Poor RAID0 performance with KD7 RAID on WinXP

Rittercorp · Jul 14, 2003

Hi,

I just finished setup a RAID0 system with KD7 RAID and I dont see any "impressive performance boost" on HDD throughput.
The system is:
Abit KD7 Raid, Latest BIOS (DN), HPT372 onboard
Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
256MB DDR333 Kingston HyperX
MSI GF4 mX440 DDR 8xagp
2x Maxtor 160GB DiamondMAx PLus 9 HDDs
Win XP Pro SP1

I used HDTach for base performance with one drive, and then added the other, created the raid0 array and re-installed WinXP.

I am only gaining about 10% performance...really NOT what I expected.

Sigle Drive average throughput was near 47MB/s and raid performance does not even reach 55MB/s.

One thing I discovered is that one HDD is the L0 model and the other P0. This means 2MB and 8MB cache mixed....Is this that important ?? I read that cache size does not mean too much on RAID arrays since cache helps on latency...not on real throughput.

Thanks!!!

Doug G. · Jul 14, 2003

In article ,
says...

Hi,

I just finished setup a RAID0 system with KD7 RAID and I dont see any "impressive performance boost" on HDD throughput.
The system is:
Abit KD7 Raid, Latest BIOS (DN), HPT372 onboard
Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
256MB DDR333 Kingston HyperX
MSI GF4 mX440 DDR 8xagp
2x Maxtor 160GB DiamondMAx PLus 9 HDDs
Win XP Pro SP1

...

First you need to be running two identical drives for top performance. Make sure you are running the same version Highpoint drivers as the Highpoint BIOS version, and don't set up the raid array using the default 64k block size if you want to see good benchmarks. 16k blocks will give much better marks.

This is my two 30gig maxtor drives on the KD7 Raid running the 2.34 highpoint BIOS and drives using 16k blocks. http://home.satx.rr.com/wosbbs/HDTach.jpg

Doug

Rittercorp · Jul 15, 2003

Doug G. wrote:

In article ,
says...
Hi,

I just finished setup a RAID0 system with KD7 RAID and I dont see any
"impressive performance boost" on HDD throughput.
The system is:
Abit KD7 Raid, Latest BIOS (DN), HPT372 onboard
Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
256MB DDR333 Kingston HyperX
MSI GF4 mX440 DDR 8xagp
2x Maxtor 160GB DiamondMAx PLus 9 HDDs
...

The drives are identical 160GB DiamonMax PLus 9...the only difference is the cache size. Your numbers are way above my performance...and as I understand with larger drives I should get even better results !!!.

Can the cache size be the "crime" on this???

I see that your CPU utilization is way higher too (mine is around 11%)...I guess its because of the 16K blocks...that should stress the HPT controller and the CPU.

I am using 32k blocks now....I just rebuild everything from 64k to 32k...no performance gain though.

Thanks!

Doug G. · Jul 15, 2003

In article ,
says...

The drives are identical 160GB DiamonMax PLus 9...the only difference is the cache size. Your numbers are way above my performance...and as I understand with larger drives I should get even better results !!!.

Can the cache size be the "crime" on this???

For best performance the drives need to be identical, right down to the model number. If one of your drives has more cache then the other I would think that could have an effect on the raid performance, although I can't say for sure.

I see that your CPU utilization is way higher too (mine is around 11%)...I guess its because of the 16K blocks...that should stress the HPT controller and the CPU.

Yes, smaller blocks will use more CPU.

I am using 32k blocks now....I just rebuild everything from 64k to 32k...no performance gain though.

Again, 16k.

Doug

Leif · Jul 15, 2003

"Rittercorp" skrev i meddelandet

Hi,

I just finished setup a RAID0 system with KD7 RAID and I dont see any "impressive performance boost" on HDD throughput.
The system is:
Abit KD7 Raid, Latest BIOS (DN), HPT372 onboard
Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
256MB DDR333 Kingston HyperX
MSI GF4 mX440 DDR 8xagp
2x Maxtor 160GB DiamondMAx PLus 9 HDDs
Win XP Pro SP1

...

I also have the sama mobo and posted a question on the same matter as you! I got some help from the guys here and one thing that actually seemed to help a bit was to disable the "CPU disconnect function" in bios! I run HPT 2.32 drivers with two Seagate ST340014A and I get approx. 60 Mb/S sequential reading and about 36 Mb/s writing. I have my stripe partioned in two halves and the second partition (non OS) is faster than c:! I have mailed the supports on Highpoint and Abit, but have not got any good answer yet!

