Samsung 830 SSD

The M4 is out w/ [FW] 0309. Has Samsung patched their [FW]?

 

Yes, it's up. Anyway, the FW was good, they changed the updater and the update scheme.

 

830 owners: new Samsung SSD Magician is up (3.1.1), and a new firmware as well (CXM03B1Q).

 

Basically...if you manage to successfully update previous CXM02B1Q version, no need update to latest CXM03B1Q version.

 

Exactly, but just to be sure, I have updated to this one. Was very smooth, used the bootable CD method.

 

Is it worth paying $40 more for this than a 320 or $30 than a X25-M. It seems to do really well in real world tests, much better than the 320, which is really appealing.

 

Hi,

I was wondering the same thing and then found a deal on the 256GB Samsung 830 on eBay that I couldn't pass up. Suffice it to say with the performance & stability this drive delivers, the Norton Ghost that comes with it on disk, the Batman game (16GB torrent download), Sata to USB cable & drive spacer, that it is well worth it. I paid $360 and see that Amazon is fluctuating between $369 - $399 right now. I have a VAIO Z790 Sata, Rev. 2, 3.0 Gbps notebook but it's running wonderfully fast. Check out the benchmark I posted, YMMV.

One thing to note is that there is a 256MB user cache on board that's volatile during a sudden power loss so you would lose any work not saved at that point but I'm not concerned about that myself since it's in a Notebook with a battery. TRIM/ GC works just fine. I'm using factory firmware CXM01B1Q without a hitch although Samsung has released CXM03B1Q that fixes some compatability issues that others have been experiencing.

 

For me it's worth it since it gives you SATA3 speeds and all the extras comes with it.

 

It's better if you can install latest firmware. It optimize write amplification(GC). Not sure about user cache thing, but if I'm not mistaken most SSD's comes with capacitor to prevent data loss under power fail.

 

Intel 320 series is only SATAII, but look at Intel 510 or the newly released 520 series for SATAIII

 

Simple answer: If you plan to upgrade your PC/notebook every 2-3 years like me, go with Samsung. If you plan to keep it more than 3 years, go with intel since it comes with 5 year warranty.

Both of them are very reliable.

 

There is no built-in over provisioning in this drive right? So if I set aside the minimum 7% in the 128gb model, I'll be looking at 110gb of usable space? I want to buy this drive very badly but just am not sure it'll be big enough. I wish more companies produced 160gb like Intel, something between 128gb and 256gb.

 

Is the latest firmware safe to install? I just got my 830 two days ago and I don't want to go messing anything up (yet). Also, is the best way to update firmware through the Magician software?

 

Just use the Magician software to download and install it; the newest one is safe to install and it probably won't even take more than 30 seconds to install.

That being said, I need to see if it fixed mine from the botched update before, Windows Backup keeps freezing my system when it goes to make an image of the SSD now s:

 

I wonder if Dell will release a new firmware for their PM830's - I have two of them in my rig and I spoke to Samsung about applying the retail version firmware and was told that it would not be compatible.....

 

Just upgraded the firmware on my 830 256gb ssd to CXM03B1Q and i must say i was pleasantly surprised on how easy & quick the procedure was. Upgraded in Windows using Magician 3.1.1 and took less than 2 mins...don't know why i was about to wet my underpants Haven't noticed any major speed increase but happy i'm using the latest fw for peace of mind. Also the "update available" message in Magician 3.1.1 is no longer there. Way to go Samsung

 

Same here. I'm so glad Samsung's firmware update process is not like OCZ's.

 

Well I ordered the 128gb with coupon for $190 at newegg. I think I will be ok space wise with about 30gb free. Windirstat is an amazingly useful tool and it's remarkable how much space gets wasted over time. I'm excited about this drive, it seems extremely promising from everything I've read.

 

What's the point of over provisioning? I have an Intel 320 series SSD and the space is not allocated like that. Not sure I like the idea of losing space immediately for that feature...

 

Samsung 830-Series SSD Firmware Update Could Brick SSD

 

This has been fixed by firmware CXM03B1Q

 

The drives are overprovisioned to allow garbage collection to do it's job more efficiently should the be almost filled to max usable capacity.

