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Slow SATA performance on Mac Pro in XP/Bootcamp

HOLY CRAP GUESS WHAT I JUST FOUND.


http://neodon.blogspot.com/2006/07/little-known-tweak-to-boost-hard-drive.html


i just tried it out and its showing up as Ultra DMA mode 4 instead of PIO.

EDIT; well after some testing i only managed to change my second primary IDE Channel to Ultra DRM, crap

EDIT 2: I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITHOUT REINSTALLING OHHH MYYY GODDDDDDDDD

HERE IS WHAT I DID:
I did the page listed above, to all the numerical values in the registry under that catagory,
2. Restarted, Went into device manager and uninstalled both the hard drives.
3. restarted, when when add hardware came up i forced it to the directory with the chipset drivers,
4. window came up and i selected storage controller (anyone will do thats signed)
5. Second one came up i selected storage controller again.
6. Redirected all add hardware setups to that same folder with the intel chipset drivers(not the sata drivers)
7. prompted me for a restart
8. loaded it up and here is what it says:
_____________________________________________________________________
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB Ultra ATA Sorage Controller -269e
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB/3100 Chipset Serial ATA Storage Controller -2680

1st. Primary IDE Channel (Current Transfer Mode: Multi-Word DMA Mode 2)
2nd. Primary IDE Channel (Ultra DRM Mode 4)
________________________________________________________________________

I ran a hard drive test and i'm getting 62.4mb/sec


Now i don't know anything about windows i only did this by screwing around with a crazy concept untill 5 in the morning so...........
 
knome said:
HOLY CRAP GUESS WHAT I JUST FOUND.


http://neodon.blogspot.com/2006/07/little-known-tweak-to-boost-hard-drive.html


i just tried it out and its showing up as Ultra DMA mode 4 instead of PIO.

EDIT; well after some testing i only managed to change my second primary IDE Channel to Ultra DRM, crap

EDIT 2: I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITHOUT REINSTALLING OHHH MYYY GODDDDDDDDD

HERE IS WHAT I DID:
I did the page listed above, to all the numerical values in the registry under that catagory,
2. Restarted, Went into device manager and uninstalled both the hard drives.
3. restarted, when when add hardware came up i forced it to the directory with the chipset drivers,
4. window came up and i selected storage controller (anyone will do thats signed)
5. Second one came up i selected storage controller again.
6. Redirected all add hardware setups to that same folder with the intel chipset drivers(not the sata drivers)
7. prompted me for a restart
8. loaded it up and here is what it says:
_____________________________________________________________________
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB Ultra ATA Sorage Controller -269e
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB/3100 Chipset Serial ATA Storage Controller -2680

1st. Primary IDE Channel (Current Transfer Mode: Multi-Word DMA Mode 2)
2nd. Primary IDE Channel (Ultra DRM Mode 4)
________________________________________________________________________

I ran a hard drive test and i'm getting 62.4mb/sec


Now i don't know anything about windows i only did this by screwing around with a crazy concept untill 5 in the morning so...........
Click to expand...

Hey! This is GREAT! Screw the slipstream fix. I am getting 63.00 mb/s from Sisoft Sandra also after using the above method.
 
Hey that's great info! Well that's the overall XP problem. You know they can do it, it is just always some darn registry hacking involved....grrrr....Like they couldn't make an option for that in device properties....:mad:
 
Tried and failed

Hey guys. So I've tried a half dozen times to go through Knome's fix to no avail.
Every time I change the registry based on the tweaks from James Barton and reboot it changes back to what the original values.
Every time I uninstall the Hard Drives and reboot it automatically reinstalls the original drivers before I can force it to look in the intel_chipset_8.1.1.1001/XP directory.
I've tried updating the drivers and forcing it to look in that directory.

I'm not sure what else to try or if I'm doing something wrong.

Any thoughts?

-andrew
 
astropol said:
Hey guys. So I've tried a half dozen times to go through Knome's fix to no avail.
Every time I change the registry based on the tweaks from James Barton and reboot it changes back to what the original values.
Every time I uninstall the Hard Drives and reboot it automatically reinstalls the original drivers before I can force it to look in the intel_chipset_8.1.1.1001/XP directory.
I've tried updating the drivers and forcing it to look in that directory.

I'm not sure what else to try or if I'm doing something wrong.

Any thoughts?

-andrew
Click to expand...
Try changing the registry, but before rebooting, go ahead and remove the drivers, then reboot.
 
Can we clarify Knome's solution?

Knome- from what I understand from the thread, your XP install was "slipstreamed" to accomodate the correct chipset drivers wrt the SATA issue, etc., but for whatever reason, you did not get the ultradma performance until your Barton's regedit trick was applied-- is this the case?

Astropol- did you install using the slipstream method or did you just use an unaltered XP CD. If the latter is the case, perhaps that is why the fix isn't working for you.