Rittercorp · Jul 15, 2003

"Leif" wrote:

"Rittercorp" skrev i meddelandet

Hi,

I just finished setup a RAID0 system with KD7 RAID and I dont see any
"impressive performance boost" on HDD throughput.
The system is:
Abit KD7 Raid, Latest BIOS (DN), HPT372 onboard
Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
256MB DDR333 Kingston HyperX
MSI GF4 mX440 DDR 8xagp
2x Maxtor 160GB DiamondMAx PLus 9 HDDs
...

That is what I am getting too...in HDTach:
Single drive: max read : 63MB/s, max write: 45MB/s, average: 47MB/s and 27MB/s RAID0 (32k): max read: 72MB/s, max write: ?? (partitioned), average:
54MB/s

I will replace the 2MB cache drive for another with 8MB...to have the good "twins" run together....I dint think have them mixed is any good. Let you know.

John TL Lee · Jul 17, 2003

Hey folks,

I've been wrestling with an odd problem with the KD7 Raid board. Everytime I install the Soundblaster Audigy drivers, the XP install gets HOSED. As in "Can't find system file xxx" hosed.

Here are the particulars and some questions...any suggestions would be appreciated! Abit KD7 RAID Bios date = 4/2/2003 v1.1 (the latest) Highpoint HPT 372 Bios = 2.32 Highpoint drivers = 2.34 Soundblaster Audigy MP3+ Used Drivers from CD and Updated XP drivers from web...both cause system fail. WD120Gb 7200Rpm Hdds with 8Mb cache. Drives are set up in Raid 1 (Mirroring) configuration

I've done about 10 installs of XP and everything seems to be fine untill I install the sound card drivers.. The onboard sound is disabled.

Questions:
1. Highpoint's site says the drivers must be the same as the bios. Why would ABIT ship later drivers? (The drivers on the Abit CD are the 2.34 drivers, the bios is 2.32)
2. Just how important is the driver / Bios match?
3. Why would sound card drivers hose a RAID set up?
4. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks,
J.Lee

"Rittercorp" wrote:

"Leif" wrote:

...

"Rittercorp" skrev i meddelandet

Hi,

I just finished setup a RAID0 system with KD7 RAID and I dont see any
"impressive performance boost" on HDD throughput.
The system is:
Abit KD7 Raid, Latest BIOS (DN), HPT372 onboard
Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
256MB DDR333 Kingston HyperX
MSI GF4 mX440 DDR 8xagp
2x Maxtor 160GB DiamondMAx PLus 9 HDDs
...

you!

I got some help from the guys here and one thing that actually seemed to
help a bit was to disable the "CPU disconnect function" in bios!
I run HPT 2.32 drivers with two Seagate ST340014A and I get approx. 60 Mb/S sequential reading and about 36 Mb/s writing. I have my stripe partioned in two halves and the second partition (non OS) is faster than c:!
I have mailed the supports on Highpoint and Abit, but have not got any good answer yet!

That is what I am getting too...in HDTach:
Single drive: max read : 63MB/s, max write: 45MB/s, average: 47MB/s and 27MB/s RAID0 (32k): max read: 72MB/s, max write: ?? (partitioned), average:
54MB/s

I will replace the 2MB cache drive for another with 8MB...to have the good "twins" run together....I dint think have them mixed is any good. Let you know.

Doug G. · Jul 17, 2003

In article <spzRa.281$>,
says...

Hey folks,

I've been wrestling with an odd problem with the KD7 Raid board. Everytime I install the Soundblaster Audigy drivers, the XP install gets HOSED. As in "Can't find system file xxx" hosed.

Here are the particulars and some questions...any suggestions would be appreciated! Abit KD7 RAID Bios date = 4/2/2003 v1.1 (the latest) Highpoint HPT 372 Bios = 2.32 Highpoint drivers = 2.34 Soundblaster Audigy MP3+ Used Drivers from CD and Updated XP drivers from ...

You should always run the same version Highpoint drivers as the BIOS version, although I don't think that is the cause of you problem.

3. Why would sound card drivers hose a RAID set up?

I'm not sure. Have you gone to Creative's web site to get the latest driver release for your card? Have you installed the latest VIA Hyperion 4in1 drivers v4.48?

