Intel finds SSD firmware bug, calls in the exterminators
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Nov 6th 2009 9:06AM
posted Nov 6th 2009 9:06AM
Amid Intel's recent catalog of problems is a pretty significant firmware update for the X25-M SSDs, which went rogue and started bricking drives for the sheer bloody-minded enjoyment of it. After promptly pulling the software, the chip giant set straight to work -- or so we presume -- and has today finally managed to replicate the fatal circumstances that may lead to your SSD's untimely demise. That's not to say the problem's been fixed, and there's no word yet on when the cleaned up patch will be back out for consumption, but at least we're a step closer to realizing those TRIM-related speed boosts. So, are you growing tired of Intel's suicidal firmware updates, or should we consider these mere bumps on the road to superfast SSD awesomeness?
it was probably becuase they included usb 3.0 support
What are you talking about? x-25m drives are not USB 3.0 compatible.
That was (attempted?) sarcasm and a joke about intel refusing to put USB3 in their chipsets for at least another year obviously.
I say do whatever it takes to get me that "superfast SSD awesomeness" -- Mechanical storage needs to die already. I'll put up with SSD's growing pains to remove swing arm seek times from my life.
No it doesn't. Mechanical storage has it's place, as do SSDs. Hybrid storage is the future. Spinning disks for mass storage and flash as cache for frequently accessed data and writes. With appropriate caching, most users wouldn't notice any difference in performance between 100% flash and 10% flash as long as you've got the correct 10%.
Yes it really does... Believe me when I say that Arm Storage will eventually and completely die off just like the dinosaurs. The technology provides no staying power as they will eventually be over taken by low production costs of SSD's. throw in higher density, faster performance times, and longer shelf life, Spinning disks will be a thing of the past. Much like those tape drives in the old Commodore 64, it's a fleeting technology.
your parents are fist cousins
i was trying to reply to the "first" poster
but thanks to the novelty endgadget comment system, it ended up here
I blame intel, it's the thing to do.
I think you should expect those "bumps on the road to superfast SSD awesomeness". However, those bumps are the early adopters that progress is running over.
I think I'll stay on the sidelines for now, SSDs have a long way to got before they are reach the GB/$ price point that will make them practical for everybody and mechanical storage can finally die. However I doubt that day will ever come, just look at how many brand new internal combustion engines still use carburetors, even motorcycles that cost around $10k. Old reliable technology will probably always have a place, the biggest, fastest, newest thing isn't for everything or price point even after its been on they market for years/decades. In the mean time, I think I will continue to let SSD mature on the frustrations and wallets of the early adopters.
Okay.
@Burke
Good to see your on board, a little more enthusiasm would be appreciated though.
I'm pretty tired of Intel's lack of "testing"! I'll definitely am looking at alternatives for SSDs now, in my book they have lost the credibility.
because they actually stand to their bugs, unlike the other companies? .. makes me more trusting them, actually.
Haha, yeah for some people the glass is always 0.001% full, even on a dry day.
Just be patient on Intel - they are pushing our envelope, and I'm happy they are! I just purchased/installed the Patriot Torqx SSD and I'm amazed by the impact. A few months ago I added a little OCZ drive to my Acer One netbook as my first test - I'm never looking back. So yesterday I yanked my two Raptor 300GB drives and installed the Torqx. Phenomenal difference - Win7 flies! My only regret, 128GB just doens't cut it and the 256's are AWOL... so today I'll receive another 128GB Torqx and RAID-0 'em. But believe me, the drives are fast enough already - RAID-0 is only to make them act as one drive (but better than JBOD).
SSDs are where CD's were in the 80's - at first people were cautious and they were expensive, but then they dominated and obliterated the LP in no-time. I agree, the old reliable spinning discs need to go. Sorry WD.
