derExperte
Member
Since these drives are getting recommended regularly I think it's relevant to a lot of people here, including console owners who replaced the original HDDs.
- What models are we talking about? -
All Samsung 840 EVO SSDs, not the PRO series, not the 850s and not the 850 EVOs.
I read that the non-EVO drives are affected too but Samsung said they aren't and they don't offer a fix right now. If someone finds more info please share.
- So what's wrong? -
Problem is that the older the data, the slower it's getting read. From over 500MB/s while fresh the drive's speed can go down to less than 50MB/s depending on the circumstances (for more details about why and how see the articles below). For example if you installed a game a year ago it will now take a very long time to load. Same goes for the operating system, eventually making the drive slower than a traditional HDD. Good news is that no data loss has been reported yet so no need to panic. Also depending on your usage pattern you might not notice anything.
Here's a video with some explanations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSrfOkr5hCc&index=7&list=UUtKh7t3br1obEQL6EyiAq0w
Articles about what's going on with more in-depth information and statements from Samsung: http://www.anandtech.com/show/8550/...40-evo-read-performance-bug-fix-is-on-the-way http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storag...toration-Tool-preview-Getting-EVOs-back-speed
Also a long thread with people discussing and analyzing their findings since they've discovered there's something amiss: http://www.overclock.net/t/1507897/samsung-840-evo-read-speed-drops-on-old-written-data-in-the-drive
- Solution? -
Outdated, see the last update at the end.
Windows: Download the Samsung Performance Restoration tool, read the manual (seriously, read it completely, look at the pictures and ask if you don't understand something), then install and run the software: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/samsungssd/downloads.html (direct link http://www.samsung.com/global/busin...Samsung_SSD840EVO_Performance_Restoration.zip)
This will take a while (over 1hr on my half full 1TB EVO) but works without wiping your drive and runs in the background. Still be aware that data loss is always a possibility for example when you lose power during the process. So please back up important stuff. I'd also recommend closing all programs and stopping any anti-virus/malware tools.
And you need 10% of free space.
Linux and OSX: See http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html for a bootable USB disk or ISO and instructions.
- I put one of those in my PS4 or X1, what now? -
Sorry to say but the only way is to take the drive out and connect it to your PC via a SATA cable (USB isn't supported). Or don't as long as you don't notice any serious slow-downs, just keep this in mind in case it happens one day.
But beware....
UPDATE: The issue did reappear for some, now Samsung has responded.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8997/...0-evo-performance-another-fix-is-in-the-works
Final (?) Update | April 23rd
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storag...40-EVO-EXT0DB6Q-Firmware-Review-Finally-Fixed
Download Magician 4.6 from http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html or http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/samsung_ssd_magician.html. Install and then update the firmware. Finally let the Performance Optimization (Advanced!) run once which will take a while. After that the firmware should keep the drive 'fresh' by doing occasional optimizations on its own. The end.
Update | July 2016
840 non-EVO fix: https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Stora...T0AB0Q-Firmware-Tested-Read-Speed-Issues-Fina
- What models are we talking about? -
All Samsung 840 EVO SSDs, not the PRO series, not the 850s and not the 850 EVOs.
I read that the non-EVO drives are affected too but Samsung said they aren't and they don't offer a fix right now. If someone finds more info please share.
- So what's wrong? -
Problem is that the older the data, the slower it's getting read. From over 500MB/s while fresh the drive's speed can go down to less than 50MB/s depending on the circumstances (for more details about why and how see the articles below). For example if you installed a game a year ago it will now take a very long time to load. Same goes for the operating system, eventually making the drive slower than a traditional HDD. Good news is that no data loss has been reported yet so no need to panic. Also depending on your usage pattern you might not notice anything.
Here's a video with some explanations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSrfOkr5hCc&index=7&list=UUtKh7t3br1obEQL6EyiAq0w
Articles about what's going on with more in-depth information and statements from Samsung: http://www.anandtech.com/show/8550/...40-evo-read-performance-bug-fix-is-on-the-way http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storag...toration-Tool-preview-Getting-EVOs-back-speed
Also a long thread with people discussing and analyzing their findings since they've discovered there's something amiss: http://www.overclock.net/t/1507897/samsung-840-evo-read-speed-drops-on-old-written-data-in-the-drive
- Solution? -
Outdated, see the last update at the end.
This will take a while (over 1hr on my half full 1TB EVO) but works without wiping your drive and runs in the background. Still be aware that data loss is always a possibility for example when you lose power during the process. So please back up important stuff. I'd also recommend closing all programs and stopping any anti-virus/malware tools.
And you need 10% of free space.
Linux and OSX: See http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html for a bootable USB disk or ISO and instructions.
- I put one of those in my PS4 or X1, what now? -
Sorry to say but the only way is to take the drive out and connect it to your PC via a SATA cable (USB isn't supported). Or don't as long as you don't notice any serious slow-downs, just keep this in mind in case it happens one day.
But beware....
However, OP should include the warning that this tool would wipe the drive with the PS4 data on it, because the tool operates only on NTFS filesystem, which is of course not what PS4 drive is formatted with.
UPDATE: The issue did reappear for some, now Samsung has responded.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8997/...0-evo-performance-another-fix-is-in-the-works
In October, Samsung released a tool to address a slowdown in 840 EVO Sequential Read speeds reported by a small number of users after not using their drive for an extended period of time. This tool effectively and immediately returned the drive’s performance to normal levels. We understand that some users are experiencing the slowdown again. While we continue to look into the issue, Samsung will release an updated version of the Samsung SSD Magician software in March that will include a performance restoration tool.
Final (?) Update | April 23rd
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storag...40-EVO-EXT0DB6Q-Firmware-Review-Finally-Fixed
Download Magician 4.6 from http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html or http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/samsung_ssd_magician.html. Install and then update the firmware. Finally let the Performance Optimization (Advanced!) run once which will take a while. After that the firmware should keep the drive 'fresh' by doing occasional optimizations on its own. The end.
Update | July 2016
840 non-EVO fix: https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Stora...T0AB0Q-Firmware-Tested-Read-Speed-Issues-Fina