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New SamSung 960 Firmware Update Might Cause Freezes & Perf Issues
A few days ago Samsung has released new firmware for the 960 series SSDs. It's reported throughout the web that multiple end-users are seeing issues with application freezes or a sudden drop in performance.
From the looks of it involves firmware update 3B6QCXP7 and 3B7QCXE7, specifically for the 960 series NVMe M2 drives (both EVO and Pro). While we cannot see how big the user-base affected is, we simply wanted to put out the word as hey, better stay safe and do not upgrade to this firmware just yet.
Currently, we are seeing some reports here in the forums and multiple reports at the Samsung community forums, also widespread on the web more on technology forums users report the same or a similar story. While it does not seem to affect everybody who updates, you should be careful. For now, if the Samsung Magician is triggering you to update the firmware, just don't. If you already did and ran into an issue, some users have reported removing the NVME 2.3 driver software fixes the issue when going back to the standard Microsoft NVMe driver (which is slower). Alternatively, version 2.2 could/would work as well.
We'll update this item once more information is available. Please post your experiences, problems, and solves in this thread.
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Burgurne
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Posts: 254
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Senior Member
Posts: 254
Joined: 2004-08-17
#5496531 Posted on: 11/29/2017 06:47 PM
I just got a new 500Gbyte 960 EVO 2 days ago, and it allready has firmware 3B7QCXE7 installed, and it works just fine
But how can this new firmware allready be on my drive, if it was released only some days ago? I assume my drive is produced way before that!
I just got a new 500Gbyte 960 EVO 2 days ago, and it allready has firmware 3B7QCXE7 installed, and it works just fine
But how can this new firmware allready be on my drive, if it was released only some days ago? I assume my drive is produced way before that!
SSD_PRO
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Joined: 2013-02-07
Senior Member
Posts: 167
Joined: 2013-02-07
#5496547 Posted on: 11/29/2017 07:53 PM
I just got a new 500Gbyte 960 EVO 2 days ago, and it allready has firmware 3B7QCXE7 installed, and it works just fine
But how can this new firmware allready be on my drive, if it was released only some days ago? I assume my drive is produced way before that!
Firmware can become the production version long before it passes validation for distribution to products in the field. The mfg doesn't want lag between production and purchase by vendor or distributor and the vendor doesn't want lag between purchase and sale. That usually means great, high volume products like this have a quick turn around.
FWIW, I updated my 960 pro and have no issues either.
I just got a new 500Gbyte 960 EVO 2 days ago, and it allready has firmware 3B7QCXE7 installed, and it works just fine
But how can this new firmware allready be on my drive, if it was released only some days ago? I assume my drive is produced way before that!
Firmware can become the production version long before it passes validation for distribution to products in the field. The mfg doesn't want lag between production and purchase by vendor or distributor and the vendor doesn't want lag between purchase and sale. That usually means great, high volume products like this have a quick turn around.
FWIW, I updated my 960 pro and have no issues either.
thatguy91
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Senior Member
Posts: 6650
Joined: 2010-08-27
#5496549 Posted on: 11/29/2017 08:08 PM
No issue here either.
No issue here either.
LesserHellspawn
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Joined: 2010-03-27
Senior Member
Posts: 626
Joined: 2010-03-27
#5496578 Posted on: 11/29/2017 09:36 PM
Well, will update now. If I don't report back, my OS drive is shot.
Well, will update now. If I don't report back, my OS drive is shot.
sayem57
Member
Posts: 33
Joined: 2013-10-15
Member
Posts: 33
Joined: 2013-10-15
#5496583 Posted on: 11/29/2017 09:46 PM
I have EVO 960 250gb. Updated for few days and so far no problem.
I have EVO 960 250gb. Updated for few days and so far no problem.
LesserHellspawn
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Senior Member
Posts: 626
Joined: 2010-03-27
#5496586 Posted on: 11/29/2017 09:50 PM
Back online, time to watch it.
Back online, time to watch it.
JamesSneed
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Senior Member
Posts: 547
Joined: 2017-02-14
#5496609 Posted on: 11/29/2017 10:51 PM
I have a 960 pro and evo on this rig and I uninstalled the magician software for this reason. I see no reason to upgrade firmware on these drives. This update is supposed to add E-drive functionality for those using bitlocker so you get hardware encryption. If you aren't going to use that feature seems to me no point in risking the update.
