LinuxQuestions.org - Bad hdparm with nforce

- Linux - Hardware (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-hardware-18/)

- - Bad hdparm with nforce (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-hardware-18/bad-hdparm-with-nforce-89590/)

Bad hdparm with nforce

Hi

Been using gentoo for a while now and mostly all works fine.
However my hds performance isn't too good.

I've got:
Maxtor 80gb 8mb buffer
A7N8X nforce2 mobo

root@datorjavel root # hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.53 seconds =243.81 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 36.92 seconds = 1.73 MB/sec

root@datorjavel root # hdparm -i /dev/hda

/dev/hda:

Model=Maxtor 6Y080P0, FwRev=YAR41BW0, SerialNo=Y3HSJFSE
Config={ Fixed }
RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=0, SectSize=0, ECCbytes=57
BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=7936kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16
CurCHS=16383/16/63, CurSects=16514064, LBA=yes, LBAsects=160086528
IORDY=on/off, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
PIO modes: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
DMA modes: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5 udma6
AdvancedPM=yes: disabled (255) WriteCache=enabled
Drive conforms to: (null): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Using kernel 2.4.20-gentoo-r6

it seems as the nforce chipset isn recognised or something even tough I
belive I've compiled it right.

ide: Assuming 33MHz system bus speed for PIO modes; override with idebus=xx
NFORCE2: IDE controller on PCI bus 00 dev 48
NFORCE2: chipset revision 162
NFORCE2: not 100% native mode: will probe irqs later
AMD_IDE: Bios didn't set cable bits corectly. Enabling workaround.
ide: Assuming 33MHz system bus speed for PIO modes; override with idebus=xx
AMD_IDE: PCI device 10de:0065 (nVidia Corporation) (rev a2) UDMA100 controller on pci00:09.0
ide0: BM-DMA at 0xf000-0xf007, BIOS settings: hda:DMA, hdb:DMA
ide1: BM-DMA at 0xf008-0xf00f, BIOS settings: hdc:DMA, hdd:DMA
hda: Maxtor 6Y080P0, ATA DISK drive

Any idea cause this makes me want to switch to win again :cry:

What are your settings? Did you turn dma on?

Code:

 root@uilleann # hdparm /dev/hda



/dev/hda:

 multcount    = 16 (on)

 I/O support  =  0 (default 16-bit)

 unmaskirq    =  0 (off)

 using_dma    =  1 (on)

 keepsettings =  0 (off)

 nowerr      =  0 (off)

 readonly    =  0 (off)

 readahead    =  8 (on)

 geometry    = 4865/255/63, sectors = 78165360, start = 0

 busstate    =  1 (on)

root@uilleann # hdparm -tT /dev/hd{a,a,a}



/dev/hda:

 Timing buffer-cache reads:  128 MB in  0.90 seconds =142.22 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads:  64 MB in  1.39 seconds = 46.04 MB/sec



/dev/hda:

 Timing buffer-cache reads:  128 MB in  0.90 seconds =142.22 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads:  64 MB in  1.38 seconds = 46.38 MB/sec



/dev/hda:

 Timing buffer-cache reads:  128 MB in  0.91 seconds =140.66 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads:  64 MB in  1.39 seconds = 46.04 MB/sec

# Hard drive tweak
Speeding up Linux Using hdparm
Not mentioned in the article:
UDMA 33/66/100. Add the -X option, and then this number i.e. (-X 69)
-X 33 ====> Multiword DMA
-X 66 ====> ATA-33 (UDMA2)
-X 68 ====> ATA-66 (UDMA4)
-X 69 ====> ATA-100 (UDMA 5)

my DMA mode won't work (edit: automatically, that is) with nf2 under slack, either, even with all the DMA options selected in the kernel. i had to put the hdparm commands in /etc/rc.d/rc.local. i actually prefer it that way now, b/c i can see hdparm being turned on for each drive right before login at each boot. :)

Oops forgot that

root@datorjavel alexander # hdparm /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
multcount = 16 (on)
IO_support = 1 (32-bit)
unmaskirq = 1 (on)
using_dma = 1 (on)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 8 (on)
geometry = 9964/255/63, sectors = 160086528, start = 0

as you can se DMA is on ?????

Can you see any difference turning dma on and off?

Turning DMA off

root@datorjavel alexander # hdparm -d0 /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
setting using_dma to 0 (off)
using_dma = 0 (off)
root@datorjavel alexander # hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.40 seconds =320.00 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 35.51 seconds = 1.80 MB/sec

even worse than before

This is strange - I got a nforce2 board with a maxtor and that gives me something like this:
bash-2.05b# hdparm /dev/hdb

/dev/hdb:
multcount = 16 (on)
IO_support = 1 (32-bit)
unmaskirq = 0 (off)
using_dma = 1 (on)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 8 (on)
geometry = 4998/255/63, sectors = 80293248, start = 0
bash-2.05b# hdparm -Tt /dev/hdb

/dev/hdb:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 1740 MB in 2.00 seconds = 870.00 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 128 MB in 3.01 seconds = 42.55 MB/sec
The strange thing is that the cache reads are double of the ones you get.Did try with the same settings you got but that didn't change a lot.
I use the ck-sources kernel but with gentoo-sources it was the same.
You might want to check if something is setup wrong in the bios.

here's what i get with nforce2 and maxtor 40GB, so maybe it is your BIOS settings. not sure this would matter for DMA, but are you using ATA100/133 IDE cables?

bash-2.05b# hdparm /dev/hdb

/dev/hdb:
multcount = 16 (on)
IO_support = 3 (32-bit w/sync)
unmaskirq = 0 (off)
using_dma = 1 (on)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 8 (on)
geometry = 4998/255/63, sectors = 80293248, start = 0
bash-2.05b# hdparm -Tt /dev/hdb

/dev/hdb:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.22 seconds =581.82 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 1.30 seconds = 49.23 MB/sec

cables??
im using the cables wich came with the motherboard

I am definitely using 80pin cables (modware i think...)