Poor Hard Drive performance --> PIO Mode

[Sentry24]

Alright, well I've recently set up a new system for myself and finally got everything running fine, except one thing really: the hard drive.

Here's my system:

AMD Athlon XP 1900+
256mb cas2.5 pc2100 ram (768mb on tuesday)
Shuttle AK31 v3.1
LG 16x CDRW
Western Digital 100gb 7200rpm HDD (WD1000BB)
Leadtek Geforce 4 ti 4400
Creative Labs SB Audigy OEM
SMC NIC
Aopen 56k v92 modem

Well, what can I say.. installing windows took a long time, everything seems a bit more sluggish then it should be. So I ran some benchmarks, they mostly cap transfer rates around 3.5mb/sec, which is just around what might be seen using PIO Mode.

Sure enough, the IDE controller which my hard drive is using reports that it is using PIO Mode (Use DMA if available, but it's not)

What should I do? Can i force DMA? might it be a cabling problem? I'm slightly stumped about this all, any help would be appreciated.

 

[MoMeanMugs]

What OS are you using? I don't know if your baord uses the Via or AMD chipset (I am too lazy to look). Did you install the drivers for your baord?

 

[Sentry24]

Ah forgot to mention I'm using Windows XP Pro, and it's a VIA chipset.

[edit] Well well.. I installed the IDE performance drivers and it bumped up from 3mb/sec to around 40, I guess it's all fixed.

For once, a quick fix!

 

[daveqb]

well i am having the same trouble.
but i am unable to have any fix.

tried changing the HDD to Primary slave, lasted a day then got kicked back to PIO mode

i have installed XP bout 6 times now , works fine for a day or two, then geyts kicked back to PIO mode

after reading a microsoft article i am thinking my problem must be an imiment HDD failure.

i have the latest drivers from VIA, latest BIOS update, latest everythign software installed.

i am going to borrow a HDD & back up this stuff in case it crashes

could it be a MoBo chipset problem???
system did crash a fair bit back in Win98 & does crash alot once PIO mode is set in XP.

 

[morkinva]

Isn't it true that if you have more than 1 device on an IDE chain, then the chain will only be able to get a maximum burst speed of the slowest device. So if XP decides that your CD drive is to be run in piomode, then the fastest your hard drive would be able to go is also in piomode?

 

[daveqb]

not too sure about that

but in my case my HDD is on the primary IDE all on its lonesome.

 

[MoMeanMugs]

<< Isn't it true that if you have more than 1 device on an IDE chain, then the chain will only be able to get a maximum burst speed of the slowest device. So if XP decides that your CD drive is to be run in piomode, then the fastest your hard drive would be able to go is also in piomode? >>



This hasn't held true since the Intel TX and VX chipset. From HX on, that problem does not exist. I wish people would read up every once in a while.

 

[morkinva]

Boy, you really are 'mean' Jeez, I was just askin' a question, no need to get snippy :| Mugz

Anyway, this guy agrees with me. Through further research it <U>seems</U> that different IDE controllers are the determining factor whether this 'least common speed' is a factor or not, and not the chipset -- some can do it no problem, with others there is a problem.

Whatever dude