Intel X25-M G2 160GB in G73JH - Why the sluggish performance?

This thread may be of interest: http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...e-full-advantage-fast-ssds-2.html#post6642344

 

Sorry if its a dumb question but i wanted to do it too but what category did u use under wesbite as far as product goes? I tried chipset software but which is actual one which u used?

 

I just put a random one in there since our wasnt a choice and filled in information on the next page where you can write.

 

I used the SSD category

 

If theyll really read it any way should be fine.

 

Interesting. An MSI notebook with HM55 chipset and a disable C state option in the BIOS does get the good performance in 4k operations.

I'm convinced now that if Gary can order a release of the C states in the BIOS that we can also get the expected performance.

But to be honest I find that a little weird. Shouldn't this be solved by the chipset drivers? If I in Windows set maximum performance for power supply mode by setting the minimum processor state to 100% shouldn't that mean that I should get no performance hit on the SSD?

 

the C states increases temps.. we need a new chipset driver.. ask gary if he can make intel release it.. seems to affecting all PM55 and HM55 SSD users.

 

sean473,

of course disbling C states increases temps. Unless the chipset driver can be made to switch instantly (when performance is required) then having the option to disable it in the BIOS is still a great compromise.

I hope I'm wrong and a chipset driver update fixes this problem (or even if the IRST drivers handled this part), but maybe the switching is too fast/slow (too fast to use the lower setting most of the time and too slow to pull itself up to top speed for the full duration of when its needed) to allow the driver to 'fix' this issue. If it's 'hard coded' into the chipsets themselves.

 

tilleroftheearth, the C1E EIST and other power saving features can be controlled through the BIOS, it's up to the manufacturer if those options will be available or not. New chipset drivers wont solve the problem in our case but they could definitely improve the situation

 

stamatisx, I've lost track of the Asus rep here...

Has he posted any updates for the power saving features (hopefully controlled via BIOS settings)?

Thanks.

 

No I haven't seen any update ever since, the same applies for the Dell/Alienware rep as well

 

stamatisx,

hmmm... I wonder how deep this goes? Is it really hardware dependant - although our testing seems it is 'easily' worked around (easily: running a cpu intensive program during SSD use increases the SSD's performance - as long as you haven't run out of cpu power in the first place).

I haven't given up hope yet, but when I originally read this thread it felt we would be seeing a 'fix' of some kind in a very short time period.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

lol looks like this issue has gone on the backburner.. no updates from asus on this for a week..

 

I am on my cellphone so sorry for the typos, the problem is not hardware related. I am mean it's not the hardware that is limiting the performance of the SSD. The problem according to my opinion is located on the BIOS which is the interface between the drivers and hardware. It seems that manufacturers paid more attention to power saving features, battery life and energy consumption rather performance. The problem is that not every user who gets a laptop wants an SSD and most of them don't even reallize that there is a problem because every SSD feels faster than an HDD. Those who suspect there is a problem resolve to forums for a solution rather calling the place they bought it and explain the situation. That's the reason I don't expect a solution any time soon.

 

Don't forget, it's a Laptop after all.
But yeah, I'd also love to see an option which we could disable to achieve full performance while on AC.
But give Gery some time, as long it's no NDA problem he can surely comment it.

 

The fact that it's a laptop doesn't change the issue. All other laptops get normal performance.

 

No actually they don't. As other users already have stated, Acer and Dell also have those issues. Basically most, if not all, Intel HM55 based ones have this issue. Some do feature an option to disable some power saving features in the bios, but not all.

 

Actually they do. Meaning basically all other laptops without PM55 and HM55 chipsets have normal SSD performance.

This didn't make any sense to me:

Like it being a laptop is some kind of a justification for this issue.

 

Heh, just a small mistake then. Since we are talking about G73, my guess poster saying all notebooks using HM55.

Anyways, I would assume there must be some thread on the web for HM55 notebooks. For those who really need this, maybe you can join the cries of Dell, Acer and anyone else with HM55 to get Intel to provide a firmware fix.

Do any of you have a way to check firmware version? The current HM55 version is 6.0

 

Correct. I thought Pato was responding to Stamatisx, who's talking about his Alienware.

