Laptop hangs in iowait: sata_piix problem?

joshuaheretic · 2006-12-20 18:19:37

I just got this new laptop, an ASUS A8js, and almost everything in Arch works perfectly on it. However, I cannot transfer my old music, video, and document files en mass onto my new laptop. Any extended hard drive transactions will eventually cause (according to top) my processor to spin in iowait at 90-something percent for the rest of eternity, effectively locking up the entire system. I use the sata_piix driver. I understand that all the ATA drivers have been receiving something of an overhaul, but this laptop is new so I can't speak to whether the old drivers would have worked. Although during extremely heavy transactions (such as `cat /dev/zero >> zero.txt`) my iowait will often spike up above 50, it will eventually spike up to 90 all at once for even light but steady transactional loads, even if the iowait has been near zero the entire time. All of my partitions except boot are on LVM, which I've never had problems with before. My filesystems are all ext3. My home partition is encrypted with dm-crypt and pam_mount, but this problem occurs even if testing my unencrypted root partition. I've tried the standard, beyond, ck, and suspend2 kernels, and compiled a custom version with preemption turned off (I ran across a post somewhere with a vaguely similar problem, where doing so helped). None of these measures helped. I haven't found any errors in my logs from the time of the lock-up, but then nothing can be written to disk with the iowait at 90+. If anyone has experienced a similar problem, I would appreciate any assistance they could offer. Output of lspci -v is below:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 0000b000-0000bfff
        Memory behind bridge: f9f00000-fdffffff
        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000bdf00000-00000000ddefffff
        Capabilities: [88] Subsystem: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [90] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [a0] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
        Memory at febfc000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [60] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [70] Express Unknown type IRQ 0

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
        Memory behind bridge: fe000000-fe0fffff
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 0000c000-0000cfff
        Memory behind bridge: fe100000-fe1fffff
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=05, sec-latency=0
        Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+) IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4
        Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 20
        I/O ports at ec00 [size=32]

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
        I/O ports at e880 [size=32]

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
        I/O ports at e800 [size=32]

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
        I/O ports at e480 [size=32]

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 20
        Memory at febfbc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [58] Debug port

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=06, subordinate=06, sec-latency=32
        Memory behind bridge: fea00000-feafffff
        Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information

00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller IDE (rev 02) (prog-if 80 [Master])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at <unassigned>
        I/O ports at ffa0 [size=16]
        Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Unknown device 0397 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1442
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
        Memory at fd000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
        Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        Memory at fc000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
        I/O ports at bc00 [size=128]
        [virtual] Expansion ROM at fbfe0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [68] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [78] Express Endpoint IRQ 0

02:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 1000
        Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 16
        Memory at fe0ff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [d0] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
        Capabilities: [e0] Express Legacy Endpoint IRQ 0

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 11f5
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
        I/O ports at c800 [size=256]
        Memory at fe1ff000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Expansion ROM at fe1e0000 [disabled] [size=64K]
        Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [48] Vital Product Data
        Capabilities: [50] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/1 Enable-
        Capabilities: [60] Express Endpoint IRQ 0
        Capabilities: [84] Vendor Specific Information

06:00.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd Unknown device 0832 (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
        Memory at feaff800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
        Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2

06:00.1 Generic system peripheral [0805]: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 19)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
        Memory at feaff400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2

06:00.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Unknown device 0843 (rev 01)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 5
        Memory at feaff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2

06:00.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 0a)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 5
        Memory at feafec00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2

06:00.4 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 05)
        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 1447
        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 5
        Memory at feafe800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2

newgargamel · 2006-12-20 22:22:06

Arch Linux

#1 2006-12-20 18:19:37

Laptop hangs in iowait: sata_piix problem?

#2 2006-12-20 22:22:06

Re: Laptop hangs in iowait: sata_piix problem?

#3 2006-12-21 19:41:14

Re: Laptop hangs in iowait: sata_piix problem?

#4 2006-12-22 08:23:36

Re: Laptop hangs in iowait: sata_piix problem?

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