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Poor performance on Intel 520 SSD

DHard6
New Contributor

I have an Intel 520 (120GB version) in a high end system and the performance is very poor. I'm getting similar performance to when I was running Windows from a HDD.

I know you don't really recognize the WEI as a valid performance indicator but I previously had a Samsung 840 Pro on this system (Identical configuration this drive is a cloned version of the prior installation cloned with Paragon Migrate OS to SSD) and it got a rating of 7.9 out of 7.9 and this intel 520 gets a 4.9.

I can tell you that it takes 30 seconds AT LEAST for a program to start and I'm not talking about a game here I mean just word or excel. I also use Actual Window Manager and it's running all the time and when I click on the tray icon to bring it up it takes at least 30 seconds to respond and it's already running. This is if I haven't accessed it since booting the system so I'm assuming it's code is in the swap file even though it really shouldn't be since i have 32GB of RAM. It takes only 10 seconds after the first time I access it. I don't know why this is since the code MUST be in use since it interacts with every single window used in windows. And I use A LOT of windows simultaneously on my 5 screens. At least 25 or more running AT LEAST. (Windows & apps not including add ons and helper applications)

System configuration is

Windows 7 Ultimate x64

Asrock Z87 OC Formula/ac,

4770K@4.4GHz,

Corsair H80i CPU Cooler,

32GB Gskill RipjawsX 2133MHz,

EVGA Supernova P2 1000W 80+ Platinum Fully Modular PSU,

2x Gigabyte 7870 OC GPUs,1x EVGA GeForce GTX 660

2x27" BenQ LED, 2x27" Acer H274HL, 1x42" Samsung LED TV

I've attached the smart details from Intel SSD Toolbox

One thing I noticed when I ran the system tuner on the drive is it says "Action Required - Dual-drive system detected with superfetch enabled. Intel recommends disabling superfetch on the intel SSD."

I don't know what this means I'm not running a dual drive setup if that means a raid setup. I only have windows installed on a single SSD on this system so I don't know what that means. Can you tell me what that means?

I tried running the Intel System Support Utility For Windows but got this message

"The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b).

Click OK to close the application"

I used the latest version of the support utility (v2.5 dated 2017-07-13)

Don't know why it won't run can you help me with that so I can send you the information.

I also attached CrystalDiskMark v5.2.2 x64 rating

and ATTO benchmark on the drive

Let me know if you need any additional information to help me with this.

Thanks for your help

8 REPLIES 8

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Hi DH888,

We understand that you are having some performance issues with the Intel® SSD 520 Series.We would like to know that the SSD is almost full of the capacity, the performance is going to be affected due to this. If the SSD is empty, the performance is going to be really high because of it. You may want to check the performance of the SSD https://ark.intel.com/products/66248/Intel-SSD-520-Series-120GB-2_5in-SATA-6Gbs-25nm-MLC here. In this case what we recommend you to do is to perform a low-level format of the SSD.We look forward to hearing back from you.Regards,Junior M.

DHard6
New Contributor

How can blowing away my OS be a reasonable response to this situation. You're suggesting I format reload when I actually started with an empty drive in the first place. Don't you have some useful suggestions on how I can improve the performance of an Intel SSD. You didn't even comment on what this means

One thing I noticed when I ran the system tuner on the drive is it says "Action Required - Dual-drive system detected with superfetch enabled. Intel recommends disabling superfetch on the intel SSD."

I don't know what this means I'm not running a dual drive setup if that means a raid setup. I only have windows installed on a single SSD on this system so I don't know what that means. Can you tell me what that means and why it's saying this when I'm not running a dual drive setup?

The drive started empty and when I cloned the OS to this EMPTY drive wouldn't it copy the data in a contiguous fashion IE very efficiently. It's not like I've been running this drive and OS on the drive for a long period of time it's starting performance WAS THIS POOR.

Is this the performance I can expect from an Intel SSD. Very likely to be a factor in all future purchasing decisions don't you think.

An Intel specialist telling me I can't use 75% of an Intel SSD or my performance will be slower than a HDD and I need to spend the next 5 weeks reinstalling and customizing my PC. Without even offering a single suggestion on honing performance or even asking a single question or how about even answering the question I asked about what your SSD System Tuner is telling me is a problem. Your answer is to just blow away my OS.

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Hi DH888,

Please keep in mind that for an accurate benchmark your drive must be connected as a secondary drive. Otherwise, the benchmark test won't be able to access the full bandwidth and the results won't be accurate.While benchmarking a drive that is an active boot drive the test would have to share the bandwidth with your OS, background applications and services, and the test itself. Resulting in lower than actual results. To disable superfetch please follow these steps : 1. Open the Start Menu.2. Type "services" and hit Enter3. Look for Superfetch in the list and right-click it>Properties4. Set the startup type to disabled and click the Stop button to stop the service5. Click Ok As a workaround since you are not able to run the SSU, you can share your msinfo32.exe results: 1. Windows* key + R to open the run dialog. 2.type msinfo32 and press ok 3. go to file and select the "Export" option.4. Save the file and share it with us. We look forward to hearing back from you.Regards,Junior M.

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Hi DH888,

We would like to know if you read our previous post and if you have any other questions. We'll be waiting for your response.Regards, Junior M.