Extremely Bad performance Samsung SSD

I posted in the other thread about this and as to not hijack Stamatisx's thread I started my own. This is my second SSD since May and my CDM scores are horrendous.

Screenies:

CDM


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and here is the rest of the stuff(Firmware, TRIM, and alignment)


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I also never had these degradation problems on my SXPS 16 with the PM45 chipset

 

I think your TRIM isn't working. Have you tried this 64-bit Intel® RST Driver Files for F6 Install?

EDIT:
In order to install the said driver, you need to go to Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers > Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller. Right click > update driver > browse to where you extracted the file > Ok.

But first you need to download the file and extract

 

SAMSUNG HAS ITS OWN FIRMWARE, do not use any drivers unless they come from DELL (for your model) or Samsung(for your model) or you will brick your samsung SSD. All SSD perform less than expected on the mobile chipset however all SSD perform better than all HDD. Some Samsung and Intell are not the same SSD technology so trim doesn't work on every Samsung.

 

Mkelliny, did you try to update the firmware of your SSD with the one recommended by Dell?
Drivers and Downloads

Your drive definitely underperforms. Before you do anything take a back up of your data.
I also advise you to install the RST drivers
Drivers and Downloads

 

Hi Stamatisx

It appears to me that everyone who ordered a Samsung SSD has this firmware in their dell driver section. However I believe it should only be used by those with a Samsung PM800 model SSD. For the vast majority of people with a Samsung SSD they should ignore it as there are dozens of models that don't apply. This is probably why there are so many #$%^ of reinstalls. I am not on my laptop currently but I think by memory my SSD was model PB22. The samsung support pages for ALL their SSD's leave a lot to be desired.

 

My suggestion is based on the fact that Mkelliny has an Alienware laptop with a PM800 256GB SSD purchased from Dell and this is the firmware recommended on their web site.
In case he stated on his OP that the SSD was purchased elsewhere and it's not from Dell I would give him a different advice.
If he wants, he can take your advice and ignore what Dell recommends but it's up to him to decide.
I simply point out to him what would a Dell representative tell him to do in case he called them about this problem.

 

Are you referring to the Intel RST driver I suggested? Or am I missing something?

 

I am refering to the PM800 firmware. I have not researched the other driver so not sure about it. Changing firmware for SSD is risky, http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent...rmware_for_ssds_just_a_day_after_release.html

 

If that is the case I stand corrected, I missed the note about him having a PM800. Where does he state that? I don't think all Samsung 256 drivers are PM800.

Edit, his upload shows he has a PM22-JS3 model. I think the PM800 model may have been released in a year ago Fall 2009. Am I wrong? are all PM models part of the PM800 nomenclature? I think the confusion lies with Dell's driver instructions. They are listing every single laptop and desktop MODEL dell has made in the last eon as being compatible. I think what they are saying is that any Alienware M17X r2 or r1 is compatible IF and only if you have model PM800. Is it any wonder there are so many botched reinstalls?

 

The firmware seems the same like Dell uses but we will find out when he replies I guess
If he bought the SSD elsewhere from Dell then he should not upgrade with that firmware as I suggested on my other post

 

First I would like to thank you all for the quick responses and the advice.

Now on to the drive
My drive is TRIM enabled. I have the firmware already installed from the firmware update posted on Dell's site.

and have updated the Drivers to version 9.6.0.1014



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I am running a disk mark will post with a screen when it is done running

 

Cheers, for the compliment. Samsung and Trim is another sticky issue with Dell. Certain Samsung SSD are not compatible with Trim. Here is a list of those that are:

SSD Trim Support - Desktop General Hardware Forum - Desktop - Dell Community

Mkelliny we have the exact same Samsung SSD model. I got the impression from this list that Chris put out that our driver was NOT compatible with Trim. What I think has happened is you have used this driver, its not compatible and now performance is suffering.

 

I never installed the driver as this was the Firmware that was on the drive when I received it from Dell.

Here is that CDM run not much different some gains still nowhere near what it is supposed to be.



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In your post you said you had Trim enabled? Many people just download all the drivers listed under their calltag, many of which are not relavent or not compatible. I am not saying this is what you did, just curious how to tell if you are running trim. I just assumed I wasn't because I wasn't included in Chris's list and we both have the same drive.

 

I do have TRIM enabled. I just didn't update the firmware it came updated already

 

Hi, how do you determine if you have trim enabled? Where do you look? I don't see any mention of it on my system.

 

Look at my post on the top of this page there is a screen shot of Crystal Disk Info TRIM if not supported on the drive it will be grayed out, everything points to it being enabled yet there is unfortunately no 100% sure way to tell if it is working.

 

Just for an FYI, if your Drive Storage Driver doesn't support TRIM you will lose the TRIM feature even though your drive supports TRIM feature.

i.e., when I first got my XPS 1340 I installed my Samsung 256GB SSD (TRIM enabled) and used Dell's storage driver which doesn't support TRIM and my performance has suffered a lot until I switched to MS driver. (performance gained a lot but not close to factory state until I did the secure erase)

And if your previous driver (Dell's storage driver) doesn't support TRIM, that explains your bad performance. best thing to do is Secure Erase your SSD.

PS: Don't forget to create an Image backup before secure erase.

 

How do I perform a Secure erase?

 

Using GParted (hdparm) or a Desktop. You can also do it on your Alienware with hot unplug/plug.

GParted
ATA Secure Erase


This is the version I used to use on my Sammy. Link

PS: Please let us know if you need more info

 

I just did a hot unplug/plug and nothing happened? I dont have a desktop available right now. How do you use GParted exactly? as that guide was somewhat confusing.

 

1) Download the .iso file > burn to CD.
2) Boot from CD > hit enter every option (default choice) till you reach desktop.
3) Delete every partition from your SSD > apply > dont save report or something like that (cant recall the exact line )
4) Left click on the monitor icon (upper left) then follow the ATA secure erase commands
5) Exit
6) Done. (you can do the image restore or fresh install)

Would be better off with fresh install and follow the right OS tweaks.


Here's my CDM after SE

Spoiler

 

Here's the summarized ATA Secure Erase guide

Step 1 - Make sure the drive Security is not frozen:
hdparm -I /dev/X (usually its hdparm -I /dev/sda for the first partition)
you can verify it if its dev/sda by clicking the computer icon on your upper left screen

Step 1 is to verify that your HDD/SSD if NOT frozen


Step 2 - Enable security by setting a user password:
WARNING: When the user password is set the drive will be locked after next power cycle (the drive will deny normal access until unlocked with the correct password).
hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass Eins /dev/X


Step 3 - Make sure it succeeded, execute:
hdparm -I /dev/X
should display " enabled"


Step 4 - Issue the ATA Secure Erase command:
time hdparm --user-master u --security-erase Eins /dev/X

Step 4 will take around 2 to 4 minutes.


Step 5 - The drive is now erased! Verify security is disabled:
hdparm -I /dev/X

 

Thank you so much for that help and info Plus rep for you Its so much better than it was. I had a hard time with the Hard drive being frozen then I seen another thread where a person said to remove the drive and then put it back in and that worked and it was smooth sailing from there



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Thanks!

So glad to be of help bro


EDIT:
You need to let it idle for about an hour or two to let the GC work then reboot.

Enjoy

 

I wish i could double rep you but unfortunately i gotta share the love