Intel P5800X Sector Size

[Chris Tobey]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to install a P5800X to use as an L2ARC, and first I wanted to set the sector size to 4kb as it has been shown to be beneficial on the P4800X.

I setup a Windows server with PCIe 4.0 slots, installed the P5800X onto a Startech U.2 to PCIe adapter, and thought I was good to go.

First I ran some benchmarks with these out of the box:

Then in the Intel MAS GUI, it suggested I update the firmware from L0310100 to L0310200, so I did that and rebooted.

Next I tried the Intel SSD Data Center Tool (isdct.exe), but it was giving errors. I switched to the Intel Memory and Storage Tool (IntelMAS.exe) and was able to make some progress.

Now I have this:

Code:

PS C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool> .\IntelMAS.exe show -intelssd 1
- 1 Intel Optane SSD P5800X Series PHAL122200B01P6EGN -
Bootloader : LB3B0161
Capacity : 1490.42 GB
DevicePath : \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1
DeviceStatus : Healthy
Firmware : L0310200
FirmwareUpdateAvailable : The selected drive contains current firmware as of this tool release.
Index : 1
MaximumLBA : 3125627567
ModelNumber : INTEL SSDPF21Q016TB
NamespaceId : 1
PercentOverProvisioned : Property not found
ProductFamily : Intel Optane SSD P5800X Series
SMARTEnabled : True
SectorDataSize : 512
SerialNumber : PHAL122200B01P6EGN

Next I want to set the sector size to 4096, which should be straight forward like here: https://www.intel.ca/content/www/ca/en/support/articles/000057964/memory-and-storage.html

But when I run the command, I get an error like this:

Code:

PS C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool> .\IntelMAS.exe start -intelssd 0 -nvmeformat LBAformat=3
WARNING! You have selected to format the drive!
Proceed with the format? (Y|N): y
Formatting...(This can take several minutes to complete)
IOCTL error format nvm failed

Does anyone have any experience with the P5800X?
Also, can I do this from within TrueNAS or a Jail instead of the Windows PC?

 

[Chris Tobey]

As a side note, when I ran tests after upgrading the firmware, they seemed much worse, only hitting ~3500 MB/s.
With it now installed in the TrueNAS system (results were similar in CrystalMark).

Code:

# diskinfo -wS /dev/nvd2
/dev/nvd2
        512                     # sectorsize
        1600321314816           # mediasize in bytes (1.5T)
        3125627568              # mediasize in sectors
        0                       # stripesize
        0                       # stripeoffset
        INTEL SSDPF21Q016TB     # Disk descr.
        PHAL122200B0xxxxxx      # Disk ident.
        Yes                     # TRIM/UNMAP support
        0                       # Rotation rate in RPM

Synchronous random writes:
         0.5 kbytes:     13.2 usec/IO =     36.9 Mbytes/s
           1 kbytes:     12.7 usec/IO =     77.1 Mbytes/s
           2 kbytes:     13.3 usec/IO =    147.1 Mbytes/s
           4 kbytes:     11.8 usec/IO =    330.9 Mbytes/s
           8 kbytes:     15.1 usec/IO =    517.3 Mbytes/s
          16 kbytes:     23.0 usec/IO =    679.1 Mbytes/s
          32 kbytes:     28.6 usec/IO =   1092.2 Mbytes/s
          64 kbytes:     41.8 usec/IO =   1493.9 Mbytes/s
         128 kbytes:     66.2 usec/IO =   1888.2 Mbytes/s
         256 kbytes:    106.4 usec/IO =   2350.0 Mbytes/s
         512 kbytes:    186.0 usec/IO =   2688.8 Mbytes/s
        1024 kbytes:    340.9 usec/IO =   2933.1 Mbytes/s
        2048 kbytes:    646.1 usec/IO =   3095.7 Mbytes/s
        4096 kbytes:   1282.8 usec/IO =   3118.1 Mbytes/s
        8192 kbytes:   2519.8 usec/IO =   3174.8 Mbytes/s

 

[Chris Tobey]

No one with any experience setting the sector size? :(

 

[QonoS]

Well 0 is not 1 ?

PS C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool> .\IntelMAS.exe show -intelssd 1
PS C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool> .\IntelMAS.exe start -intelssd 0 -nvmeformat LBAformat=3

Well if you switched Slots in between, that would be an explanation.
Anyway you can try Linux of course: https://filers.blogspot.com/2018/12/how-to-format-nvme-drive.html

 

[Chris Tobey]

Sadly that was just poor copy paste and not the issue.
I have a Samsung M.2 NVMe drive for the OS on that PC and it is index 0, with the P5800X as index 1.
Running the command against index 0 gives:

Code:

PS C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool> .\IntelMAS.exe start -intelssd 0 -nvmeformat LBAformat=3
WARNING! You have selected to format the drive!
Proceed with the format? (Y|N): y
Formatting...(This can take several minutes to complete)
- S58SNG0MA21473F -
Status : Drive is not an Intel SSD.

I do wonder if it does not like the Samsung NVMe being index 0, but I have no way to confirm that being an issue.

 

[QonoS]

Yes, definitely try the Intel as single nvme ssd in your computer.

if you have a spare SATA disk/ssd just do a quick win10/11 install and update.