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    installed SSD, but disappointed with speed

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011.

  1. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    hi all

    I successfully installed my Crucial M4 SSD yesterday, but i think the numbers are a little slow.

    How can i improve the numbers? Here is my config:

    Crucial M4 128gig firmware 0009
    Installed in Drive 1 with RAID in bios
    Windows 7 premium installed on M4
    Windows Swap file on HDD

    [​IMG]
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
    #1
  2. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't think that seems low at all. I have the same drive and get basically the same scores. From the benchmarks I've seen online from the 128 GB model, these seem typical, though I've seen a few online reviews with random 4K QD1 scores that are 2x as high for some strange reason.
     
    TostitoBandito, Sep 10, 2011
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  3. lsutiger694

    lsutiger694 Notebook Enthusiast

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    those scores are normal and are not low at all.
     
    lsutiger694, Sep 10, 2011
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  4. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    would going ahci improve things at all?
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  5. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

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    I'll trade you that for my 7200rpm drive :D
     
    zoolian982, Sep 10, 2011
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  6. lsutiger694

    lsutiger694 Notebook Enthusiast

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    i am set to ahci... let me get a bench. give me a few...
     
    lsutiger694, Sep 10, 2011
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  7. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    i guess i was expecting more speed. I know the M4 isn't as fast as the Sandforce drives, but compared to my Patriot Wildfire 120 in my desktop, this thing is significantly slower (at least in CrystalMark3).
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  8. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Sure lol...plus 200 bucks :D
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  9. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Cool THNX! :)
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  10. lsutiger694

    lsutiger694 Notebook Enthusiast

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    480 - 187
    348 - 175
    17 - 50
    316 - 170

    This drive has 50gb used... just fyi
     
    lsutiger694, Sep 10, 2011
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  11. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Looks like my numbers are right in line. i have apparently traded speed for stability....gawd, i hope this thing is stable.

    BTW...thnx for the bench. It was very helpful REP +1
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  12. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

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    Slower in what though? The M4's are good because they have very good random read/write rates compared to the competition. The sequential rates don't really apply to real-world use.
     
    TostitoBandito, Sep 10, 2011
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  13. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    the random 512 and 4k numbers on my patriot wildfire are significantly faster. I'll try to get a screen shot later tonight

    BUT i will add though that i don't know if a synthetic bench like crystalmark really translates to real world
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  14. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah I just looked at some benchmarks and reviews. The M4 won in the random 4K QD32 but not the others. That said, it looks to be a lot cheaper than the wildfire and I have heard of stability issues with the sandforce drives.

    Nobody ever said the M4 was the fastest benchmarking drive. It's appeal as always been its low cost, great stability and reliability, and great speed where it counts (access time, random reads, etc...).
     
    TostitoBandito, Sep 10, 2011
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  15. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    yes stability is what i'm counting on.

    BTW, the Patriot Wildfires use 34nm nand which is superior. They don't suffer from the same issues as the Sandforce drives that use cheaper 25nm memory modules, but you are right, the Wildfires are more expensive.

    Do you know if the Intel 510's are comparable to the M4?
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  16. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

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    If I recall the Intels are more expensive and about the same in sequential read/write, but get blown away by the M4 in the random 4K's, especially at higher QD. The recent Crucial firmware has probably only widened this gap.
     
    TostitoBandito, Sep 10, 2011
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  17. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Good...cause i almost bought a 510 and they are way more expensive. Even more expensive than the Patriot Wildfires

    I don't mind paying more if i get that reliability guarantee...but here's to hoping i hit a home run with the M4 :notworthy:
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 10, 2011
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  18. Luxferro

    Luxferro Notebook Consultant

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    edit: nevermind, i see you have the lastest firmware.
     
    Luxferro, Sep 10, 2011
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  19. V10Ace

    V10Ace Notebook Consultant

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    My 256gb drive benched the exact same when I initially installed it with 20gb used on the drive. 3 weeks later and 90gb used it's at 510'sh mb/s writes. My 4k's were down around 14mb/s until I did some tweaking and got it up to 22'sh mb/s
     
    V10Ace, Sep 10, 2011
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  20. Brabostaan

    Brabostaan Notebook Deity

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    It boots into windows in 18 sec. Slow?? Not at all.
     
    Brabostaan, Sep 10, 2011
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  21. Joe85

    Joe85 Notebook Deity

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    This.................
     
    Joe85, Sep 10, 2011
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