box with 32 GB of DDR2 RAM, yet poor speed ...

[qwert...@syberianoutpost.ru]

I run highly intensive I/O tests on an HP XW6600:
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http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/pscmisc/vac/us/product_pdfs/
xw6600_datasheet_jun09_061609.pdf
~
http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01312239/
c01312239.pdf
~
basically:
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Available processors:
Intel� Xeon� processor1 E52053 1.86 GHz 6 MB L2 cache 1066 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1 E52403 3.00 GHz 6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1 X52603 3.33 GHz 6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1 X52703 3.50 GHz 6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1,4 E54053 2.00 GHz 2x6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1,4 E54103 2.33 GHz 2x6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1,4 E54203 2.50 GHz 2x6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1,4 E54303 2.66 GHz 2x6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1,4 E54403 2.83 GHz 2x6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
Intel Xeon processor1,4 E54503 3.00 GHz 2x6 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB
~
Chipset: Intel� 5400
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Memory: 32 GB DDR2-6675 ECC; 8 DIMM slots
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Drive controllers: Integrated SATA 3.0 Gb/s Controller, RAID 0, 1, 5 capability
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Hard drive(s): Up to 3 SATA drives (with the optional optical bay converter
kit), or up to 3 of the small form factor SAS drives (with the HDD bay
converter kit); 3 TB max; 80 GB7 (7200 rpm) SATA 3.0 Gb/s; or 160, 250, 500,
or 1000 GB7 (7200 rpm) SATA 3.0 Gb/s NCQ; or 80 or 160 GB7 (10K rpm) SATA
1.5-Gb/s NCQ; or 300 GB7 (10K rpm) SATA 3.0 Gb/s NCQ; or 73 or 146 GB7
(10K rpm) 2.5" SAS; or 73, 146, 300, or 450 GB7 (15K rpm) SAS
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Slots: 6 full length slots: 2 PCIe x16 Gen2 Graphics2, 2 PCIe (x8 mechanically,
x4 electrically), 2 legacy PCI slots
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using:
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$ uname -a
Linux Microknoppix 3.3.7-64 #40 SMP PREEMPT Tue May 22 08:47:38 CEST 2012
x86_64 GNU/Linux
~
I think what is slowing down data transfer is the hdds. This is their transfer
speed:
~
# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 9536 MB in 2.00 seconds = 4777.68 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 302 MB in 3.01 seconds = 100.21 MB/sec

# hdparm -tT /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
Timing cached reads: 9596 MB in 2.00 seconds = 4807.76 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 286 MB in 3.01 seconds = 95.05 MB/sec

# hdparm -tT /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:
Timing cached reads: 10096 MB in 2.00 seconds = 5058.77 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 302 MB in 3.01 seconds = 100.39 MB/sec
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Based on the the Linux hardware support matrix:
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http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00060684/
c00060684.pdf
~
I could either use SSDs or a RAID configuration to optimize trasfer speed
but I have no experience doing this and I am not sure I would get a substantial
speed gain
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What could I best exploit the box I got to make it faster?
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thanks
lbrtchx
comp.os.linux.hardware: box with 32 GB of DDR2 RAM, yet poor speed ...