Flash Cache Module - Dell Laptops - Any Issues?

[Alan22]

I started work on a Dell Vostro 1500. Vista 32-bit w/ 2GB RAM, Intel C2D T5270, integrated Intel video chipset. Adequate for a business laptop, and that's what it's used for.

Symptoms: Slow. Slow to boot, Slow to get to Vista logon screen, slow to get to Windows desktop, slow to open programs, occasionally freezes &/or reboots on its own. It's usable, just need a bit of patience with it and need to backup open work or risk losing it

I did the usual/customary hardware tests, cleaned out temp files, ran chkdsk /f, defragged, ran virus/malware scans - the usual stuff. All clean. What could be causing the slowness? Well, it was the Flash Cache Module built into the system. I disabled it in the bios and set the SATA Operation to ATA instead of AHCI. Holy crap, what a difference! The laptop now boots fast, programs load fast....complete turn around. I expect to see an increase in performance with Flash Cache Module enabled, not disabled (yes, the system has the module installed).

From Dell: "Flash Cache Module is an internal memory card that helps improve the performance of your computer....and is only compatible with Vista". Well, on this system it seems to have had the opposite effect. Maybe the module is going bad? The system passed all hardware tests though.

Has anyone else experienced this on Dell systems w/ Vista & Flash Cache Modules?

 

[DarDar]

I used to do some tech work for Dell and there were some specifics around the flash cache. I can't remember what they were, but the ATA/AHCI causing issues does ring a bell. I would do a bit of research and you will probably come up with some more on the topic.

 

[NYJimbo]

Are the "Flash cache module" and "SATA" changes both needed to make the improvement or just one?.

I have had AHCI/RAID/SATA weirdness many times in the past but nothing with the Flash cache. Just want to be sure both were not ganged together.

Can you retest this unit with SATA settings the same as now but turn on the FCM ?

 

[Alan22]

Are the "Flash cache module" and "SATA" changes both needed to make the improvement or just one?.

I have had AHCI/RAID/SATA weirdness many times in the past but nothing with the Flash cache. Just want to be sure both were not ganged together.

Can you retest this unit with SATA settings the same as now but turn on the FCM ?

I diabled the Flash Cache Module in the bios and set the SATA Operation to ATA instead of AHCI in order to see the improvement. If I still had the system I would do some testing, but I gave it back to the client this morning. I should have thought about it and done it last night, but from the little reading I did, it appears that both FCM & AHCI need to be enabled in the bios in order for it to work, so I didn't think about doing any additional testing with it. The one drawback I think the client will see is higher power consumption when running on battery due to the hard drive spinning more, which I informed her about.

I spoke to the client a short while ago to see how it performed for her today. She said it never ran this fast even when she first got it. So, I'm satisfied, she's satisfied, case closed

 

[Alan22]

I used to do some tech work for Dell and there were some specifics around the flash cache. I can't remember what they were, but the ATA/AHCI causing issues does ring a bell. I would do a bit of research and you will probably come up with some more on the topic.

I did a little research last night and didn't come up with anything specific to what I experienced. I'll admit that I didn't search for very long though. It was mostly to find out what FCM was and how it operated. I never thought about it until last night. I learned something new.

 

[Alan22]

Are the "Flash cache module" and "SATA" changes both needed to make the improvement or just one?.

OK, I just relaxed and had a couple beers

I do remember that to enable FCM the system needed to be in AHCI mode first. I first switched from AHCI to ATA, but received a message to disable FCM first. Disabled FCM, switched to ATA, then as a goof tried to re-enable FCM and it wouldn't work.....and that's why I didn't do any testing with it - basically I couldn't

 

[DarDar]

Yup that sounds like it! Like i said, i don't remember much about it, just that it caused problems with people losing access to their systems. Once the change had been made they weren't able to go back. This was just as FCM came out so maybe there was some bios issues with it at that time that have been fixed now.

 

[Alan22]

DarDar - there was a warning before changing from AHCI to ATA saying that the hard drive could become unbootable. I felt brave and did it anyway (having made a clone of the drive beforehand I could afford to be brave ). It worked, obviously. Vista installed some additional system drivers after the change.

I spoke with the client again today - all is well.