EP43-DS3 performance

[Spitoon]

I recently bought an EP43-DS3 as an urgent replacement for a ASUS board that had died. Everything else got transferred to the Gigabyte board , all drivers updated etc.

But the performance is not very good - mainly because it seems to take forever for HDD access. I'm not a tweaker (so maybe I shouldn't be here?) or a benchmarker so I can't really quantify the difference but it's not just my imagination. Opening Outlook and loading my .PST - adsmittedly a large one - takes between 15 and 20 seconds whereas with the ASUS it took about 5 seconds to do the same.

The rest of the system is fairly high-end so it's a bit disappointing!

I won't bore everyone with the whole spec or benchmarks right now - I'm just looking for other users who might share their experiences. Should I be expecting good performance or is it just a rather pedestrian board?

TIA.

[Chike]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

Yes please "bore" us with the specs, board rev, BIOS vers., ram specs, other hardware, what is connected to what etc.
For a start, if you haven't loaded BIOS optimized defaultsm please do so, and make all other necessary changes you already made.

[Spitoon]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

OK, here's some more detail - I'm never quite sure what's important but I hope this gives you something to get your teeth into! Most of the data comes from CPU-Z.

Thanks for thoughts.

NameIntel Core 2 Quad Q9550<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
CodenameYorkfield<o:p></o:p>
SpecificationIntel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz<o:p></o:p>
Core SteppingE0<o:p></o:p>
Technology45 nm<o:p></o:p>
Core Speed1999.8 MHz<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Chipset<o:p></o:p>
NorthbridgeIntel P45/P43 rev. A3<o:p></o:p>
SouthbridgeIntel 82801JR (ICH10R) rev. 00<o:p></o:p>
Memory Size4096 MBytes<o:p></o:p>
ChannelsDual, (Symmetric)<o:p></o:p>
Memory Frequency400.0 MHz (5:6)<o:p></o:p>
CAS# latency (CL)6.0<o:p></o:p>
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD)6<o:p></o:p>
RAS# Precharge (tRP)6<o:p></o:p>
Cycle Time (tRAS)18<o:p></o:p>
Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC)52<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Memory SPD<o:p></o:p>
DIMM #1<o:p></o:p>
SMBus address0x50<o:p></o:p>
Manufacturer (ID)Micron Technology (2C00000000000000)<o:p></o:p>
Size2048 MBytes<o:p></o:p>
Max bandwidthPC2-6400 (400 MHz)<o:p></o:p>
EPPno<o:p></o:p>
XMPno<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC timings tableCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC #14.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC #25.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC #36.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz<o:p></o:p>
DIMM #2<o:p></o:p>
SMBus address0x52<o:p></o:p>
Manufacturer (ID)Micron Technology (2C00000000000000)<o:p></o:p>
Size2048 MBytes<o:p></o:p>
Max bandwidthPC2-6400 (400 MHz)<o:p></o:p>
EPPno<o:p></o:p>
XMPno<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC timings tableCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC #14.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC #25.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz<o:p></o:p>
JEDEC #36.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Monitoring<o:p></o:p>
Mainboard ModelEP43-DS3 (0x000001F3 - 0x00B6260C)<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
DMI<o:p></o:p>
DMI BIOS <o:p></o:p>
vendorAward Software International, Inc.<o:p></o:p>
versionF8<o:p></o:p>
date08/18/2008<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
DMI System Information <o:p></o:p>
manufacturerGigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.<o:p></o:p>
productEP43-DS3<o:p></o:p>
versionunknown<o:p></o:p>
serialunknown<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Display Adapters<o:p></o:p>
Display adapter 0 <o:p></o:p>
NameNVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512<o:p></o:p>
RevisionA2<o:p></o:p>
CodenameG92<o:p></o:p>
Technology65 nm<o:p></o:p>
Memory size512 MB<o:p></o:p>
Memory typeGDDR3<o:p></o:p>
Memory bus width256 bits<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
SATA HDD
WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Also installed - Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter, 4-port USB card and IDE controller of indeterminate parentage (identifies itself as VIA Technologies)

[Chike]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

What por is the HD connected to? Are there any question marks in device manager?
There is an on board IDE controller, do you need both?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

P43 is not a super great board, but if you are not overclocking or something like that it should suffice.