4. Has anyone else experienced this?

I haven't, but then I have been avoiding Creative's products for years now.

Doug

John TL Lee · Jul 17, 2003

Hi Doug,

Initially I was loading the 4.46 Hyperion drivers, then I reverted to whatever Abit had shipped on the CD. (I know it was Hyperion, but I can't recall the version off the top of my head.)

I'm not sure the highpoint drivers are the problem either. (unfortunately)

I boycotted Creative for a couple years myself. Their support generally sucks. However, I have to say I could discern a noticeable difference in the quality of the sound from the Audigy. (The bonus firewire port wasn't bad either.)

Another plan I was considering was to activate the onboard sound and install the drivers for it just for grins. Maybe the board just wants things quiet.

Thanks for the suggestions.
JL

"Doug G." wrote:

In article <spzRa.281$>,
says...
Hey folks,

I've been wrestling with an odd problem with the KD7 Raid board. Everytime I install the Soundblaster Audigy drivers, the XP install gets HOSED. As

in

"Can't find system file xxx" hosed.

Here are the particulars and some questions...any suggestions would be
appreciated!
Abit KD7 RAID Bios date = 4/2/2003 v1.1 (the latest)
Highpoint HPT 372 Bios = 2.32
Highpoint drivers = 2.34
Soundblaster Audigy MP3+ Used Drivers from CD and Updated XP drivers from web...both cause system fail.
WD120Gb 7200Rpm Hdds with 8Mb cache.
Drives are set up in Raid 1 (Mirroring) configuration

I've done about 10 installs of XP and everything seems to be fine untill I install the sound card drivers..
The onboard sound is disabled.

Questions:
1. Highpoint's site says the drivers must be the same as the bios. Why

would

ABIT ship later drivers? (The drivers on the Abit CD are the 2.34 drivers, the bios is 2.32)
2. Just how important is the driver / Bios match?

You should always run the same version Highpoint drivers as the BIOS version, although I don't think that is the cause of you problem.

3. Why would sound card drivers hose a RAID set up?

I'm not sure. Have you gone to Creative's web site to get the latest driver release for your card? Have you installed the latest VIA Hyperion 4in1 drivers v4.48?

...

Doug G. · Jul 17, 2003

In article <I%ERa.335$>,
says...

Hi Doug,

Initially I was loading the 4.46 Hyperion drivers, then I reverted to whatever Abit had shipped on the CD. (I know it was Hyperion, but I can't recall the version off the top of my head.)

I'm not sure the highpoint drivers are the problem either. (unfortunately)

I boycotted Creative for a couple years myself. Their support generally sucks. However, I have to say I could discern a noticeable difference in the quality of the sound from the Audigy. (The bonus firewire port wasn't bad either.) ...

I think I would try the onboard sound and use it that way for a few days to see what happens.

Doug

John TL Lee · Jul 18, 2003

Well, yanked the Audigy. Machine seems to be doing reasonably well with the mobo sound and drivers. Why on earth did they omit a joystick / midi input?

Machine still seems to be getting random file errors. My test environment is Battlefield 1942.

We'll see how well everything performs under a REAL Load.

"Doug G." wrote:

In article <I%ERa.335$>,
says...
Hi Doug,

Initially I was loading the 4.46 Hyperion drivers, then I reverted to
whatever Abit had shipped on the CD. (I know it was Hyperion, but I can't recall the version off the top of my head.)

I'm not sure the highpoint drivers are the problem either.

(unfortunately)

I boycotted Creative for a couple years myself. Their support generally
sucks. However, I have to say I could discern a noticeable difference in the quality of the sound from the Audigy. (The bonus firewire port wasn't bad either.)

Another plan I was considering was to activate the onboard sound and install the drivers for it just for grins. Maybe the board just wants things

quiet.

Thanks for the suggestions.
JL

I think I would try the onboard sound and use it that way for a few days to see what happens.

Doug

Doug G. · Jul 18, 2003

In article <eBTRa.381$>,
says...

Well, yanked the Audigy. Machine seems to be doing reasonably well with the mobo sound and drivers. Why on earth did they omit a joystick / midi input?

Machine still seems to be getting random file errors. My test environment is Battlefield 1942. We'll see how well everything performs under a REAL Load.

