hdparm results faster on livecd than on my install

HiBread · n00b Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

Hello!

Ive noticed that my cached read speeds (both drives) and buffered speeds (only on one of the drives) are slower on my actual install, as apposed to running them from the live disk.

The kernel sata drivers im using on my current install are obviously the new ones, but i believe i have been having this issue for quite some time (if not always).

Any clues at all will be appreciated
Cheers!

These are the results:

My Install

Linux tiptop 2.6.20-ck1 #8 PREEMPT Fri Mar 16 22:50:50 CST 2007 x86_64 AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+ AuthenticAMD GNU/Linux

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 1342 MB in 2.00 seconds = 670.95 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 116 MB in 3.03 seconds = 38.29 MB/sec

/dev/sdb:
Timing cached reads: 1344 MB in 2.00 seconds = 671.80 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 184 MB in 3.01 seconds = 61.14 MB/sec

Livecd

Linux livecd 2.6.17-gentoo-r7 #1 SMP Tue Aug 29 01:41:38 UTC 2006 x86_64 AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+ GNU/Linux

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 2904 MB in 2.00 seconds = 1452.19 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 150 MB in 3.00 seconds = 49.97 MB/sec

/dev/sdb:
Timing cached reads: 2936 MB in 2.00 seconds = 1467.95 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 192 MB in 3.02 seconds = 63.49 MB/sec

And for interest sakes, here is lsmod from the livecd:

Module Size Used by
floppy 56296 0
pcspkr 6144 0
8139too 24448 0
mii 7296 1 8139too
nfs 89808 0
lockd 50448 1 nfs
sunrpc 116936 2 nfs,lockd
jfs 142032 0
dm_mirror 18560 0
dm_mod 42320 1 dm_mirror
pdc_adma 11140 0
sata_mv 18696 0
ata_piix 13188 0
ahci 15748 0
sata_qstor 11396 0
sata_vsc 10244 0
sata_uli 9476 0
sata_sis 9860 0
sata_sx4 14596 0
sata_nv 11012 0
sata_via 10500 1
sata_svw 9732 0
sata_sil24 12804 0
sata_sil 11528 0
sata_promise 13060 0
libata 48152 15 pdc_adma,sata_mv,ata_piix,ahci,sata_qstor,sata_vsc,sata_uli,sata_sis,sata_sx4,sata_nv,sata_via,sata_svw$
sbp2 22280 0
ohci1394 31048 0
ieee1394 66296 2 sbp2,ohci1394
sl811_hcd 14080 0
ohci_hcd 19844 0
uhci_hcd 22032 0
usb_storage 66112 0
usbhid 35488 0
ehci_hcd 27912 0
usbcore 96800 7 sl811_hcd,ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,usb_storage,usbhid,ehci_hcd

toralf · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:

run hdparm not in the default level, rather choose a level where you start less services as possible - at least don't start any graphical env like KDE, gnome etc

HiBread · n00b Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

Gday toralf,

thanks for the reply!

I tried exiting kde, as well as change the runlevel to 2 and 1. No difference what so ever to the results.

I'm thinking it has to be either kernel options (or the kernel itself since im using ck) or some sort of harddrive configuration that i am not aware of.

Could it possibly be that the results hdparm is feeding back to me, is somehow not reliable? I have heard that hdparm isn't really designed for sata drives.

Thanks again

toralf · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject:

try sys-apps/sdparm

albright · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject:

It is probably hdparm change. Here's a quote from hdparm homepage
about the upgrade to 6.9:

Quote:
The (over)reporting of "-T" results was fixed.

Caused me some worry since the change coincided with a
new motherboard ...

HiBread · n00b Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

I stumbled across a program called Bonnie. The tests ive done on each drive show pretty much even results.

Im guessing that hdparm is somehow not suited for sata.

toralf, i had a brief look at sdparm, but i failed to find any "speed" tests.

Anyhow, thanks for your time guys, i assume my system is running as it should.

Cheers!