What was your previous boards chipset? Did you do a clean install when you moved to this board?

Looks like your memory it setup wrong by Auto, can you please get a template from my signature then give us your current full settings and we will advise back

[Spitoon]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

Many thanks for your time. Sorry for the delay in giving more info - I've been away earning the mortgage payments!

The HDD is connected to SATA2_0.

No question marks on Device Manager.

I've got three IDE devices (2 optical drives and a Zip drive) - hence the extra controller. I haven't used the Zip for many months so it can come out if the extra controller might be the problem.

Previous board was ASUS P5W DH Deluxe with Intel 975x chipset.

No - Didn't do a clean install with the new board. Needed to get up and running as quickly as possible - the darned things always break at the least convenient moment! I expected to have to re-install everything but thought I'd try just swapping boards - on start up OS (Win XP) came up, so I installed the new drivers and that's what I've been working with. Probably not a good idea....but I'm afraid I'm lazy.

Template is below. I haven't messed with anything - it should all be the default settings. Previous boards (all from ASUS) have been fine with defaults. I'm a software person really and I run out of knowledge about hardware and BIOS settings very quickly.

P45/P43
(Also includes G45/G43 Variants)


FULL Template W/ Some Suggested settings and or tips.


This is Just a template We use to ask people their settings, pay no attention to the numbers in it, replace with yours

CPU = Model Q9550
Motherboard = EP43-DS3, Revision 1
BIOS Version = Award F8
Ram = Generic, 2 x 2048 MB (same as in the previous board)

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................: +0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 2.83 GHz (333x8.5)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: Auto

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 0
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 0


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [Turbo]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: DON’T HAVE THIS OPTION
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: [Auto]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Auto]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 6 Auto
tRCD ......................................... 6 Auto
tRP'........................................... 6 Auto
tRAS.......................................... 18 Auto

Set all Suggested below to highest Values first. Then later you can lower, one at a time, testing as you go

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3 Auto
tWTR.......................................... 4 Auto
tWR............................................ 6 Auto
tRFC........................................... 52 Auto
tRTP........................................... 3 Auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 0 Auto

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ All Driving settings on Auto

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 8 Auto
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 1 Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 8 Auto
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 1 Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Motherboard Voltage Control

CPU
All voltages set to Auto

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Enabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Enabled] Enabled if you use Vmware/Virtual PC

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Enabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB
__________________

[Chike]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

I would start with removing the 2 cards drivers, delete them completely if possible, shut down, remove the cards and go from there.
When you installed the board drivers did you use the express install or manually istalled those that were needed?

[Spitoon]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

Removing the IDE card has made no appreciable difference.

But in my ongoing search for a reason I've noticed that the SMART report for the disk is showing a poor value - 70% - for the Spin-Up Time attribute. Might this be the root of my problems - any HDD experts out there too?

[Psycho101]

Re: EP43-DS3 performance

You really need to do a completely clean OS install.

Re-using an OS installation when changing motherboards is like trying to do a heart transplant by just sticking another heart in the chest cavity and wrapping the wound up with adhesive tape.

Until this is done, taking any steps to "fix" the problem will be pointless. For example the 975 has an ancient version of the ICH, the chip responsible for controling the intel SATA ports. More settings than just drivers are used by the OS when accessing these interfaces.

As far as I know, talking about smart daa in % isn't valid. There is usually a current value, a threshold value and a worst ever recorded value. As long as there is no drop below the threshold value then it's considered a SMART pass.

Download WD Diagnostic Tools from here : WD Support > Downloads > SATA & SAS > WD Caviar Blue / SE / SE16 (SATA II) then post a screenshot of the SMART report. It should look like this:



Remember, until you actually do a clean install of your OS, any conclusion you may come to as to poor performance is inconclusive at best.