 

how good is garbage collection of 830

 

Yes it's for garbage collection.

Intel drives are no different, you just don't see it. The 320 drives are over-provisioned from the factory which means the physical capacity of the drives are higher than what shows up for you. You lost it before even starting. In another drive like the Samsung, the user is given access to all available space and can determine how much to set aside for over-provisioning. There's nothing wrong with either case since it must be done, Intel just doesn't trust the user to not to fill it up. This comes after the fact of the whole binary thing that applies to all hard drives and ssd's, ie. 128gb advertised is actually 119gb.

 

How do you manually set aside the space for garbage collection?

 

By leaving some empty space. Samsung's ssd tool has an over provisioning feature that allows you to do it the way Intel does from the factory.

 

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What I appreciate about, perhaps, as Intel did...was that they sell the drives as 300 GB and the end user doesn't have to worry about over provisioning (which means that there must be a hidden part of the drive). Guess I am wondering...are other brands doing as Intel does? I get that over provisioning is not manditory...but my question is ...how do other brands handle it? I do not hear of Crucial or OCZ users discussing over provisioning.

Just curious...

Thanks

 

I agree to a certain extent. Most people don't frequent forums and read articles to know about garbage collection, over provisioning, etc. The Intel way is the fool proof way. The Samsung tool is somewhere in between so the user can set aside that hidden space, though I'm sure some/a lot may not understand it or bother finding out. It's likely marketing related to the capacities Intel has sold compared to the others. The others can't afford to over provision.

 

Yeah...my 320 is 300 GB total. HP put a 20 GB partition for my system recovery and C: is 280 GB. Guess I can't complain about that. The Intel Toolbox is also very helpful with "garbage collection" where you can run the app to optimize the drive. The Samsung Magicial functions much the same way. I guess if you don't overfill the drive...then the overprovisioning may not be necessary. As one gets to about 75% full...over provisioning sounds like a decent idea...to "guarantee" that the drive won't mess up

 

Samsumg recommends you go to the Support site> Memory and Storage>select Solid State Drive and then choose your model number.

You will then be directed to the correct download location for SSD Magician v3.1 and firmware CXM03B1Q for your drive.

Samsung

 

You got it wrong. It's important that you have unpartitioned free space, not just average free space. If I'm not mistaken, only unpartitioned one's will be used by the controller.

You are right about Intel being fool proof, tho I like the Samsung's idea a bit more. Let's say you are buying a 256 GB SSD, and let's say you overprovision 51 GB, that's 20%, you can extend the SSD's lifetime and durability a lot.

 

I installed the ssd in my dell latitude but ssd is 7mm tall and laptop needs 9.5 mm tall.
Do. We need spacer?
I got desktop upgrade kit unknowingly.
What shall i do?

 

If it isn't moving it's good.

 

Does it hurt performance if you partition the drive to much or if you don't partition it at all?

 

There is their really need to give some free space ?

 

You can create partition with full available space, but don't fill it 100% with data.

 

Samsung Elaborates On SSD Firmware Scare....Acknowledges Extremely Few 830 series SSD Owners Were Affected

Samsung Elaborates on SSD Firmware Scare - Acknowledges Extremely Few Series 830 SSD Owners Affected - The SSD Review

 

Got to give Samsung credit. Not many companies would have done this. Glad they caught it insanely fast. This is just another example as to why most will put Samsung and Intel on a reliability pedestal over the other SSD manufacturers.

 

TigerDirect has this deal: Samsung 830 128GB SATA 3 Toggle NAND SSD for $179.99 AC at TigerDirect - Slickdeals.net. I ordered the $10 more notebook kit, just in case.

Of course, after I ordered, I didn't realize that there was the possible FatWallet 4% cash back or the $20 off Amex offer. Unfortunately, I can't cancel it w/o calling them and they don't open for another 3 hours....

 

one of the best upgrade i did.
Its awesome ssd and I upgraded my firmware after full ghost back up.
its working well.did all optimisations through ssd magician and I am up and running.
not noticing any differences though.
Their is no changelogs?

