Firmware update for the Samsung 840 EVO drives out tomorrow

Simon Belmont · 15 Oct 2014 at 12:48

.:SAmSuNG:. said:
Couldnt be bothered doing a back up. All done in about a hour.

I didn't back up either. fw updated fine

Havana_UK · 15 Oct 2014 at 12:58

I backed up some data before hand (not much though, I don't keep a lot of "data" on the SSD (just OS and some games that benefit from load times).

30ish minutes in at 88%. This is a 250GB EVO with approx. 50% free space.

I happened to check the total data written just yesterday (was 2TB) so will check again after the process is completed and report back.

JeditOjanen · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:04

My EVO is used as a system drive. Is this safe to use?

Stoner81 · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:05

Does this apply to the 840 EVO Pro or is it just the EVO version?

Stoner81.

Simon Belmont · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:06

JeditOjanen said:
My EVO is used as a system drive. Is this safe to use?

You mean it has the OS and your using it now?

If yes, that's ok. I updated while I was online. You'll be good

graphicequalise · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:10

Stoner 81, it applies to 840 EVO only!

Stoner81 · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:13

graphicequalise said:
Stoner 81, it applies to 840 EVO only!

OK thanks

in that case I doesn't apply to my rig

Stoner81.

Nexus18 · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:14

Just finished running the program, took about 40 minutes overall.

Before:

After:

Now lets hope it stays like this forever

delpy8 · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:17

oh well Ive a 250gb in main pc and 120gb in laptop, thank god Ive not got a 1TB

LordBarrass · 15 Oct 2014 at 13:25

I will ask the question to Samsung about the wear on the drive. I am not sure if they will have the data on that.

I have also added the link to the software in the OP now.

Reality|Bites · 15 Oct 2014 at 15:00

Will we have to run this every month or is this just a one off and the drive should be ok now?

Havana_UK · 15 Oct 2014 at 15:07

Havana_UK said:
I backed up some data before hand (not much though, I don't keep a lot of "data" on the SSD (just OS and some games that benefit from load times).

30ish minutes in at 88%. This is a 250GB EVO with approx. 50% free space.

I happened to check the total data written just yesterday (was 2TB) so will check again after the process is completed and report back.

Just checked, and the drive has now written 2.12TB (or ~120GB more than before the utility was run). This is the same amount of data on the drive, and I would therefore conclude that it's simply moved all of the data from one cell to another so that it's all "new" files, and the firmware update prevents the problem recurring.

Danny75 · 15 Oct 2014 at 15:14

33 minutes on my 120GB which is only half full.

Wizzfizz · 15 Oct 2014 at 15:47

Before:

After:

Roady · 15 Oct 2014 at 15:57

Havana_UK said:
Just checked, and the drive has now written 2.12TB (or ~120GB more than before the utility was run). This is the same amount of data on the drive, and I would therefore conclude that it's simply moved all of the data from one cell to another so that it's all "new" files, and the firmware update prevents the problem recurring.

Thanks for reporting back, I was going to do the same check (probably still will anyway!)

bledd · 15 Oct 2014 at 16:17

Has the firmware version changed?

Or is this a tool they expect us to run on a monthly basis to restore the performance each time?

edit, looks like it's gone from

EXT0BB6Q
to
EXT0CB6Q

Aurhinius · 15 Oct 2014 at 16:18

Yeah I was suspicious of it adding a drive amount of wear to your drive.

Technically to fix this issue then samsung are causing unecessary wear to the drive.

While I'm happy that they fix it I think it's a bit naughty that they are reducing the life of my drive to fix their problem.

Probably being too picky... but TLC nand doesn't last as long as MLC in the first place.

In my case I got an RMA drive so I don't have much to moan about but everyone should be aware there drive will get significant wear.

Hopefully this total re-write will not effect write performance casued by massive re-writes to the drive. I'm guessing samsung thought of that... but you do wonder.

spleeny · 15 Oct 2014 at 16:26

this is after the upgrade .... before it looked like someone having a heart attack

V F · 15 Oct 2014 at 16:39

Aurhinius said:
Yeah I was suspicious of it adding a drive amount of wear to your drive.

Technically to fix this issue then samsung are causing unecessary wear to the drive.

While I'm happy that they fix it I think it's a bit naughty that they are reducing the life of my drive to fix their problem.

Probably being too picky... but TLC nand doesn't last as long as MLC in the first place.

In my case I got an RMA drive so I don't have much to moan about but everyone should be aware there drive will get significant wear.

Hopefully this total re-write will not effect write performance casued by massive re-writes to the drive. I'm guessing samsung thought of that... but you do wonder.

Is this confirmed or is this peoples assumptions? Everyone keeps coming up with their own summaries…. All I keep reading is peoples own views on what they think is happening.

Metalface Mark · 15 Oct 2014 at 16:54

take it you cant do this raided? I cant seem to get mine to display with the magician