That's what I thought. It sounds like your problem is somewhere other then the sound drivers, and for some reason the cards drivers do not handle the problem well at all. Update to the latest VIA drivers v4.48 http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=300

What memory, power supply, and video card are you running? Go here http://www.memtest86.com/ and pick up Memtest86. Make the bootable floppy or CD, boot from it and let it run for a while to see if it reports any errors. If it reports any then you have a hardware problem, or memory timings that are set to aggressively.

Also I can e-mail you the DN BIOS that has been modified to contain the
2.34 Highpoint BIOS if you like.

Doug

John TL Lee · Jul 18, 2003

Updated to the 4.48 drivers...no noticeable difference. I'll have to get back to you on the specifics for the memory and power supply. However, I know the power supply could handle 420 W peak. I was using it in a loaded box with an old Athlon 750. It should handle this board with no problems.

As for the ram...I had 512 Mb (2x256 2100 DDR) on an Epox board with no problems for a couple of years. All the bios settins are set to the Auto-detect level.

I'll try the memtest86. I'd love it if you could send me the modified DN bios. I'm using the older dirver for the sake of compatibility with the highpoint instructions...but I'd rather be at the most current rev. The BIOS I downloaded from Abit didn't upgrade the highpoint bios. Where did you get yours?

My wife tried to print a couple of things and it looks like the box spontaneously rebooted after the second print job...looks like I'm not out of the woods yet. JL

"Doug G." wrote:

In article <eBTRa.381$>,
says...
Well, yanked the Audigy. Machine seems to be doing reasonably well with the mobo sound and drivers. Why on earth did they omit a joystick / midi

input?

Machine still seems to be getting random file errors. My test

environment is

Battlefield 1942. We'll see how well everything performs under a

REAL

Load.

That's what I thought. It sounds like your problem is somewhere other then the sound drivers, and for some reason the cards drivers do not handle the problem well at all. Update to the latest VIA drivers v4.48 http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=300

What memory, power supply, and video card are you running? Go here http://www.memtest86.com/ and pick up Memtest86. Make the bootable floppy or CD, boot from it and let it run for a while to see if it reports any errors. If it reports any then you have a hardware problem, or memory timings that are set to aggressively. ...

Doug G. · Jul 18, 2003

In article <BkWRa.409$>,
says...

Updated to the 4.48 drivers...no noticeable difference. I'll have to get back to you on the specifics for the memory and power supply. However, I know the power supply could handle 420 W peak. I was using it in a loaded box with an old Athlon 750. It should handle this board with no problems.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

As for the ram...I had 512 Mb (2x256 2100 DDR) on an Epox board with no problems for a couple of years. All the bios settins are set to the Auto-detect level.

Your not running your FSB at 166MHz with that old PC2100 ram are you? What brand is the ram?

I'll try the memtest86. I'd love it if you could send me the modified DN bios. I'm using the older dirver for the sake of compatibility with the highpoint instructions...but I'd rather be at the most current rev. The BIOS I downloaded from Abit didn't upgrade the highpoint bios. Where did you get yours?

I modded it using CBROM. Check your e-mail.

My wife tried to print a couple of things and it looks like the box spontaneously rebooted after the second print job...looks like I'm not out of the woods yet. JL

I suspect you have a memory or power supply problem.

What are your CPU and system temps running at?

Doug

Leif · Jul 19, 2003

"Doug G." skrev i meddelandet

In article <eBTRa.381$>,
says...
Well, yanked the Audigy. Machine seems to be doing reasonably well with the mobo sound and drivers. Why on earth did they omit a joystick / midi

input?

Machine still seems to be getting random file errors. My test

environment is

Battlefield 1942. We'll see how well everything performs under a

REAL

Load.

That's what I thought. It sounds like your problem is somewhere other then the sound drivers, and for some reason the cards drivers do not handle the problem well at all. Update to the latest VIA drivers v4.48 http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=300

What memory, power supply, and video card are you running? Go here http://www.memtest86.com/ and pick up Memtest86. Make the bootable floppy or CD, boot from it and let it run for a while to see if it reports any errors. If it reports any then you have a hardware problem, or memory timings that are set to aggressively. ...

If itï¿½s not to much trouble for you I would like to get that modified bios too! Have you tested it, and it runs ok? Do you think itï¿½s possible to upgrade bios and drivers from 2.32 to 2.34 without reinstalling XP? XP is on my raid 0 config!