ANYONE- Has anyone achieved the performance boost by using Knome's find without ORIGINALLY using the slipstream install? <crossing fingers the answer is yes>...

Just want to confirm as my MP is on the FedEx truck as I type and I'd LOVE to avoid the slipstream issue if possible.

~gtd
 
No I didn't install by the slipstream method. I tried doing this post install. I'm currently reinstalling using the nLite method with the drivers and I'll keep you posted if it works.
Also - I'm installing XP64 so we'll see if that works as well.

-andrew
 
So just went through the Slipstream method and then editing the Registry to no avail :mad:

I used the XP64 installer and using nlite attached the following drivers:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...2487&dwnldid=11207&agr=y&lang=eng&prdmap=2487

and

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...All&OSFullName=All Operating Systems&lang=eng

The ATA controllers show the version 7.4.0.1005 from 5/15/2006 which is correct I believe. But the Primary and Secondary IDE Channels are showing Microsoft driver dates of 10/1/2002 and both are still in PIO Mode. The Registry also defaulted back to it's original state.

This is really frustrating. How hard should this be? Both drivers say they are XP64 compatible.

I guess the next step is to try the regular XP 32bit which is sad because I was seeing some HUGE performance gains using Maya 8 64bit. But I just can't handle the 3mb/sec hard drive!
 
maybe this is a fix if you have slipstreamed the drivers in but the sata still didn't work. Well at least thats all i can think.

astropol all i can say is i started screwing with this method at 9 and didn't succeed until 5 in the morning. I can't really say i knew what i was doing either. i was screwing around not writing down what i was doing and then when i realized it worked i tried to remember what i did, like i said before you may have to fill in the gaps.

Also make sure you go through every single one of the folders 0001, 0002, 0003,....,.....,.... and follow the same instructions every time.

oh just so you guys know it never worked with the registry changes alone,

maybe the chipset drivers can be installed the same way, uninstall the all the chipset devices in the device manager and force all the new hardware wizards to the chipset thing it may take the chipset drivers as well. Just a guess though.
 
Has anyone tried the new bootcamp 1.1.1 that was just released a few hours ago? There are some hard drive fixes stated but nothing specific.

My Mac Pro will be here tomorrow and I am trying to find out the following:

1. Can you use BootCamp to partition and install XP on your software RAID setup now or do you still need to install XP on a separate SATA or IDE HDD or non-soft RAID partition?

2. Do you still need to make a slipstream XP disk to get SATA correctly working?

Anyone who can update on this would be great. I would like to spend as much time using my Mac Pro as possible, hours of setup/trial and error are no fun.
 
Astro-

Before you give up, perhaps you should try the registry changes again, but this time boot up in SAFE mode. There are incidents where certain changes to the registry (for reasons I don't pretend to understand) must be made in the safe mode to work. Can't remember which F key to hold on boot up, maybe F8, but it may be worth a shot for you.

Good luck,
~gtd
 
ARGG!! Ok. The plot thickens.
I went into safe mode and changed the registry. When I restarted I now have the first Primary IDE Channel showing up as PIO still but the second Primary IDE Channel is showing up as Ultra DMA Mode 4... What?!!!

I checked the registry and sure enough most of the settings reverted again.
I did a speed test on the disks and still getting 2-4mb/sec.

When I do change the registry, before I restart, the IDE Channels all show Ultra DMA Mode 6 but the tests still show the same god awful performance.
 
Astro-

Until I try this out for myself, I am afraid I bring little to the table. It sounds like the original XP install didn't work properly. There are several different posted "tutorials"-- perhaps you should start from scratch?

My Mac Pro just got dropped off and my workday is over soon. Can't wait to be as frustrated as you!

~gtd
 
astropol said:
ARGG!! Ok. The plot thickens.
I went into safe mode and changed the registry. When I restarted I now have the first Primary IDE Channel showing up as PIO still but the second Primary IDE Channel is showing up as Ultra DMA Mode 4... What?!!!

I checked the registry and sure enough most of the settings reverted again.
I did a speed test on the disks and still getting 2-4mb/sec.

When I do change the registry, before I restart, the IDE Channels all show Ultra DMA Mode 6 but the tests still show the same god awful performance.
Click to expand...

your getting very very close, thats what happened to me, try doing the driver trick now.

if that doesn't work go back to the registry changed to the ones that didn't take the change and then try the drivers.
 
Already did those again and again. Nothing. I can only think it's because I'm doing this with XP64 instead of standard XP. So that's my next test.

-andrew
 
OK, please excuse my ignorance on this. I have been out of the computer hardware game for a while. With my new mac pro (estimated delivery date Oct. 15th :mad: ) I was planning on instally a 10,000 RPM raptor drive to load windows directly on to for gaming. Would I be subject to the same PIO issues with that type of HD? Your help is greatly apreciated.
 
grovertdog said:
Knome- from what I understand from the thread, your XP install was "slipstreamed" to accomodate the correct chipset drivers wrt the SATA issue, etc., but for whatever reason, you did not get the ultradma performance until your Barton's regedit trick was applied-- is this the case?

