Fastpath..

[SteveRo]

@Anvil - the 122590 (very nice score!) is with the 9260? and which drives?

[mbreslin]

@Anvil I'm up to around 105k without os, but keep in mind if it's anywhere close to that in the full suite it's going to be a huge improvement for me.

In my 30k+ run I think the hdd score was 72k, so I think I can put a pretty good score up. Though 4.8ghz scares me maybe that's why I've been putting it off.

[Anvil]

@Steve,
3R0 Intel G1 , onboard controller, the 9260 is not an option without the FP Key. (still waiting for it, maybe next week, should have been a software option and not a hardware Key)

@mbreslin,
~100K HDD score running OS should be possible using the 9260, I hope. (using FP)
I've been doing a few tests using the 9260, can't remember the exact score but it wasn't anywhere close to the ICH scores I get using the SF or C300 drives.
My ~27-28' score was performed using 2R0 SF on the ICH.

[SteveRo]

@ mbreslin - I've been doing 30x160, 30x158 depending on ambient temps a lot - 2-4 hours some evenings and even longer on the weekends.
voltages i use at just under 1.6v vcore, 1.48 vtt and cpu pll just under 2v - I'm using chilled water (way too much condensation).

[Anvil]

Steve
Maybe we should move the pcmv discussion to one of your pcmv threads?

[Computurd]

@mbreslin...that is amazing they recommend those settings! are they aware you have fastpath? also, adaptive read ahead is gone in the latest MSM version, actually they got rid of that three versions ago so that is very very bad advice.

[GullLars]

Hi guys, this is slightly off-topic, but you have been great with contributing with IOmeter result files, so i'm posting a notice here in hope more people will notice i'm doing this.
I'm working on a little project to map storage sollution scaling by QD for 4-32KB blocks in the QD 1-32 range, wich are mostly the relevant block and QD ranges for random reads on desktop and most types of workstation. I'm hoping as many people as possible will contribute by running my IO config (takes about 20-25 minutes). I'm looking for results for any type of storage, from a 10 year old 5400RPM PATA drive, to a first gen JMicron SSD, to a velociraptor, Intel SSD, and 2-8(+) SSD/HDD arrays. Basically the more diversity i get the better. 1-N scaling of arrays would also be great (although i know this would require breaking them up, so i don't expect too much).
I already have a bunch of results for 4KB random read for SSDs, but this is a much larger project to better understand storage scaling, and illustrate it with graphs for all interrested users on XS and diskusjon.no (i'm getting results from both forums).
Link to the post with the config and more info: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...0&postcount=39

[lowfat]

Mr Lowfat - where are you! Paul, I agree - ioxtreme need to be in this compare.

I killed my E760 Classified so I have no rig to test it w/. Don't know if i want to buy another E760 or wait for the Classified3 to be released.

[SteveRo]

@ Mr Lowfat - sorry to hear about your mobo, hope to hear you have a new on soon.

[Computurd]

hmm i say...send me the card for testing how much does one of those run btw? and is it still for sale?

[lowfat]

hmm i say...send me the card for testing how much does one of those run btw? and is it still for sale?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

$895. Same price they were at launch.

[GullLars]

http://www.fusionio.com/products/ioxtreme/
http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-io-ioXt.../dp/B002S6CRGY
It's $900 for 80GB MLC.
The ioDrive 80GB SLC is around $3600

[trans am]

Hey guys, I've been in mexico for a week and just got back. I ordered the FP key off provantage for 130 bux or so. it will be here tomorrow.
I tried reading most of the thread but I have a few questions. I want to do a side by side comparison (before fast path and after)

Tonight I was going to get the optimal setup on the 2 sandforce drives I have in raid 0 and bench then I can add the key tomorrow and set up the same config so we have a comparable test bed.

but before I begin I'd like to know what the best settings/stripe size/ mobo bios settings/ lsi bios settings etc. so I have it all set for tomorrow.

I heard some of you guys say the 256kb stripe was recommended by lsi. Is this right? right now these are my current settings in the lsi Mega storage manager.
also note im on 1156 max III formula that is 8x/8x pci-e or 16x/4x Ive been benching at 4x slot cuz I dont want to lose my videocard performance. when I do the new comparison I'll swap slots so its 8x/8x so there wont be a bottleneck.
I'd love it if the next intel 1155 does x16/x16 or x16/x8 so I dont have this problem anymore. Yeah I could go get a 1366 server board and tri channel mem but what fun is that?








so far the general rule has been

LSI webios settings:

64kb stripe
wb enabled
disk cache enabled
adaptive read ahead
always write back
ncq disabled
io direct


mobo bios :
enable AHCI mode
is this still the best settings for my config or are you guys seeing better results with other settings with sandforce?


windows settings:
check mark both boxes
-enable rite back cache enabled
-turn off windows buffer flushing

disable drive indexing
disable defrag
disable superfetch/prefetch
power options / advance hard drives (turn off ) NEVER

Open perfect disk 11 run as consolidate free space
then open AS cleaner and check the box (with FF) and run it.

this was the rule with indinlinx. has it changed with sandforce?
If you had my rig guys and you wanted to do a proper before and after with my drives in raid0. would you use my above settings or would you change something?

thanks

TA

[Computurd]

well the fastpath is reacting differently to different drives. the settings for the x-25's and the c300 and my vertex are as different as night and day tbh. i am running 128k stripe, no read ahead, direct I/O, disk cache enabled, write through, and i change the NCQ to ON, and other than that i just rock out with my out
i change the cache buffer flush to 2 btw, seems to yield some good results for me
however, TBH you are just going to have to test, there is not a lot of information out there on these setups atm. we are the pioneers! I have a firend with 6 vertex LE on his 9260 right now, but he is also waiting on his FastPath key, so once he gets it and good stettings i will let ya know

[trans am]

okay making a back up image and trying your settings. were there any new FW when I was away? once I do my benches without the key and Im ready to install the key should I reformat and setup the raid lsi bios or can I leave it alone? will the key give me different options in lsi bios/ mega raid manager? lemme know please paul so I can get right into the good stuff. Im so excited. hey man did you listen to those songs? I included a prank call to msft activation I think u will enjoy. If you know of a free file share service please upload both so everyone in the thread knows what the hell we are talking about.

