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Question

Determine PCIe version and SATA version on Dell Dimension

Apr 22, 2014 6:28AM PDT

I have an old Dell Dimension E521 running 32-bit Windows Vista.

How do I find out if the PCIe bus on the E521 is V1.x or V2.0? On the "Specification" section of the User Manual, it says that it is PCIe V1.0A. However, it claims a maximum speed of 500MB/s for x1 slot. This does not seem to make sense. Only V2.0 PCIe could achieve that speed.

On the SATA part, the User Manual states it is SATA 1.0 and 2.0. What does this mean?

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Bidirectional
Apr 22, 2014 8:33AM PDT

PCIe 1.x is often quoted to support a data rate of 250 MB/s in each direction, per lane.
So two directions gives me 500MB/s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

Sata1....150MB/s
Sata2....300MB/s

So Dell is saying you should be able to connect either type device to their sata port and it should auto switch and work.

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SATA
Apr 22, 2014 2:21PM PDT

I have a Samsung 840 Pro SSD with SATA 3 and connect it to my PC via the SATA connector. It can only achieve around 100MB/s.

The same SSD used in a laptop with SATA 2 can achieve > 200 MB/s.

Is there a way to inspect what speed is this SSD connected to a PC?

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That complaint
Apr 23, 2014 2:20AM PDT

Is all over the internet. You find folk complaining that the latest firmware is slower. Max speed is always theoretical but you are repeating a complaint I've read before. Fix? Go get a drive that does the speed.
Bob

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SATA 1.0 vs. 2.0
Apr 23, 2014 3:45AM PDT

I am suspecting that my computer is using SATA 1.0 to interface with the SSD with SATA 3.0. This computer's SATA interface is supposed to support both 1.0 and 2.0 specs. If you have ways to check the interface speed, please do let me know.

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Try SPECCY and drive speed tools.
Apr 23, 2014 4:01AM PDT

But the problem is that writing wears out today's SSDs. But I guess you are not going to take the hint that folk are complaining about the speed drop with the latest firmware. I had hoped you would take that lead and go research.

But do try SPECCY and here's what I got.
ST1000LM014-1EJ164
Manufacturer Seagate
Heads 16
Cylinders 121,601
Tracks 31,008,255
Sectors 1,953,520,065
SATA type SATA-III 6.0Gb/s
Device type Fixed
ATA Standard ACS2
Serial Number W380KL5X
LBA Size 48-bit LBA
Power On Count 660 times
Power On Time 74.4 days
Speed 5400 RPM
Features S.M.A.R.T., APM, NCQ
Max. Transfer Mode SATA III 6.0Gb/s
Used Transfer Mode SATA III 6.0Gb/s

Hope that helps.
Bob