 

Seems like this might be a solution/workaround.

 

Phil,

The performance of my U30Jc went from meh, to Zowie!

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ow-capped-ssd-performance-15.html#post6655854


For me, it is definitely on the 'solution' side.

Curious to see others experience with this too (with other brands of SSD's instead of the SandForce based Inferno that I have).

 

Gary Key,

Please have a look at this as a possible solution and possibly including it in the next release in the P4G Hybrid software.

If would make a lot of people more comfortable changing this setting inside P4G instead of having to hack the registry.

Thanking you in advance!

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ow-capped-ssd-performance-14.html#post6655397

or, specifically here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6655397-post138.html

 

Downside is no idle, C State though which means your CPU idle temps and power usage will considerable more.

 

No downside:

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6655521-post143.html


We now have performance when we want to and power savings when we don't.

 

Well if I understand it correctly we can't have normal SSD performance and good battery life at the same time.

It's a downside, but not very important to me.

 

Phil, correct. Not at the same time.

It is also not important to me too.

But, before with no options - the SSD was a big waste of money to me.

 

That's good.

Is there still hope for a definitive fix?
And should it come from Intel or the notebook manufacturer?

 

I remember back a long time ago that my ThinkPAD had some of the best power setting options I had ever seen - I would love for Intel to release a 'fix' that allows all users the easy options of setting it via a GUI interface, but I think that we shouldn't hold our breath on that front.

I am confident that ASUS can/will release a fix for this issue if enough of us demand it.

Yeah, it is going to come from the manufacturers (if their target market knows about this stuff to begin with).

At least, with Gary Key here, ASUS does.

 

Disagree. This is not a Asus thing and something they can't do. For a real, permanent fix this has to come from Intel by releasing a new firmware. Asus does not write the firmware. They have nothing to do with that. Even if they release a new bios, there is nothing they can do in the bios to rectify it.

 

ziddy123, you're confused.

We are not touching the BIOS here - this is strictly a registry setting.

Like I mention before: the ThinkPAD had some options that I've never seen anywhere else - before or after that laptop.

For ASUS to implement it is as easy as writing two lines of code into their P4G power settings software.

For Intel to implement it... we'd have to wait for something to freeze over!

 

I guess we see this problem differently. I do not think the registry setting is a fix, that's a work around. A fix would be if Intel released a firmware to make sure SSD functions correctly without having to compromise the power states.

And I would be really angry if Asus ruined the power saving power states for the rest of us who don't use Intel SSD.

 

This is not a 'fix'. You cripple the CPU with this. You lock the multipliers so if you run a game that only utilises 1 core this game will run at a lousy 1.6GHz instead of 2.8.
Nice find tho well...... not for me thanks. That wee bit of performance increase from my SSD doesn't weigh up to what I lose by applying this uhm... tweak ??

 

Tilleroftheearth, this is not exactly a solution, it's just a workaround to prevent the CPU from idling by using the registry instead of a program like IBT, wprime, etc...

This what I posted on the other thread
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...how-capped-ssd-performance-6.html#post6656082

The temperatures I get are very high with the i7 940XM
No matter how much I want those high 4k random reads/writes, I can't keep the CPU temps that high and the fans spinning like crazy



If I get 87 C with 0%-1% load I will easily reach the TDP with 100% load (no reason to push the temps that high and risk my system)

This is what I get with 0%-1% load when I use the default settings


Scores much lower but the temperatures remains within normal limits

All those workarounds simply point out that the problem lies on the power saving features and that's where the engineers should concentrate in order to provide us with a solution.

 

Asus would not ruin anything - it would be an option in P4G to disable/enable for a certain configuration. If you didn't have an SSD - why would you touch it?

Intel can't release a firmware for their SSD's that will impact their MB chipsets!

Everything is a compromise - with lower power used, I expect lower performance - but I also expect the full power (when I want/need it) of the SSD I bought a couple of months ago.

This gives me that option and whether we call it a fix or not is immaterial; I'm glad that I have a way now to switch on demand.

The only downside as noted on the Hardware forum, is that if I had an i5 or higher CPU with Turbo Boost - this effectively shuts that off. But as it is, on my i3 - the Inferno is finally living up to its name.

