OCZ Vertex II Failure

Rozzy85 · 11 Jan 2013 at 23:13

I bought 2 x Vertex II 60GB from OcUK back in September to be used in a RAID 0. One of them has just died completely. I shut my computer down one night like I do anyway and then when I turned it on the next the day the drive couldn't be detected by the RAID controller. I've tried a different SATA cable and checked the power connector just to be sure.

Since it only lasted 4 or so months I'm worried if these types of drives are reliable enough. I remember seeing a lot of things about these drives failing. I can of course send the faulty one back to OCZ under warranty and hopefully get another but I feel there's a strong chance it'll just fail again or the other one still working will go. They were quite cheap (£30 each) so I felt it was a risk to begin with.

Reliability is the most important thing so if it costs more for that then I'd be willing to try something more expensive. Maybe Intel or Crucial?

BluSky · 11 Jan 2013 at 23:36

Did you remember to update the firmware when you got the drives? OCZ drives are notorious for issues when using early firmware versions... including dieing frequently. If reliability is the most important thing and you want to buy new drives then look at the samsung 830 / 840 series, they don't get much more reliable than that.

Rozzy85 · 12 Jan 2013 at 01:10

No, I didn't update the firmware. They were purchased in Sep. 2012. Has there been an important update since then? I know there's the possibility they've been sat around in stock for a while. I guess the dead one still couldn't be revived?

Vimes · 12 Jan 2013 at 11:01

I have had Vertex 2E drives die with the latest firmware, so I wouldn't hold much faith in that. Seriously if I was offered that drive for free I would not use it.

When I have seen them die they typically have both the red and green diodes lit together when powered on, you can just make them out on the back of the drive. I tried various methods and suggestions for quite some time until I finally gave up and the retailer where I bought the last one swapped it out over the counter for a Crucial M4.

In the OCZ forums they coined a phrase to describe that "Panic Mode" - basically means that you are stuffed and would need to return it to them or the retailer under your warranty - whichever suits you. The Vertex 2E's used to be pretty bad when coming out of sleep mode, but I just think that they are bad altogether, in terms of reliability. It might be cheaper to send them back to OC than OCZ.

When you get your new (refurbished) drive I would, if you can afford to, look to something else like a Samsung (840 pro, not basic, or 830) or a Crucial (M4) for what should be better reliability.

Good luck

Bobcat · 13 Jan 2013 at 14:10

Sorry to hijack, but it looks like my 60GB OCZ Vertex 2E just died today, funny that i also purchased it in September 2012, switched the machine off and now the bios is no longer recognizing the drive in the machine, as its the C Drive its stuffed me...

Like the OP, i didnt flash the firmware of the drive, didn't think i had to.

Whats the deal, do we have to send these drives back to OC or back to OCZ ?

stulid · 13 Jan 2013 at 14:56

I got one for a friend when they were on offer, guess what....now dead.

Sent it back to OcUK who have sent it onwards to OCZ for repair/replacement.

Bobcat · 13 Jan 2013 at 15:14

stulid said:
I got one for a friend when they were on offer, guess what....now dead.

Sent it back to OcUK who have sent it onwards to OCZ for repair/replacement.

I have opened up an RMA direct with OCZ to get it sorted, as seems long-winded to send it to OC if OC then send onto OCZ, so hopefully quicker going direct.

Concerning though reading the amount of OCZ drives that tend to fail, even more so that it seems that OCZ send back a refurbished model from what i am reading, not good when the existing faulty one is only 4 months old, wonder what crap i will get back in its place.

Matd80 · 13 Jan 2013 at 16:52

Had similar problem, think it was a 30gig agility 1st gen ocz drive just died a death. Took it out tried in another pc still could not get it going.
RMA'd directly to ocz sent back directly to them and to be fair their customer service was very good. They said that drive is discontinued so they sent me a brand new vertex 3 60gb as a replacement. So I got a new much faster drive with twice the storage so was pleased overall. It arrived very quickly too.

Bobcat · 13 Jan 2013 at 17:01

Really weird, but in taking out the SSD and setting up a SATA Drive in its place, i thought i would just plug the OCZ SSD back in one more time, and its spun-up and working again ......

Upon reading other info about it, this particular OCZ SSD tends to go into 'Panic-Mode' which locks the drive up, by un-powering it for a few hours (whilst i cooked dinner), kind of resets it, which has worked in this instance, maybe worth others trying the same.

I guess now that its back working again i should look into flashing the firmware of it, to stop this happening again.

Thought i should share the good news (in my case) so that others can also try this.