Thx/Leif

Doug G. · Jul 19, 2003

In article <eDiSa.20882$>,
says...

If itï¿½s not to much trouble for you I would like to get that modified bios too! Have you tested it, and it runs ok?

I've been using it on my system since the day the DN BIOS was posted to the Abit site. Check your e-mail.

Do you think itï¿½s possible to upgrade bios and drivers from 2.32 to 2.34 without reinstalling XP? XP is on my raid 0 config!

There is absolutely no reason at all that you should have to reinstall WinXP. Just install the drivers in XP, then boot to DOS and flash the BIOS.

Doug

Leif · Jul 20, 2003

"Doug G." skrev i meddelandet

In article <eDiSa.20882$>,
says...

If itï¿½s not to much trouble for you I would like to get that modified bios too! Have you tested it, and it runs ok?

I've been using it on my system since the day the DN BIOS was posted to the Abit site. Check your e-mail.

Do you think itï¿½s possible to upgrade bios and drivers from 2.32 to 2.34
without reinstalling XP? XP is on my raid 0 config!

There is absolutely no reason at all that you should have to reinstall WinXP. Just install the drivers in XP, then boot to DOS and flash the BIOS.

Thanks a lot!!!

Doug

John TL Lee · Jul 21, 2003

Doug,

Thanks for the BIOS!.. didn't fix the problem, but at least everything is current. So, here's some stuff I remembered / learned this weekend.

1. Proc is bad. Finally installed HWDoctor from Abit and was able to monitor CPU temp. Surface temp was consistenly going from 47C to about 67C in the space of about 2 min of playing BF1942. Replaced proc with old 1Ghz I had laying around. No spontaneous reboots! Temp climbed to 55-56 or so, and stayed there even under load.

2. Powersupply is 300 Watt ATX by JGE. Not AMD approved, but has been running the 750 Slot A for several years with nary a problem. (The slot A's were notorious power hogs and sensitive to voltage drops.) http://gpb-jge.com/file/a30.html Still don't think its a problem.

3. Windows XP does not like to be installed when RAID is active. I seem to have the best success when I install XP with the raid driver, but without Raid 0 actually in effect.

JL

John TL Lee · Jul 21, 2003

Oh yeah, also ran memtest86 for a couple of hours. No errors. Chips on ram MFG's by Samsung.

"John TL Lee" wrote:

Doug,

Thanks for the BIOS!.. didn't fix the problem, but at least everything is current. So, here's some stuff I remembered / learned this weekend.

1. Proc is bad. Finally installed HWDoctor from Abit and was able to monitor CPU temp. Surface temp was consistenly going from 47C to about 67C in the space of about 2 min of playing BF1942. Replaced proc with old

1Ghz

I had laying around. No spontaneous reboots! Temp climbed to 55-56 or so, and stayed there even under load.

2. Powersupply is 300 Watt ATX by JGE. Not AMD approved, but has been running the 750 Slot A for several years with nary a problem. (The slot A's were notorious power hogs and sensitive to voltage drops.) http://gpb-jge.com/file/a30.html Still don't think its a problem.

3. Windows XP does not like to be installed when RAID is active. I seem to have the best success when I install XP with the raid driver, but without Raid 0 actually in effect.

JL

Leif · Jul 21, 2003

"John TL Lee" skrev i meddelandet

Doug,

Thanks for the BIOS!.. didn't fix the problem, but at least everything is current. So, here's some stuff I remembered / learned this weekend.

1. Proc is bad. Finally installed HWDoctor from Abit and was able to monitor CPU temp. Surface temp was consistenly going from 47C to about

67C

I got the same here! I have the Barton XP2500 Box and it runs hot in no time!

in the space of about 2 min of playing BF1942. Replaced proc with old

1Ghz

I had laying around. No spontaneous reboots! Temp climbed to 55-56 or so, and stayed there even under load.

2. Powersupply is 300 Watt ATX by JGE. Not AMD approved, but has been running the 750 Slot A for several years with nary a problem. (The slot A's were notorious power hogs and sensitive to voltage drops.) http://gpb-jge.com/file/a30.html Still don't think its a problem.

3. Windows XP does not like to be installed when RAID is active. I seem to have the best success when I install XP with the raid driver, but without Raid 0 actually in effect.

How do you do that? You donï¿½t install XP on the raid 0. I guess you mean?

JL