Ok, here are some EDD results, as described by a script (edd-report.sh, 
attached) cut-n-pasted from the EDD web page 
http://linux.dell.com/edd/results.html


First report:
HP workstation, ICH5-based
ICH5 PATA (boot drive)
ICH5 SATA
Adaptec 1210SA (aka SiI 3112) SATA


Second report, the one with the 30-second delay:
MSI whitebox, VIA-based, Athlon64
Promise 203xx SATA (boot drive)
VIA SATA