SSD Slow Down in Power Mode

I figured out my Intel SSD slowing down while in low power mode, cutting performance about about 40%. My scores in AS SSD Benchmark drop from about 360 while at full power to into the 220 or less while running in low power mode. I prefer to run in low power mode as I don't need more perfromance and my machine runs near silent. The people over on the Intel forum are telling it's my ThinkPad causing the slowdown, while people elsewhere are telling me it's the drive. I was wondering whether people with SSDs are experiencing a similar drop in performance while running in low power mode? It doesn't have to be an Intel drive. I'd be curious to hear from about other drives too. Thanks for any help.

 

its a power saving problem due to intel chipset etc.. the G73 and AW M17x both have a similar issue on low power etc...

 

ZaZ,

I just tried AS SSD on the Power4Gear Battery saving mode on my U30Jc and the Inferno 100GB SSD I have.

I normally run my notebook(s) on Maximum performance (even on battery power), so I would not normally see this effect you're describing. However as the benchmarks below show (and more importantly, my own testing by simply using my computer 'normally' while on battery power and in the battery saving mode), the performance of the SSD did not change appreciably, contrary to your findings.

The benchmark on the left is what I previously reported (although the score should be around 425 for the Inferno as others mentioned to me) and the benchmark on the right is while it was on battery power. I also did one while plugged in, but the score is the same (318) so I didn't save/post that one.

One thing to keep in mind between these two benchmarks is that the computer has been left on for over a week (for TRIM to work) and also, I disabled the pagefile, the hibernation file and also stopped using the computer for photo editing purposes (this to stop the reported 'Lifetime Throttling' that SandForce drives with DuraWrite technology implement to enhance longetivity at the expense of performance). The two files deleted were using 14GB on the SSD (giving the newer benchmark 70% filled vs. 85% filled). Also, as a last ditch effort, I also uninstalled MSE to see if that would make a difference (it did; everything is faster as expected, but the 'scores' remain dismal in the benchmarks and in the 'feel' of using the notebook).

As you can see; the drive's performance continues to deteriorate and TRIM obviously has no effect on this drive.

I'm glad that your Intel can get back up to speed by simply changing the power plan, but I wish my fix was that easy.

What you are experiencing may simply be your ThinkPAD honouring the power settings (to a fault) and downclocking the PCI bus a few notches?

Either way, I view your setup as more optimal than mine: at least you have the option to go to 'full' power on your SSD, I don't seem to have that luxury.

I'm interested to read what others see by varying the power plan settings with their SSD's. Is it just Intel SSD's, or, is it a combination of an Intel SSD with a ThinkPAD?

 

I'd like to know that too.

 

I did some back to back testing in "Power Saver" and "High Performance" modes, but produced no significant differences.

"High Performance" mode run 1:


"Power Saver" mode run 1:


"High Performance" mode run 2:


"Power Saver" mode run 2:


Perhaps there were subtle increases in "High Performance" mode, but nowhere near 40%.

 

My 4k writes aren't close to yours even fully powered.

 

it seems this power issue with asus laptops.... G73 has this issue in power mode for sure and now the U30 has it.. it might be an issue with intel SSD's.. because even on G73s , the intels were doing the worst... the C300 was much better but it must some issue with chipset etc.

 

sean473,

I don't have this issue on my Asus. The performance is the same whether it is in High Performance or Maximum Battery saving mode.

That said, I still don't have the performance that many others are seeing with a SandForce 100GB SSD. As a matter of fact, the 'drop' is suspiciously close to what ZaZ is experiencing - not quite 40%, but rather 33% less performance (or more accurately AS SSD 'score') than others.

Hmmm... what else can I check to make sure the notebook (U30Jc) is operating at full speed - even when I have already chosen the Maximum Performance option?

 

it some chipset issue.. AW M17x , Asus G73 both seem to have it.. some power saving mode of chipset is affecting this whether its PM55 or HM55 chipset.. i think u need a BIOS update.. u might want to complain to Asus's rep here Gary Key... have a look in asus gaming forum at the slowdown thread of intel SSD's.. they seem to be worst hit..