Supermicro X11SBA LNF4 and Maybe Other Motherboards

Hey! Wanna tank your SSD performance?

Yes! You can do it too!

How? Read on...

How to do it...

All you have to do is go into the BIOS settings, Advanced Settings, Chipset Configuration, North Bridge, Intel IGD Configuration, IGD Turbo, and set it to Disable

Wait. What?! That's a setting for graphics, right? It says so right in the menu, so it's got to be for that, right? Right? Uhhh...

Guess what Junior, you just crap canned your disk driver performance by a factor of about 4 to 8, or is that 1/4 to 1/8, or maybe... Who cares? Either way one looks at it system performance goes into the tank because of completely crap canned disk drive or SSD performance.

Circumstances, Solutions, and Questions

It is a fact. This is all fact. It was tested on TWO different X11SBA-LN4F motherboards simultaneously with SSDs that were clones of each other with the latest BIOS updated (2020) and latest ASPEED Firmware (08.2023)

Solution? Make sure IGD Turbo is set to Enabled

Question(s): WTF Supermicro? Really? How did you manage to do this? How about fixing it?

Let's do a Search for More Information

Your search - "igd turbo" "drive performance" - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:

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...uh, oh. Well, as soon as Google's "spider / crawler" gets around to indexing this article, at least there will be one result.

Let's Check in with ChatGPT too

Dear Chatbot, what is igd turbo in terms of bios settings and what systems does it affect?

ChatGPT say:

"IGD Turbo" typically refers to a BIOS/UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) setting related to the Integrated Graphics Device (IGD) or integrated GPU on a computer. The specific implementation and naming conventions can vary between different motherboard manufacturers and system configurations. Below, I'll provide a general overview of what this setting might entail:

Integrated Graphics Device (IGD):

Most modern CPUs come with an integrated graphics processor (iGPU) that is built into the CPU itself. This integrated graphics unit is often referred to as the IGD. It allows a computer to display graphics without the need for a dedicated graphics card.

IGD Turbo:

The term "IGD Turbo" in BIOS/UEFI settings typically refers to a feature that allows the integrated graphics to operate at a higher performance level, providing better graphics performance. This is achieved by allocating more system memory (RAM) to the integrated graphics or by adjusting the clock speed of the integrated GPU.

Systems Affected:

The IGD Turbo setting is relevant for systems with integrated graphics, which is common in laptops and some desktop computers, especially those designed for general productivity tasks and lightweight graphics workloads.

How to Access BIOS/UEFI Settings:

To access the BIOS/UEFI settings and check or modify the "IGD Turbo" setting, you need to:

Reboot your computer.
During the boot process, press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. The key varies between manufacturers but is often one of the following: Del, Esc, F2, F10, F12, or a combination like Ctrl + Alt + Esc.
Navigate through the BIOS/UEFI menus to find the graphics or advanced settings.
Look for a setting related to "IGD Turbo" or a similar term. Depending on the manufacturer, it might be under an "Advanced" or "Integrated Peripherals" section.
Adjust the setting if necessary. Options might include enabling or disabling "IGD Turbo" and specifying the amount of memory allocated to the integrated graphics.

Note:

The availability and naming of the "IGD Turbo" setting can vary based on the motherboard, system, and BIOS/UEFI version.
Enabling "IGD Turbo" may improve graphics performance but could potentially consume more system memory or increase power consumption.

Always refer to the specific documentation provided by the motherboard or system manufacturer for accurate information about BIOS/UEFI settings. If in doubt, consulting the user manual or reaching out to technical support is recommended.

OK, in light of your explanation of IGD Turbo, will changing that setting to disabled affect disk drive performance?

ChatGPT say:

Changing the "IGD Turbo" setting to disabled in the BIOS/UEFI is primarily related to the integrated graphics processor (IGP) and is not expected to have a direct impact on disk drive performance. The "IGD Turbo" setting is more focused on graphics processing and memory allocation for the integrated GPU.

Here are a few key points:

Graphics Performance:
- "IGD Turbo" settings influence the performance of the integrated graphics, affecting tasks related to rendering visuals and graphics processing.
- Disabling "IGD Turbo" may reduce the performance of the integrated GPU, but it should not impact the performance of other components like disk drives.
Memory Allocation:
- Some "IGD Turbo" settings might involve allocating a portion of system memory (RAM) to the integrated graphics for improved performance. Disabling it may free up this allocated memory, potentially making more system memory available for other tasks.
Disk Drive Performance:
- Disk drive performance is generally influenced by factors such as the type of drive (HDD or SSD), its speed, interface (SATA or NVMe), and other storage-related settings.
- Changes to the "IGD Turbo" setting are not expected to directly affect the performance of disk drives.
Considerations:
- While changing "IGD Turbo" is unlikely to impact disk drive performance, it's essential to consider that altering other settings in the BIOS/UEFI may have unintended consequences.
- Always refer to the documentation provided by the motherboard or system manufacturer for details on specific settings and their potential effects.

