2TB HDD running slow.

[coder_t2]

Hey guys, I have a 2TB Samsung EcoDrive HDD. I tried making a copy of a Windows Image Backup, so about 15 files totaling 20GB, and it only copied at about 7MB/sec. Which is really slow, I figured this thing would average around 60MB/sec at least. Copying the files from the same HDD, so I know it is both reading and writing, but still seems really slow. Any ideas on what is going on here?

The problem isn't Fragmentation since Windows 7 Defrags once a week. Kind of Clueless as to what is the issue here.

Specs:
Phenom II x4
8GB Ram
OCZ Vertex Plus SSD (OS Drive)
2TB Samsung Eco HDD (Storage)
Windows 7 Home Premium

 

[coder_t2]

Also tried copying from SSD to the HDD. Same thing.

Starts off at like 200MB/sec then quickly goes down. I couldn't find any firmware updates for the drive either...

 

[WildW]

Indeed, they should never be that slow. If this were still the old days I would suspect your drive was connected in PIO mode instead of UDMA, but I don't think those sort of issues ever existed with SATA drives.

Is the drive new? Has it always done this or has it just started? All I can really think of is check your storage controller drivers, try a different SATA port and/or cable, and if nothing else helps get the drive diagnostic software from the Samsung website ( http://www.samsung.com/global/busine...ort_in_es.html ) to see if there's a problem with the drive itself.

 

[coder_t2]

Ok thanks. The drive has not done this before. So this is new. I upgraded from a C2D system to a Phenom II x4 system a couple months ago. But I didn't notice any issues until the past couple weeks. As I type this, I remember that the AMD Catalyst program prompted me to update my drivers. Does this just update video, or does it update motherboard drivers as well? I wonder if this is an issue with a new driver.

What's the best procedure for uninstalled storage drivers and installing an older version?

Thanks

 

[velis]

Did you check if the drive is cached at all?
Sometimes Windows will mount a removable drive in "quick unplug" mode which means it doesn't write-cache it. That would explain the performance since for writing the OS needs to store data as well as MFT records making the heads dance around.
Note that AHCI mode automatically makes all drives removable. Using legacy IDE mode makes sure the drives are "fixed".

 

[coder_t2]

Write Cache is enabled. So I guess that isn't the problem.

 

[coder_t2]

To uninstall the driver, should I just right click on the HDD, go to Properties->Drivers-> Uninstall?

 

[videopho]

This may sound strange...
You may check the sata cable for tightness and even swap to another if possible.
Worth give it a shot?

 

[coder_t2]

Well given my setup, it is kind of a pain to unhook everything. So I am trying to avoid that currently. I also tried copying from the HDD to SSD and averaged about 80MB/sec, which seems about right. So read speeds are fine on the HDD and write speeds seem fine on the SSD.

 

[coder_t2]

An Update.

Ran CrystalDiskInfo to check Smart and it said the Drive Health was good.

Replaced the sata cable, and also plugged it into a different port. At first I was getting a sustained write of about 30 MB/sec but after 4-5 minutes it plummeted down to like 6 MB/sec. I have been unable to get my sustained writes that high again.

So anymore ideas?

I kind of wonder if it is the Eco Settings on the drive that are affecting it. Like it is slowing down spindle speed or something.

 

[videopho]

Is Samsung the only drive you have?
At this point may be worth swapping to another sata drive in order to rule out the mobo.
You may even try to upgrade the sata chipset driver if possible.

 

[coder_t2]

Have an OCZ SSD as my OS drive. Its write speed is fine. At least 100MB/sec last I checked. Already went to AMDs website and upgraded the AHCI driver.

 

[tweakboy]

Do a defrag of the drive. It might take a long time but that has been known to shoot up your speeds and make your HD faster.

After that if its still slow 6mb transfer do a RMA. Make sure BIOS settings are set to AUTO as far as drive options. gl

 

[dbcooper1]

Do a defrag of the drive. It might take a long time but that has been known to shoot up your speeds and make your HD faster.

After that if its still slow 6mb transfer do a RMA. Make sure BIOS settings are set to AUTO as far as drive options. gl

Defrag is likely to take a REALLY long time given the problems he's having. OP, can you hear/feel the drive doing a lot of seeks/retries?

 

[coder_t2]

It is already defragged. Windows 7 does that automatically. Interesting though, I ran CCleaner and some anti spyware programs and my speed were averaging 40MB/s. The anti spyware stuff found nothing, but ccleaner did a bunch of clean up. Now I am back down to about 10MB/sec a day later. Very unusual stuff here. I have never experienced this before.

 

[beginner99]

What actually are you copying? Full dir copy with tons of small files is just slow on a platter drive.

 

[coder_t2]

Copying the Windows Image backup. 20GB over 15 files.

 

[coder_t2]

So I am at the point where I think I am just going to RMA the drive. It's either that or the motherboard, but since the SSD reads and writes fine, I assume it is the HDD.

 

[Emulex]

yeah stick to intel man. power saving modes can cause issues with sata speed if its tied to the bus speed. i tend to never allow cpu to go below 100% speed on non-intel machines. could be the mobo.

 

[Old Hippie]

So I am at the point where I think I am just going to RMA the drive.

I doubt there's anything wrong with the drive.

Hopefully they won't care but I'll bet the RMA'd drive will be exactly the same.

You buy a "Green" drive and that's what ya get.

Good Luck!

 

[MobiusPizza]

I doubt there's anything wrong with the drive.

Hopefully they won't care but I'll bet the RMA'd drive will be exactly the same.

You buy a "Green" drive and that's what ya get.

Good Luck!

Well 7MB/s is hardly definition of normal. My WD green drive can perform 50Mb/s for same copy and paste within same drive, that's with full drive encryption...



To the OP
Try runnign Task Manager -> Performance > Resource Monitor
Go to Disk activity, check disk activity is not high when computer is idling.
Virus or some program may be saturating disk I/O

 

[stargazr]

There is an issue with the firmware on the Eco Green F4 HD204UI 2TB. Samsung has a fix, it runs in DOS. But I think the issue was problems with SMART, not sure if it also affected performance. Here's a thread with links to the download -

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2193198&highlight=samsung+2tb+hd204ui+firmware

Supposedly drives made in 2011 already have the updated firmware. I have a newer one, and like others updated anyway and it works fine.

 

[Old Hippie]

Well 7MB/s is hardly definition of normal.

Kinda looks normal to me for what he's doing and using.

I doubt there's anything wrong with the drive.

 

[coder_t2]

Kinda looks normal to me for what he's doing and using.

I doubt there's anything wrong with the drive.

Not trying to be a dick, but you sound like you don't have a clue what you are talking about.

Sounds like it could be this firmware bug. I bought my drive in February, so it is possible I got one manufactured in 2010. Although I am curious if it is the bus speed, like someone else mentioned. I had no problems on my C2D build that was using this drive.

 

[stargazr]

Not trying to be a dick, but you sound like you don't have a clue what you are talking about.

he knows what he's talking about

Sounds like it could be this firmware bug. I bought my drive in February, so it is possible I got one manufactured in 2010. Although I am curious if it is the bus speed, like someone else mentioned. I had no problems on my C2D build that was using this drive.

The date is on the label - you have to look real hard

I had this link -

"Update: According to Samsung Support, HD204UI drives manufactured December 2010 or later include the firmware patch"

http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/smartmontools/wiki/SamsungF4EGBadBlocks