I have a 960 pro and evo on this rig and I uninstalled the magician software for this reason. I see no reason to upgrade firmware on these drives. This update is supposed to add E-drive functionality for those using bitlocker so you get hardware encryption. If you aren't going to use that feature seems to me no point in risking the update.
bishi
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Posts: 553
Joined: 2008-08-09
Senior Member
Posts: 553
Joined: 2008-08-09
#5496648 Posted on: 11/30/2017 02:12 AM
Oh shit, I wondered what had been up with my machine. It had started microstuttering during asset streaming in Smite and it was driving me crazy. Only since I updated the SSD driver. Every other game is find and benchmarks are good but something was definitely up. Thanks for the post!
Oh shit, I wondered what had been up with my machine. It had started microstuttering during asset streaming in Smite and it was driving me crazy. Only since I updated the SSD driver. Every other game is find and benchmarks are good but something was definitely up. Thanks for the post!
bishi
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Posts: 553
Joined: 2008-08-09
Senior Member
Posts: 553
Joined: 2008-08-09
#5496651 Posted on: 11/30/2017 02:20 AM
Also I really don't recommend using the microsoft driver unless you want your performance to plummet
Also I really don't recommend using the microsoft driver unless you want your performance to plummet
Burgurne
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Posts: 254
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Senior Member
Posts: 254
Joined: 2004-08-17
#5496660 Posted on: 11/30/2017 02:58 AM
I have now tried to compare ms driver vs Samsung newest NVMe driver ... and yes, samsung driver is indeed the fastest. Not in the high "SEQ read", but in 4K and 4K 32t especially in the write section (used Crystal disk Mark x64).
I also recommend to use Samsungs driver over MS driver. I have not testet other versions of Samsung driver, only the newest one, so I don't know if some older driver is better than the newest one?
I have now tried to compare ms driver vs Samsung newest NVMe driver ... and yes, samsung driver is indeed the fastest. Not in the high "SEQ read", but in 4K and 4K 32t especially in the write section (used Crystal disk Mark x64).
I also recommend to use Samsungs driver over MS driver. I have not testet other versions of Samsung driver, only the newest one, so I don't know if some older driver is better than the newest one?
bishi
Senior Member
Posts: 553
Joined: 2008-08-09
Senior Member
Posts: 553
Joined: 2008-08-09
#5496665 Posted on: 11/30/2017 03:06 AM
I have now tried to compare ms driver vs Samsung newest NVMe driver ... and yes, samsung driver is indeed the fastest. Not in the high "SEQ read", but in 4K and 4K 32t especially in the write section (used Crystal disk Mark x64).
I also recommend to use Samsungs driver over MS driver. I have not testet other versions of Samsung driver, only the newest one, so I don't know if some older driver is better than the newest one?
All the Samsung drivers since release have performed very similarly so any should be okay. MS driver has always been far behind.
I have now tried to compare ms driver vs Samsung newest NVMe driver ... and yes, samsung driver is indeed the fastest. Not in the high "SEQ read", but in 4K and 4K 32t especially in the write section (used Crystal disk Mark x64).
I also recommend to use Samsungs driver over MS driver. I have not testet other versions of Samsung driver, only the newest one, so I don't know if some older driver is better than the newest one?
All the Samsung drivers since release have performed very similarly so any should be okay. MS driver has always been far behind.
Agonist
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#5496674 Posted on: 11/30/2017 04:27 AM
No issues here either with my 960 Evo 250GB.
Maybe people are using MS driver and not samsung driver.
Im running Samsung driver and I have no speed issues, no lock ups, and it still flies. Used for my OS drive.
No issues here either with my 960 Evo 250GB.
Maybe people are using MS driver and not samsung driver.
Im running Samsung driver and I have no speed issues, no lock ups, and it still flies. Used for my OS drive.
Biffo
Member
Posts: 33
Joined: 2011-11-17
Member
Posts: 33
Joined: 2011-11-17
#5496718 Posted on: 11/30/2017 09:32 AM
I have a 960 but Win10 Creators device manager always shows a 12 year old driver installed for it! Is there a reason why the driver never gets installed?
I have a 960 but Win10 Creators device manager always shows a 12 year old driver installed for it! Is there a reason why the driver never gets installed?
Biffo
Member
Posts: 33
Joined: 2011-11-17
Member
Posts: 33
Joined: 2011-11-17
#5496720 Posted on: 11/30/2017 09:36 AM
How do you get the proper drivers installed? Every time I attempt to install them Win10 seems to ignore them and uses Windows 12 year old drivers.
Also I really don't recommend using the microsoft driver unless you want your performance to plummet
How do you get the proper drivers installed? Every time I attempt to install them Win10 seems to ignore them and uses Windows 12 year old drivers.
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I have no issues with mine on latest update. 960 Pro 1TB
@Hilbert Hagedoorn
The link to samsung forums is not correct, maybe you are referring to this one?
https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Memory-Storage/960-pro-firmware-3B6QCXP7-its-a-crap/m-p/217627/highlight/true#M873