

Sigh... This is the 5th boot, and its in sata 2 mode...

 

legrunt, are you using port 1? if not, just use port 1 and set the boot order to use "secondary" first. AFAIK no-one has issues with getting sata3 (6Gbps) working in port 1.

 

When I put the vertex 3 into slot 1, yeah, it works, and I get full 6gbps, but then my vertex 2 has to go into slot 0, and that gives me a lot of grief.

 

Oh boy! Am scared..I have ordered the r3 and a 256gb m4 too.
Hope this problem is resolved soon...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/580844-guide-how-display-b3-sandy-bridge-m17x-r3.html

Please check and post whether you all have received the correct chipset.

EDIT: YAY!! Just received the m4.. Like less than 60 seconds ago!! It is so tiny and light!! And no 3.5" adapter.. Cost me a freaking $491 though , with all the taxes (I am from India.). (256gb).. Hope it works fine.. Hehe I have the ssd but not the correct laptop.. see sig..

 

legrunt, why does putting a vertex2 in port 0 cause grief? Vertex2 doesn't support 6Gbps anyway. as long as you set the boot order in the bios correctly, I'm not sure what issue you might be having.

Chaos, just be sure to put your new ssd in port 1 (the empty one) as opposed to putting it in the slot where the old HDD resides.

 

Well, when I dump the vertex 2 into slot 0, the machine has a hard time reading it. Its very very slow (sometimes), other times, I don't have permission to open my files, and after about 10 minutes, its as though someone just yanked the drive right out of the machine, as in, it dissappears from computer management, rst, etc. One time I managed to do a full format, and then transfer my files over, and I thought that was that. But upon next bootup, same issues. Its very strange...

 

hmm that is strange... that almost sounds like it could be a mechanical issue like a bent interposer pin that only makes contact intermittently.

Does this summarize what you're seeing, legrunt?

vertex2 in slot 1 -3Gbps no problem vertex2 in slot 0 drive disappears sometimes. vertex 3 in slot 1 -6Gbps no problems. Vertex 3 in slot 0 no problems other than 3Gbps instead of 6.

If so, that's mighty strange. You're the first I've seen having problems with running port 0 at 3Gbps. I would almost think about asking dell to replace your motherboard.

 

I've always wondered: Do people encounter these types of issues when upgrading to another mechanical hdd? How about after reformatting?

 

No idea... I left the mechanical drive mine came with (a 750 caviar black) in bay 0, put a crucial m4 in bay 1, wiped the old drive and installed windows on the SSD. Its been smooth as silk. (knock on wood)

 

That sums it up PERFECTLY!! However this is a brand new mobo and graphics card after dell replaced it due to the bootloop fiasco...

 

So, would I be correct in saying that there is almost no possiblity of running 2 SATA3 SSDs in RAID on the M17x R3?

 

No it is possible. I think what you need is the LPM fix on both ports. Somehow doing that prevents some crashes linked to Sandforce drives and allow constant 6Gbps on both ports. Raid SSD's are pointless. You won't see much speed gain other than benchmarks.

 

I've been busy and forgot about this issue for a while...Even though it does not affect my daily use at all but its still kinda annoying when you spent $250 for a SATA 3 SSD and yet dont know if it is working at sata 3 or 2..

I've checked the Intel RST several times in the last few days. And yet, still a mix of both SATA 3gb/s and SATA 6gb/s showed up.

Oh, and Im using intel 510 on port 1. Tried LPM fix once before but didnt work.

I still think this is an Intel SSD issue not R3's ports' since the OCZ did not have this problem. Intel hasnt updated 510 firmware, has they ?

 

I'm having the same issues with my OCZs. Anyway, a quick update. I changed the 480Gb vertex 2 for a 480Gb vertex 3. Thats sitting in port 0 now, and of course it goes sata 2-3-2-3-2-3 at various boots. The good news is my 120Gb system vertex 3 is in port 1 and is always sata 3.

 

Just updated both my vertex 3 SSDs to firmware 2.15. So far, all of yesterday, with 3-4 boot ups, both drives show a solid 6gbps in RST. Then again, I had a mobo (bios A08 of course) change yesterday also, because of a melting issue...
Will keep you guys updated if it drops to 3gbps again.
If it keeps this up, I will change my drives back so that my system disk is back in port 0.

 

Thanks for the update legrunt. +repped. Hope the firmware update for vertex 3 would fix it, at least. For Intel 510, the problem remains.

Btw, if u switch ur drives back, you would have to re-install windows

 

Thanks! But, why the need to reinstall windows? Just swapping the disks around from port 0 <-> port 1, not changing the sata mode...

 

Hmm my bad long time no touch these things my brain is dead lol

 

Phew! I thought I missed something!!

 

SUNAVABIATCH... I knew it was too good to be true.....
Just got a 3gbps
Dammit.... Back to the drawing board...

 

I just got an R3, and Purchased a Sata 3 drive, should be here this week.

Have any of you postulated that it could be a power mode setting, Are you all running at Max Performance mode when these things are happening?
Are you plugged in?
Is your battery in or out?