Just last night I ordered a new computer with a raid 0 setup, then I ordered 2 of the Intel X 25 M Gen 2 @ 80 GB as well as an 80 GB fusion ioextreme. Once I get everthing in I'm replacing the disks in the new computer with the Intel X 25's and install the ioextreme for my application/data disk. Hopefully, they will have a firmware fix for this by the time I get everything in!
Nope I won't be patient, if I get an SSD it won't be intel for at least.. well about the time they put USB3 in their chipsets I estimate :)
One snafu = OK can happen, 2 snafu's = Maybe, 3 snafu's = Done for a year.
I picked up an 80 Gig G1 for pretty cheap and expect that Intel will have this firmware fixed in no time... of course, what they need to fix urgently is unbricking the drives that are bricked... getting the speed-boost firmware into the hands of users is secondary to fixing the problems caused by the firmware in the first place: if these poor souls can at least get their drives back to "functional" by restoring the old firmware for now, that would be OK, I guess... but let's fix those bricked drives PRONTO!
One small problem, Ryan: the G1s won't be getting TRIM anyway.
According to Intel, they don't mention TRIM specifically but they claim:
This firmware update tool provides the latest firmware for the following Intel SSDs in all capacities:
- Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) - updates to FW version 8820
- Intel® X25-E SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) - updates to FW version 8850
- Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 34nm (silver case) - updates to FW version 02HA
This firmware will enable your SSD to deliver the best performance in your PC. Use this update tool to get the latest production firmware.
I think the G1 is the 50nm / black case, and the G2 is the 34nm / silver case... no?
AnandTech's article compares X25-M G1 performance with G2... and I think it's favourable (and favourable compared to my perceptively fast OCZ Vertex.
http://anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3631&p=11
This: "mere bumps on the road to superfast SSD awesomeness"
I have the X-25M G2 80gb, but I haven't updated the firmware since I've heard of everyone elses problems. I'm waiting for Intel to give the all-clear. I'm glad to hear they're making progress.
They already gave the "all clear" when they released the firmware.
Another good example of how marketing and production ship dates conflict with engineering. I’ve seen this happen throughout my career.
Regards,
Dan ~
Dear Intel:
Please stop attempting to make this look like spinning media. Just give us access to the underlying flash with some DMA and ECC calculation assistance. You clearly cannot manage a bug free firmware and I don't want to be at the mercy of your developers.
UBIFS for all.
In my experience with the Intel drives, indeed, all of the SSD drives comes down to one major flaw:
Still too expensive.
But they're almost there! I've got two drives in my Thinkpad T400, and the C: drive is aching to be an SSD. I figure I would need at lease 60GB to make the switch.
In my experience with the Ferrari cars, indeed, all of the exotic cars comes down to one major flaw:
Still too expensive.
Nice job Intel.
And *THIS* is why I only buy OCZ SSD's. Two Vertex drives in RAID0 on an Adaptec 2-ch controller, FTW.
You need to read all the Anandtech articles on the different SSD's...
Intel is leading the pack in every meaningful way, and has been since the X25-M first came out. The Intel controller is better than all the other manufacturers by a wide margin in small (4kb) random reads, which is what you notice more than anything in everyday tasks. SSD's are not so much about sustainable data transfers as quick access to random data, and that is where Intel's SSDs beat everyone else.
I've used this firmware on a number of G2 X25-M drives and haven't had any issues. I think that this problem is probably isolated to a certain motherboard chipset or driver.
Either way, I'm more than happy with the pulled firmware and have been putting it on every drive X25-M drive that I deploy. I'll update when a newer firmware comes out, but this is getting blown way out of proportion. I'm sure that Intel did their testing,
I also have an 80Gb G2 which I have flashed with the 02HA firmware and have had no problems with it at all. I am running Win7 32bit, and I understand that the problems with this firmware only effect those running the 64bit version, although I can't find any confirmation of this.
Got two Intel Gen 2 SSD in Raid 0. They burst about 520MB/s in reading and 160MB it writing. I have other SSD to but nothing come close to the intel SSD performances.
Bum Bum Bum Bum!