mate, i'm new to Mint11 but i've building and maintaining PCs since 1996
(windows, linux since 2009) and this is a desktop (although actually i have almost identical performance issue on my Mint9 netbook..)
surely write speed is very relevant since its during paging writes that the system is struggling..
need to find a way to reduce firefox memory usage as well! one thing that irritates me is that closing tabs in firefox still does not give back the ram (only restarting firefox does that) despite this being firefox 5 and this being known about for years.
back to the main point:
how to keep the system responsive (to keyboard and mouse) during heavy paging.
imagine if an Apple employee said to Steve Jobs "oh yeah, if the user opens too many apps, they may have to wait half an hour to be able to do anything" he'd go
nuts.
if we want linux to succeed on the desktop, this sort of thing is not acceptable. i realise this is likely not Mint but a kernel issue somewhere.
or perhaps there is just something wrong with my SATA controller..? (AMD 690V built in thing.. still need to try moving swap to RAID1 because that benchmarks 95 MB/s read, but worried about messing with RAID mirror in Gparted until i have a backup!)
found the following SB600 issues listed on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_690_chipset_series
Code: Select all
Southbridge issues(SB600)
Linux platform:
USB freeze when multiple devices are connected through hub (related to AMD Product Advisory PA_SB600AL1)[4]
SATA soft reset fails when PMP is enabled and devices will be not detected(does not apply to A11 and A12 revisions)
SATA internal errors are ignored because SATA will set Serial ATA port Error when it should not
SATA commands in AHCI mode are limited to 255 sectors per command because of NCQ problems
SATA controller does not support MSI
hmm interesting.. not sure if any of these could be causing my problems?
don't see any references to workarounds, amd, (other than cpu), sb600, or sata in logs.
update: found stuff in logs
Code: Select all
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661157] ahci 0000:00:12.0: version 3.0
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661182] ahci 0000:00:12.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 22
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661208] ahci 0000:00:12.0: controller can't do 64bit DMA, forcing 32bit
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661301] ahci 0000:00:12.0: AHCI 0001.0100 32 slots 4 ports 3 Gbps 0xf impl RAID mode
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661304] ahci 0000:00:12.0: flags: ncq sntf ilck pm led clo pmp pio slum part ccc
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661681] r8169 0000:02:0f.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 23
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.661711] r8169 0000:02:0f.0: (unregistered net_device): no PCI Express capability
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.662198] scsi0 : ahci
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.662863] r8169 0000:02:0f.0: eth0: RTL8169sc/8110sc at 0xffffc9000034e000, 00:1a:4d:73:39:bb, XID 18000000 IRQ 23
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663148] scsi1 : ahci
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663273] scsi2 : ahci
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663344] scsi3 : ahci
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663455] ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f100 irq 22
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663459] ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f180 irq 22
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663463] ata3: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f200 irq 22
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.663466] ata4: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m1024@0xfe02f000 port 0xfe02f280 irq 22
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.664098] scsi4 : pata_atiixp
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.664168] scsi5 : pata_atiixp
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.664738] ata5: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0x1f0 ctl 0x3f6 bmdma 0xf900 irq 14
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.664740] ata6: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0x170 ctl 0x376 bmdma 0xf908 irq 15
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.671048] e1000 0000:02:07.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 21
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.840514] ata5.00: ATAPI: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3540A, 1.WB, max UDMA/33
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.880025] usb 1-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 1.880482] ata5.00: configured for UDMA/33
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.031686] hub 1-4:1.0: USB hub found
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.031999] hub 1-4:1.0: 4 ports detected
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.150032] usb 1-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210023] ata1: softreset failed (device not ready)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210027] ata1: applying SB600 PMP SRST workaround and retrying
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210048] ata2: softreset failed (device not ready)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210052] ata2: applying SB600 PMP SRST workaround and retrying
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210070] ata4: softreset failed (device not ready)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210072] ata4: applying SB600 PMP SRST workaround and retrying
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210089] ata3: softreset failed (device not ready)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.210092] ata3: applying SB600 PMP SRST workaround and retrying
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.212525] e1000 0000:02:07.0: eth1: (PCI:33MHz:32-bit) 00:0e:0c:c6:6b:7a
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.212529] e1000 0000:02:07.0: eth1: Intel(R) PRO/1000 Network Connection
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.330130] usbcore: registered new interface driver uas
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410034] ata1: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410066] ata3: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410088] ata2: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410110] ata4: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410594] ata3.00: ATA-8: WDC WD6400AAKS-07A7B2, 01.03B01, max UDMA/133
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410598] ata3.00: 1250263728 sectors, multi 0: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32), AA
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410601] ata3.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410717] ata1.00: ATA-7: SAMSUNG MCCOE64G5MPP-0VA, PS105006, max UDMA/100
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410720] ata1.00: 125045424 sectors, multi 16: LBA48
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410722] ata1.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410891] ata1.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410893] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410984] ata4.00: ATA-8: WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B0, 01.03B01, max UDMA/133
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410987] ata4.00: 1250263728 sectors, multi 0: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32), AA
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.410990] ata4.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411050] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA SAMSUNG MCCOE64G PS10 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411223] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411359] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 125045424 512-byte logical blocks: (64.0 GB/59.6 GiB)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411452] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411456] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411492] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411965] ata4.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.411969] ata4.00: configured for UDMA/133
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.412061] ata3.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.412065] ata3.00: configured for UDMA/133
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.412277] sda: sda1 sda2 sda3 < sda5 sda6 >
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.412679] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.454991] ata2.00: HPA detected: current 625140335, native 625142448
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.454997] ata2.00: ATA-7: ST3320620AS, 3.AAC, max UDMA/133
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.454999] ata2.00: 625140335 sectors, multi 0: LBA48 NCQ (depth 31/32)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.455003] ata2.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513283] ata2.00: SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513285] ata2.00: configured for UDMA/133
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513394] scsi 1:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA ST3320620AS 3.AA PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513539] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 625140335 512-byte logical blocks: (320 GB/298 GiB)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513568] sd 1:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513586] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513589] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513609] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513694] scsi 2:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD6400AAKS-0 01.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513825] sd 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.513929] scsi 3:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA WDC WD6400AAKS-0 01.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514049] sd 3:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514128] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdd] 1250263728 512-byte logical blocks: (640 GB/596 GiB)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514167] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdc] 1250263728 512-byte logical blocks: (640 GB/596 GiB)
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514212] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdd] Write Protect is off
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514215] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdd] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514250] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514253] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514264] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdd] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.514374] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdc] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.515261] scsi 4:0:0:0: CD-ROM _NEC DVD_RW ND-3540A 1.WB PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.516684] sr0: scsi3-mmc drive: 48x/48x writer cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
Jul 20 17:51:35 CENTRE kernel: [ 2.516687] cdrom: Uniform CD-ROM driver Revision: 3.20
swap is currently on the ST3320620AS
not sure what effect "SB600 AHCI: limiting to 255 sectors per cmd" has
ditto for "controller can't do 64bit DMA, forcing 32bit"
interface speeds look correct though.
anyone know the significance of these? unlikely..