Astropol- did you install using the slipstream method or did you just use an unaltered XP CD. If the latter is the case, perhaps that is why the fix isn't working for you.

ANYONE- Has anyone achieved the performance boost by using Knome's find without ORIGINALLY using the slipstream install? <crossing fingers the answer is yes>...

Just want to confirm as my MP is on the FedEx truck as I type and I'd LOVE to avoid the slipstream issue if possible.

~gtd
Click to expand...

Hi All,

I didn't use the slipstream method. I did the registry edit, and when I checked the drivers, it showed "UltraDMA mode 6". I rebooted, and noticed that the registry did revert back to the old settings, like Astropool described. So I re-edited registry again, and this time I didn't reboot immediately. I went to the device manager and removed all the 631 sata drivers, primary-ide, and secondary-ide drivers. Rebooted....and I forced windows to use the downloaded 631 drivers as Knome described.

I rebooted and it worked:
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB Ultra ATA Sorage Controller -269e
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB/3100 Chipset Serial ATA Storage Controller -2680

1st. Primary IDE Channel (Current Transfer Mode: Multi-Word DMA Mode 2)
2nd. Primary IDE Channel (Ultra DRM Mode 4)
 
Well... I Slipstreamed with the regular old 32bit XP and lo and behold it worked. Drives are benching at 62mb/sec.

I guess XP64 just hasn't gotten the right drivers yet <sigh> too bad.

Now the only thing to figure out is why no more than 1.98GB of RAM is recognized by XP even with the /3GB switch in the boot.ini file.

Always somethin

-andrew
 
a little help please

I have done exactly what is listed above but when I reboot after uninstalling the drivers they automatically install the exact same one. Does anyone know how to turn off this feature so I can walk it through installing the drivers I want it to. Thanks.
 
knome said:
HOLY CRAP GUESS WHAT I JUST FOUND.


http://neodon.blogspot.com/2006/07/little-known-tweak-to-boost-hard-drive.html


i just tried it out and its showing up as Ultra DMA mode 4 instead of PIO.

EDIT; well after some testing i only managed to change my second primary IDE Channel to Ultra DRM, crap

EDIT 2: I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITHOUT REINSTALLING OHHH MYYY GODDDDDDDDD

HERE IS WHAT I DID:
I did the page listed above, to all the numerical values in the registry under that catagory,
2. Restarted, Went into device manager and uninstalled both the hard drives.
3. restarted, when when add hardware came up i forced it to the directory with the chipset drivers,
4. window came up and i selected storage controller (anyone will do thats signed)
5. Second one came up i selected storage controller again.
6. Redirected all add hardware setups to that same folder with the intel chipset drivers(not the sata drivers)
7. prompted me for a restart
8. loaded it up and here is what it says:
_____________________________________________________________________
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB Ultra ATA Sorage Controller -269e
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB/3100 Chipset Serial ATA Storage Controller -2680

1st. Primary IDE Channel (Current Transfer Mode: Multi-Word DMA Mode 2)
2nd. Primary IDE Channel (Ultra DRM Mode 4)
________________________________________________________________________

I ran a hard drive test and i'm getting 62.4mb/sec


Now i don't know anything about windows i only did this by screwing around with a crazy concept untill 5 in the morning so...........
Click to expand...


I just did the Slipstream method and it work. Then I saw this method, can anyone confirm if the speed is better then the slipstream method or it is the same? Someone who tested both method out, please tell me.
 
knome said:
HERE IS WHAT I DID:
I did the page listed above, to all the numerical values in the registry under that catagory,
2. Restarted, Went into device manager and uninstalled both the hard drives.
3. restarted, when when add hardware came up i forced it to the directory with the chipset drivers,
4. window came up and i selected storage controller (anyone will do thats signed)
5. Second one came up i selected storage controller again.
6. Redirected all add hardware setups to that same folder with the intel chipset drivers(not the sata drivers)
7. prompted me for a restart
8. loaded it up and here is what it says:
_____________________________________________________________________
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB Ultra ATA Sorage Controller -269e
Intel(R) 631xESB/6321ESB/3100 Chipset Serial ATA Storage Controller -2680

1st. Primary IDE Channel (Current Transfer Mode: Multi-Word DMA Mode 2)
2nd. Primary IDE Channel (Ultra DRM Mode 4)
________________________________________________________________________
Click to expand...
EDIT: nevermind, I'm tried and really !@#$ sick of dealing with Windows tonight. I wasn't able to get it to work with these instructions, instead I hosed my Windows install. :mad: I think I just wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing and did something wrong. Going to use the slipstream method tomorrow (means I'm gonna have to reinstall Windows TWICE, UGH, IT'S SO SLOW).
 
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