 

Is there anyway to tell if turbo boost is working on my machine?

Thanks

 

What machine?

Run CPU-Z and start a program you know is single threaded - does CPU-Z show the jump in the CPU clock?

Sorry, for this kind of stuff I'm pretty new at it.

 

I like and use this wee thingie Hard disk drive temperature and health monitoring, SMART status and CPU/GPU temperature monitoring

 

Gary any updates? I know this issue is in the bacburner due to high priority given to solve GSOD and touchpad issues.

 

Nothing Gary can do. This is on the shoulders of Intel.

 

he did say he was looking in the issue.. maybe asus can release a BIOS where u can mess with C-states or Power 4Gear.

 

could not agree more...

otherwise I have N71 with the same Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipset which promising 3GB/s, but behaves (in synthetic benchmarks) more like old SATA1 with 1,5GB/s...

My SSD (Intel X25-M 80GB) was luckily the last deliberately unsold piece (of my ex high end desktop pc) intended for notebook which I bought it six month ago...

Only recently, just a bit of boredom i run HD Tune, and... I got this disappointing results:

I run the benchmark also in safe mode and get similar + difference like other users:

still far from what this disk is capable of (see the benches below)
Upper results(difference) from normal and safe mode implicates on software(or firmware) influence on disk...


And the same benchmark with the EXACT same disk on (ex) GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 & i7 920(4GHz):


waiting for solutions...

 

Several tweaks that can enhance your SSD performance are discussed here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ts-can-not-take-full-advantage-fast-ssds.html

 

I saw it but what is the impact at the moment for a mobile Core i7, turbo boost and power management?

This issue has been widespread in the news now but still no word from Intel. At the moment my opnion is that the HM55 and PM55 are flawed. Fubarred. I hope Intel proves me wrong but I doubt we will hear from them.

 

Try it and you will know. For me it works well, this reg tweak in high performance mode:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Processor
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Intelppm

Change on both the "Start" from 3 to 4

Credits stamatisx.

 

OK, those are driver services and setting them to 4 would mean disabling them. I can not find a good description about what they do exactly but if this helps then it means the solution could be a software workaround and it's in Intels ballpark again.

UPDATE:
OK, I only disabled the Intelppm driver service and the 4k reads/writes on my 80 GB Intel SSD jumped from 13.34/20.43 to 20.48/44.80.

Disabling the Processor driver service is not needed.

RESULT:
Disabling Intelppm also disables Powerboost. Utilizing 1 thread will not make the thread run at above 2 GHz anymore. For the 720qm this means it will either run at 1,6 GHz or 1,73 GHz.
The CPU temperature is only 4 degrees higher at idle but this is mostly because the fan runs a little faster. It basicly will run at the same idle speed as the GPU fan.

 

It helps performance but increases heat a bit. Discussion about that tweak is happening here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ts-can-not-take-full-advantage-fast-ssds.html

 

Those improved Read/write speeds seem pretty nice to me... but:

Is there any other workaround we can use, keeping Turbo boost enabled?

I understand this solution provide better read/write speeds on our SSDs at the cost of More heat or degraded processing capabilities. which is too high of a price to pay, on my humble opinion.

Thanks!

 

I think it's this one:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ssd-performance-intel-series-5-jjb-tweak.html

 

Thanks for the link... but that workaround will still increase considerably the temperatures of the processor around 5 to 6 Celsius on load.

Have anybody tried the latest INF Update utility from intel:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...oductProduct=Intel®+5+Series+Chipset&lang=eng

Or the Rapid storage technology package:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...oductProduct=Intel®+5+Series+Chipset&lang=eng

I already installed the RST F6 driver only, but I dunno if installing the package will represent any changes.

Also, I sent a support ticket to intel to let them know about this issue, hopping we get an updated driver or a fix for the HM55 chipset owners.

Thanks again.

Edit: I just received an answer from Intel:

It's Generic answer, but I really hope they are working on a solution, for the time being I tested my Intel SSD and got read speeds of around 254 Mbps, after 7 months of use =) I'm still happy I got my SSD.