Very slow HDD speed, 100% CPU

MythicaL · Jul 26, 2006, 01:53 AM

Well I have a 160gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, and the problem I have been having lately is it takes way too long to read and/or write from the hard drive. I ran a few tests and they all return virtually the same:

Apparently it never goes above 2.9mb/sec transfer rate, and I know the speed used to be alot higher. I turned SMART on and it returned OK, did virus/spyware scans with everything OK, changed IDE cables and used different molex connectors, still the same.

Maybe there's a firmware update or a knowledgebase entry for the problem, but I just can't figure it out. Any help would be great =)

PS, the problematic hard drive is my slave, with a RAID 0 setup consisting of two hard drives as my master.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 26, 2006, 02:09 AM

back up the data 1stthen try to figure it out could be ready to fail

mkk · Jul 26, 2006, 02:48 AM

Check the DMA setting for the drive. It's possible that it's been put down to run in some ancient PIO mode instead of DMA, for some reason.

Zelig · Jul 26, 2006, 02:49 AM

Is it running in DMA and not PIO mode?

MythicaL · Jul 26, 2006, 06:52 AM

w00t! Sure enough it was on PIO mode, and now everything is smooth as silk again. I went to http://winhlp.com/WxDMA.htm and used the tool on there, and all I had to do was restart

Thanks guys

Randomletters · Jul 26, 2006, 03:48 PM

good to hear, outta curiosity whats the bench now.

MythicaL · Jul 26, 2006, 07:19 PM

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 26, 2006, 07:47 PM

I hate PIO mode...bargh.

Yamaha CD burners and DMA...ugh! Bad times

Jul 26, 2006, 01:53 AM	#1
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 87 System Specs	Very slow HDD speed, 100% CPU Well I have a 160gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, and the problem I have been having lately is it takes way too long to read and/or write from the hard drive. I ran a few tests and they all return virtually the same: Apparently it never goes above 2.9mb/sec transfer rate, and I know the speed used to be alot higher. I turned SMART on and it returned OK, did virus/spyware scans with everything OK, changed IDE cables and used different molex connectors, still the same. Maybe there's a firmware update or a knowledgebase entry for the problem, but I just can't figure it out. Any help would be great =) PS, the problematic hard drive is my slave, with a RAID 0 setup consisting of two hard drives as my master. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Jul 26, 2006, 02:09 AM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	back up the data 1stthen try to figure it out could be ready to fail __________________

Jul 26, 2006, 02:49 AM	#4
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 69 System Specs	Is it running in DMA and not PIO mode? __________________ --

Jul 26, 2006, 06:52 AM	Thread Starter #5
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 87 System Specs	w00t! Sure enough it was on PIO mode, and now everything is smooth as silk again. I went to http://winhlp.com/WxDMA.htm and used the tool on there, and all I had to do was restart Thanks guys __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Jul 26, 2006, 03:48 PM	#6
Randomletters ))<>(( Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,418 Rep Power: 52	good to hear, outta curiosity whats the bench now. __________________ <----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Jul 26, 2006, 02:48 AM	#3
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,384 Rep Power: 120 System Specs	Check the DMA setting for the drive. It's possible that it's been put down to run in some ancient PIO mode instead of DMA, for some reason.

Jul 26, 2006, 07:19 PM	Thread Starter #7
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 87 System Specs	__________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Jul 26, 2006, 07:47 PM	#8
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	I hate PIO mode...bargh. Yamaha CD burners and DMA...ugh! Bad times