Z790 APEX NVME performance drop problem

[CNesbit]

Hi,

My apex board has 3 NVME drives.  On M2_1 is a 990 pro, on the M2_2 is another 990 pro.  On the PCIex4 slot is an adapter board with a 980pro. Right after boot if a do a crystaldiskmark test, I get rated performance of ~7000 seq read/write for 1 attempt.  The following attempts drop to around 4-5K and bounce around.  It doesn't matter which drive I read first or second it always works once then drops.  Temps are at 35-40C and setting is 4.0x4.  They never read 7K again until I reboot.

Anyone ever see something like this?

Thanks for ideas.

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @CNesbit 

May I ask if the issue with the decrease in read and write speeds is a one-time occurrence, resolved now, or if it consistently happens and requires a reboot to restore the speed?
Have you updated the Intel ME to the corresponding version in the BIOS? 
For example, the latest BIOS version of the ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX is 1303, which requires updating the Intel ME to 16.1.27.2176.

Based on what you've described, are all three NVME drives consistently showing reduced read and write speeds?
Could you please provide more details about the circumstances under which you tested the read and write speeds? Were there any other software applications or operations running simultaneously?
Please specify on which drive your operating system is installed, and try installing a single M.2 SSD at a time without using any adapters. 
Afterward, check the read and write speeds for each of the three SSDs individually, if possible.

Thank you.

[CNesbit]

Hello Jiaszzz,

Thanks for the reply.  It happens constantly.  More info:  it looks like I have a certain number of seconds after booting to run the test (cystaldiskmark v8) to get a read of 7000+.  If I wait long enough I will only get 4000-5000 until I reboot.  It doesn't matter which drive.  My OS is on C which is the one connected to the CPU lanes (socket 2_1 I think).   I tried disabling my antivirus, and a few other programs but it didn't seem to matter.  I am on BIOS 1303 which includes the ME update.  I've also installed all the drivers I could find on the ASUS support site.  The NVME drives are using the default windows driver.   The adapter was never an issue on my Z690 Apex b, but I can try without it when I get a chance.  I might try a different drive brand as C to see.

[CNesbit · Accepted solution]

Update: I ran the armory crate uninstall tool and it seems to have fixed the problem with the nvme speeds.  I can now run repeated tests and get ~7000 each time.  Not perfect but close enough.