In summary, changes to the "IGD Turbo" setting are more relevant to graphics performance and memory allocation for the integrated GPU, and they should not have a direct impact on disk drive performance. However, it's advisable to make changes to BIOS/UEFI settings with caution and to check the manufacturer's documentation for any additional considerations. If you have specific concerns about disk drive performance, it may be helpful to look into storage-related settings in the BIOS/UEFI that specifically affect storage devices.

Are you sure. These questions are all related to Linux. Specifically Rocky Linux 9, which is the same as Alma Linux, Red Hat, etc. Is there any impact on drive performance, SSD or Hard Disk Drive, in regards to IGD Turbo settings?

ChatGPT say;

I appreciate the clarification that your questions are specific to Linux, particularly Rocky Linux 9. The impact of IGD Turbo settings on drive performance, whether SSD or HDD, is generally negligible, and the primary influence of IGD Turbo is on the integrated graphics processor.

In Linux environments, changing IGD Turbo settings is unlikely to directly impact storage device performance. These settings are typically related to graphics processing and memory allocation for the integrated GPU, and their effects are more closely tied to graphical tasks rather than disk operations.

In Linux, drive performance is more influenced by factors such as the type of storage device (SSD or HDD), the storage interface (SATA, NVMe, etc.), filesystem configuration, and I/O scheduler settings. Changes to the IGD Turbo settings should not introduce significant alterations to storage subsystem behavior.

It's always a good practice to monitor system performance after making any changes to ensure that there are no unexpected impacts. However, specifically with regard to storage performance, the IGD Turbo settings are not a primary factor. If you observe any unusual behavior, you may want to explore other aspects of system configuration or consult system logs for additional insights.

As Linux distributions like Rocky Linux are based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it's also valuable to consider any distribution-specific or kernel-specific behaviors. Always refer to the documentation provided by the distribution and kernel developers for any specific considerations related to your environment.

Are you sure? The specific motherboard in question, a Supermicro x11sba-ln4f, has an ASpeed brand IPMI / BMC chip for out of band management. Perhaps the IPMI / BMC system is affected? Or do you know anything specifically about this motherboard where IGD Turbo settings could affect SSD or disk drive performance?

ChatGPT say;

Thank you for providing more specific details about the Supermicro x11sba-ln4f motherboard and its ASpeed IPMI/BMC chip. In the context of this specific motherboard and its integrated graphics system, the IGD Turbo settings may indeed have an impact on system behavior, including storage performance.

However, the impact on SSD or disk drive performance would likely be indirect and minimal. The IGD Turbo settings typically focus on the performance of the integrated graphics processor and its interaction with system memory. The primary function of the ASpeed BMC chip is to provide out-of-band management capabilities and doesn't directly control storage subsystem behavior.

That said, it's crucial to note that motherboard and firmware settings can sometimes have unexpected interactions. To get the most accurate information regarding the Supermicro x11sba-ln4f motherboard, including any potential impact of IGD Turbo settings on storage devices, I recommend checking the official documentation provided by Supermicro for this specific model.

Here are steps you can take:

Supermicro Documentation:
- Refer to the Supermicro x11sba-ln4f motherboard manual or documentation.
- Look for information related to IGD Turbo settings and their impact on system components.
- Check if there are any recommendations or warnings regarding storage performance in relation to these settings.
BIOS/UEFI Interface:
- Access the BIOS/UEFI settings on the Supermicro x11sba-ln4f motherboard.
- Navigate to the relevant section that controls IGD Turbo settings.
- Check for any specific notes or warnings related to system performance, including storage, in the BIOS/UEFI interface.
Vendor Support:
- Contact Supermicro's technical support for assistance.
- Supermicro support can provide specific guidance on the behavior of their motherboards and any potential implications of changing particular settings.

As the Supermicro x11sba-ln4f motherboard integrates both IPMI/BMC and graphics components, understanding the manufacturer's recommendations is crucial. Any documentation or guidance provided by Supermicro will be more accurate and tailored to the specific features and characteristics of this motherboard model.