[AceNZ]

Here's what LSI suggests:

http://www.lsi.com/DistributionSyste...hmark_Tips.pdf

[trans am]

Here's what LSI suggests:

http://www.lsi.com/DistributionSyste...hmark_Tips.pdf

thanks man. this is a good guide and it shows a pretty comprehensive screens to set up iometer which ive always had problems with.



on another note I worked late and got home from work at 9 pm and the package room in my bldg was already closed so I couldn't get the box that had my fastpath key. Probably better. I'm exhausted.

[Computurd]

yes acenz those aree their suggestions but i sent them an email askign them to re-write them for fastpath. those were pre-fastpath settings...but they will work.
@TA no there arent any settings or any way to know that it works other than the increased speed and your latency will drop big time! check your latency with everest before you put the key on, then after. the results are immediate bro. no changes needed. just make sure you put the key in with the power off!

[trans am]

yes acenz those aree their suggestions but i sent them an email askign them to re-write them for fastpath. those were pre-fastpath settings...but they will work.
@TA no there arent any settings or any way to know that it works other than the increased speed and your latency will drop big time! check your latency with everest before you put the key on, then after. the results are immediate bro. no changes needed. just make sure you put the key in with the power off!

so paul you're basically saying the settings for the raid web bios /stripe size with the FP key will change from when you didnt have the key installed?

like example I have months of fine tuning with the specific raid array and found the best stripe size performance and lsi bios settings.


if I add the key those same settings might be completely different?
FOr instance: before I had a 64 kb raid 0 stripe and after the key I find a 128kb stripe is getting better performance? maybe write back was better before but now write through is better? or are you saying the iometer settings are going to need to be set to differnt values than the ones in the pDF?

[trans am]

hey paul do you enable or disable memory remap in the mobo bios? I noticed a pretty heavy increase in read perfomance last night when I disabled it.

[Computurd]

no need to change iometer settings.
you will have to re-learn your controller. it will handle differently. better, but differently. write thru will be much better!

memory remap? could you explain a little better??

[trans am]

Guys I got my key and powered off. discharged power to the board and removed the 92604i and inserted the little key like a 2 pin jumper with a L-shaped pcb attached.
set the card back into x8 slot and boots fine. just did a quick bench with cdm. but its very marginal increase.
DO I need to get into MSM lsi config in windows and enable any settings to get this thing enabled 1st?


before key:




after key

[Computurd]

no you dont have to enable anything. measure latency with everest (average access time)....also set to the write thru and no read ahead and give it a go. those numbers are actually not bad at all for a 2 disk array. that is pretty good. (write may be a tad low)

[trans am]

no you dont have to enable anything. measure latency with everest (average access time)....also set to the write thru and no read ahead and give it a go. those numbers are actually not bad at all for a 2 disk array. that is pretty good. (write may be a tad low)

paul sorry for the delay. I was actually wiping those sandfore drives and starting fresh. Those last benches were all done using previous images and even after using perfect disk 11 and ssd as cleaner I thought I should start from scratch. I'm on a rig I just put together so I can be in touch while I set up windows with the new key.

here's the question1 of many.

1> did I plug the key in the correct jumper on the 9260.4i? (the manual with the key only shows a 9260-8i and the jumper is in a completely different spot on the 4i so had to guess. I think I remember because you showed us a Screen shot of your 4i and I think it was in the right spot. take a look and let me know. The reason I ask is because my performance increase was almost a decrease. so I though i plugged the key into the wrong pins.









2. look to the upper left of the card and there is an array of 3 pairs (6) jumper pins. does the pair in the middle need to be removed to activate the FP key? do these pins do anything? should i even have the jumpers attached? I havent touched them since I got the card. the fw on the card is 12.7.0-0007 (APP-2.70.03-0862) 5/26/10.
***Is this the best one or do you have a newer one that is better for fastpath?

**********DRIVER QUESTONS***************
3. If I flashed the card before installing the key do I need to reflash with the new key installed? do I need to reistall the drivers after the key?

4. I am on wn7 64bit. a while back u told me to use the winserver 2008 x64 drivers because they were better in terms of speed. that was before they released the new drivers in May. is this the same rule or should we use the actual win7 driver?

5. should I save the drivers on a usb and load them during win install? or just go ahead and install the drivers after I get the os all installed.


hit me back asap.


thanks.

[mbreslin]

1) Yes it's plugged into the right place.
2) Those jumpers are left alone. That's the newest firmware.
3) No. No.
4) Drive dependent.
5) After install is fine.


I'm sure ct will answer these as well. I've seen people say this to you before and at the risk of being annoying: You really need to try every setting yourself. Things like checking which is better w2008 or w7 drivers is very easy to figure out yourself, a few minutes and a reboot or two. The lsi pdf is a good place to start but to truly get the best out of your particular drives you'll need to test everything.

The best way imho is to take ideas about settings from people if they mention something you haven't thought of but otherwise just try everything. Everything.

That all said, buying a FP key for a two drive array.. You are truly hardcore sir! Good luck.