Samsung investigating 840 EVO slowdowns
A couple of weeks ago we already reported that the Samsung 840 EVO SSDs are still experiencing slow read speeds with old data. basically TechReport placed a couple of SSDs on shelf, didn't use them. Then after three months they connected them again and boom, slow performance of the old data written.
The issue was supposedly fixed with a firmware update (EXT0CB6Q-firmware) issued in October, but some patched drives continue to exhibit the problem, including one of our own. Late Friday afternoon, Samsung issued the following statement on the matter:
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.
If you look at the screenshot above you can see the performance degraded. This test unit 840 EVO SSD spent more than three months of the shelf, he results are pretty shocking: the months old data on the disk was only recoverable with an average read speed of 35.1MB/s.
After formatting the disk and loading it with new data the disk averaged 430MB/s in HD Tach, there's a abvious issue with long-term degradation of data stored in the triple-bit-per-cell memory.
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Senior Member
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Just tested my 840 pro it's showing 100MB/s for files 63 days old
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Can't download the software. The Mega logo just fills up, then the page just sits there doing nothing. In HD Tach my 1TB EVO is still looking good, though slightly more erratic than my OS 830.
Senior Member
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Joined: 2004-12-17
I really hope that Samsung releases the fix and tools for OEM drives as well. I have a 840 based Samsung SSD in my laptop (Vaio Flip 13) and the performance drop is very noticeable. If anyone has a drive that isn't supported by the tool (anything other than an EVO), then "Disk Fresh" can also help by completely rewriting your drive with your existing data.
Before

After

Other OEM Samsung drives, this time in the SP3. Microsoft seems to have a firmware out but it is only for that specific model.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfpro3-surfhardware/sp3-ssd-possible-firmware-bug-same-as-just-fixed/790dc9b9-455d-4216-af64-c57c17d65d10
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Has anyone looked to see if the 850s suffer from this as well? Have been looking into pulling the trigger on one.
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Yeah loosing faith in Samsung over this. Firstly my 840 Evo, which hasn't been sitting idle for a few months is affected by this slow down issue, despite running the refresh tool and the firmware update prior to using it for the first time only 3 or 4 months ago. Second just tried to use their Magician Software, the only magic this piece of cr*p software could pull was to lock my computer up and render it utterly unuseable, a hard reset, boot and then it locks up again, I am assuming that the software has some sort of auto start option.
So yeah in to safe mode and removed that pile of rubbish and now the computer at least doesn't lock up anymore.
odd ? i have had no issues with the samsung software?
the more i think about it maybe you have issues else where thats causing the software not to run as intended?
just a thought mind you.