Asus P5A with Aladdin V Chipset UDMA33

[Tigger]

Even with Kernel 2.4.2 and the hdparm settings 'hdparm -c1 -d1 -k1 /dev/hda' I am only getting 16 Mb/sec but it should be 33Mb/sec due to the UDMA33.

If anyone has the above mobo and has a better benchmark, I would be interested in finding out your settings for hdparm and the kernel.

I compiled the aladdin ali stuff in the kernel and there is an improvement above a standard kernel but still not as high as it should be.

[n2linux]

I have that mobo, well the A-B(aby) AT type. Unfortuantely, the hard drive in that computer died this past summer and I still have not had the chance to get it replaced. :D

Anyway, what kinda hard drive do you have? 16MB/sec seems normal for a 5400rpm hard drive. Also, afaik, the 33MB spec is burst rate...not sequential.

[Lorithar]

*Waves*

I'm getting 54.8Mbs from buffercache reads off of a Quantum drive ... point to be made ..the disk reads have Never been above 18Mbx (that is the unbuffered reads)
1) you need the correct cable
2) this controller appears to need BOTH disks on the controller (Master and Slave) to be in identical modes in order to acheive higher speed numbers
3) the disk(s) have to be high speed capable.

hdparm -c1 -d1 only sets dma 32bit mode.
hdparm -i /dev/hda
will tell you what modes the drive is capable.of.
you may need to set the dma mode.

To be honest I've noted that in the 2.4.0 kernel the system appears to set the best mode possible between the two differecnt disks I have mounted on the controller.

My Asus P5A-B has an ALI 1543 chipset ... not an Aladin chipset..---
Although there may be something there .. I'm not sure which flavour of chipset was on the ATX only boards ..

[ 03 March 2001: Message edited by: Lorithar ]

[Tigger]

n2linux - it is a 7200 ata100 WD 40 gig drive.

It does steadily stay just above 16Mb/s but I can't test to see if it bursts any higher. The hd tach test(on win) indicates an average of 25Mb/s peaking at the 33 mark.

Lorithar - ALI is Aladdin. It does seem to be running UDMA2 which is 33Mb/s but I can't seem to verify it.

I have been contemplating getting a promise ata100 io card but I will have to see.

Thanks for the responses though!