Port 0 / Sata III Speeds Dropping To Sata II Speeds

[Outlaw01]

All,

Greetings. First post here.

After reading all of your advice etc on the OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS, I'm about to do the Port 0/1 reg fix, but have a few questions:

1. Do I just go into regedit, run as admin?

2. Look for a specific string as per the previous posts?

(Don’t see that string listed following the previous text example)

3. How do I insert the 'Fox port 0 fix' attached file in a previous post?

4. Is this a futile exercise and from what you guys are saying I am perceiving it's an OCZ firmware issue?

5. Finally, do I just need to return this rig? I was after SATA 3 speeds and the fastest AW rig money can buy and if i cant do it with this Cougar Chipset, I'm thinking of just getting my money back ......We will see though...

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Cheers,
Outlaw

[Outlaw01]

Mr Fox

So I tired your LPM Port 1 & 0 fix, but unfortunetly, no dice.

So this is specifically what is happening every boot.

1. windows loads to the password screen in about 18 seconds.

Isnt that a issue right there? I hear peeps are getting 10-12 secs with the Raid 0 vertex 3. I have the 240gb raid 0 config.

2. I go into the Intel RST Mgr and advanced to the ports:

Port 0: Shows 6gbs
Port 1: Shows 6gbs

3. Not even 3 minutes later, I go back in and every time it Port 0 changed to 3gbs?????

no programs runned, just at the desktop...

Thought it was the USB issue, because I always plug in my usb coolermaster thingy, but tried multiple times from power off to desktop and Port 0 goes from 6gbs to 3gbs after a few mins at the desktop.

What's the issue here?

Firmware 2.15 with the OCZ Vertex 3 240gb ssds running raid 0?
or
The Mobo
or
USB issue
or
Is it all of the above and we are looking at compound issues here.

Would you please be able to assist with this?

It's driving me crazy this issue as I purchased this rig because of the fast specs and paid top dollar for it and the OCZ drives.

Just want to get what I paid for.

Im sure everyone here can understand that.

Thanks heaps.

Cheers

[johnksss]

It's the motherboard.

[Mr. Fox]

2. I go into the Intel RST Mgr and advanced to the ports:

Port 0: Shows 6gbs
Port 1: Shows 6gbs

3. Not even 3 minutes later, I go back in and every time it Port 0 changed to 3gbs?????

Agree with Brother John... It's new mobo time again in Alienware Land. Sorry bro. Since disabling LPM made no difference, replacing the mobo is the only option to avoid the lower 3GB/s speed problem. John and Dan know all about this... they know the pain you're going through because they had the same issue. The good news is that it is fixable and not an "unresolved issue" affecting all systems.

[steviejones133]

It's the motherboard.

Agree with Brother John... It's new mobo time again in Alienware Land. Sorry bro. Since disabling LPM made no difference, replacing the mobo is the only option to avoid the lower 3GB/s speed problem. John and Dan know all about this... they know the pain you're going through because they had the same issue. The good news is that it is fixable and not an "unresolved issue" affecting all systems.

I agree, mobo problem...again.

[Outlaw01]

Thanks Guys.

Yea, I thought that was the logical issue from reading in depth all of your posts.

Been reading here at the OCZ Forum to try to find other peeps with the issues to see what the OCZ engineers say:

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/fo...-a-few-minutes

They are not saying anything new.

What they are saying in there:

1. Disable SLPM in BOIS (not sure the M18X even has that option)

2. Fox LPM Fix (regedit files)

3. Uncheck and recheck the write buffer under properties in device manager

4. Electrical design on the Mobo

Do you guys know what Mobo the M18X has by default?

Here's my question though

Since there has been ample time since this issue has come up, how does a mobo swap fix it? I mean its the same board right?

What is different on the new mobo?

Did the gremlins simply get a 'bright light, bright light' and ran away in the
'Alienware factory' , so these made mobos are good and not Gremlinized?

Hehe

[steviejones133]

I suppose like any other product, you get lemons and good ones. If you ask Johnksss, his problem was resolved with a mobo swap. Don't know HOW they tell if the new mobo is a "good one" but As far as I know, its definetly a mobo issue and you would need yours swapped out to correct the sata behaviour.

[DanXbix]

Outlaw01 tried the exact same fixes as you and i have a Vertex 3 120gb drive and i can confirm only a new motherboard will fix. I had a single drive so just ran on port1 @ 6gb/s until recently.

[Outlaw01]

Darn Guys,

Not what I wanted to hear.

Sounds like some sort of QA issue at Dell? I mean how can this be with this specific board?

Do you guys know the model number etc? Is it a gigabyte board or something?

Cheers

[Mr. Fox]

The M18x laptops (and other Alienware laptops) are built for Dell by Compal. Dell never touches them before they end up in the customer's hands. They are shipped from China direct to the end user (even though the shipper address on the FedEx label is a Dell address). So, it is a QA problem with the vendor, but it certainly reflects poorly on Dell because their name is on the line. Most end users have never heard of Compal.