 

Anyone have an issue with the samsung magician software not detecting their drive? I have a 64gb being used as an Intel RST cache drive on my desktop, and i was going to do the firmware update, except that the software doesn't see the drive. Does it need to be active with a drive letter?

 

No such problems with my 256gb drive. Are you using the latest 3.1 version of Magician? FYI i have partitioned my SSD into C: and D: drives (as well as 23GB of unallocated space for over provisioning). Perhaps try assigning a drive letter and see if that makes a difference?

 

No problems with Magician nor have I heard of anyone else with this problem. Good luck finding a fix.

 

I had no trouble updating to CXM03B1Q using an .iso I burned of their tool. I had no data on it the drive yet, so I had no data to lose.

I wish Samsung would step forward w/something official in their docs and/or their web site really discussing whether or not the 830's controller can utilize free space that lies within a partition that the OS that supports TRIM has marked deleted.

On places like Anandtech, there's a lot of back of forth about this and it doesn't seem like anyone knows. People have their (sometimes opposing) views on this. I normally always leave some free space on my drives, but it's not customary practice on non-SSDs to leave unallocated, totally wasted space, belonging to no partitions.

I've read over the Over Provisioning section of the Disk Magician manual but it's unclear to me whether their controller really can't use free space inside a partition or if their 7-10% recommendation is because they think some people will just fill their drive to the max?

 

I really think that over provisioning is a tool for those who fill the drives all the way up. I currently have an Intel 300 GB 320 and no unallocated space. In my system, I have a dual drive system, where I run the OS and applications like Office 2010, Nero, and other important programs off the SSD. Games and peripheral programs are installed on D: I even have Internet Explorer put it's cache on the D drive. I will never fill my drive up, so I don't worry about it. As far as TRIM...Intel has it happen instantaneously, so files are actually deleted when you delete them. Once a week, I run the toolbox optimizer just to be sure. My intention down the road is to get a 256 GB 830 drive for C and move the Intel to replace the HDD. Even then...I will use the magician once a week to assure that files are cleared. At most...I might use 100 GB of my SSD at any given point. Even when I move the Intel to D, I don't expect to fill more than half of it...

If I really wanted to fill them up...I would over provision...but no need...

 

^^^^
Yeah, but the 320 uses a Marvell controller whereas the Samsung 830 uses Samsung's own.

FWIW, I have an Intel X-25M G2 (uses Intel's own controller) in my desktop machine and it's nowhere near full....

 

Intel 320 series uses an Intel controller, their 510 series uses Marvell.

"The Intel SSD 320, like the 310 and X25-M before it, uses an Intel branded controller. Opening up the 320 reveals a near identical controller to what we saw in the 34nm X25-M G2 housing"

from: AnandTech - The Intel SSD 320 Review: 25nm G3 is Finally Here

 

Whoops! I stand corrected.

Side note: I ran into weird intermittent (entire system) pauses w/the HDD light on solid when I installed the Samsung 830 in my Lenovo T61p, accompanied by "Device\Ide\iaStor0, did not respond within the timeout period." in my event log.

Turns out I ran into the problem described at http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-S...eze-ups-in-Windows-7-solved-for-me/td-p/38766.

The latest Install RST drivers refused to install, so I ended up editing my registry as described there for port0. It seems that did the trick. I haven't hit any pauses nor iastor0 timeouts after using my machine for a few hours.

 

Real quick question: Does the 830 or Windows 7 or the latest IRST allow for GC or actually TRIM support when using 2 of the 830's in RAID 0? I have one 128gb 830 right now, and am contemplating getting another for a bit more performance and storage in a RAID 0 config. I just dont want performance deteriorating over time.

 

Seems like I'm the only one who have problems with crashing on this SSD. Before the latest firmware update, my laptop freezed all the time during startup. Soon I learned that if I uninstall SSD Magician, I would get way less freezes. I installed Magician 3.1 again to update the firmware. After the update was completed and I rebooted, my computer freezed again. But after I uninstalled it, my computer hasn't freezed since.