I might be buying one today, My question is this, i read that it comes with it's own software that lets you upgrade the firmware of the T5 etc, do i do that BEFORE i format the T5 to MacOS Extended (Journaled) or AFTER? Thanks in advance.
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Buying Samsung T5 Question
- Thread starter Benz63amg
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I have three of the older T3's and two T7's. First thing I did with each was to re-format it for MacOS. Don't know anything about updating the SSD firmware, but mine all work perfectly this way.
So you never installed the software and updated the firmware? MacOS extended journaled is the best format to format the new T5 to right? ill be using it as a drive to store all my files, run my itunes librabry from, backup my iPhone etc, my macbook pro only has 128gb so i can't do much with it which is why im buying the drive
I just read that a software update for the T5 is required for it to work on Catalina so i'll definitley need to update the firmware by downloading the samsung software, but do i do it BEFORE i format the drive to Macos extended or afte?
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Where did you read a firmware update is required for Catalina? I have used all 5 of my Samsung SSD's with Catalina and have no problems. I use one 2tb T7 to store important files that don't fit on my internal SSD and have a second 2tb T7 that is used as a Carbon Copy clone of my internal 2tb SSD. Again, no problems. Both of these T7's are formatted as APFS. The older T3's are formatted as MacOS extended/journaled. I used a 1tb T3 as the boot drive for my 2012 quad mini for about three years and it got heavy use with Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and other demanding software. Absolutely no problems with this on Sierra or Catalina.
Do whatever you feel is best though, maybe I am missing something important? Will be interested to see what others have to say.
Do whatever you feel is best though, maybe I am missing something important? Will be interested to see what others have to say.
Just had a quick look, but apparently they were saying that Samsung's included software isn't compatible with Catalina. Since I don't use the Samsung software, that wouldn't be an issue for me.
But isn't it important to update the firmware of the T5 to the latest version? I'm sure Samsung wouldn't release a firmware update for no reason?
Thank you for the clarification, Is the Samsung software easy to uninstall after i perform the firmware update of the T5? (or is it not an obstructing application that is just worth keeping on the Mac and not uninstalling it?)
I looked on Samsung's website and don't see any "firmware" for the T5, just updated versions of their software.
OP - the format of the SSD and the ability to run the Samsung app that updates firmware are completely independent of each other.
The thread you posted was - as others have said - about the fact that the (then) beta Catalina didn't allow the (then) current version of the Samsung software to run (presumably it was 32bit and Catalina requires 64bit).
Since then, Samsung have updated their utility so that it now runs fine on Catalina, and you can do any fw updates that are available from it.
And as I said at the start, none of this is affected by what format you use for the T5.
The thread you posted was - as others have said - about the fact that the (then) beta Catalina didn't allow the (then) current version of the Samsung software to run (presumably it was 32bit and Catalina requires 64bit).
Since then, Samsung have updated their utility so that it now runs fine on Catalina, and you can do any fw updates that are available from it.
And as I said at the start, none of this is affected by what format you use for the T5.
Thank you, just for the sake of clarification, Does samsung release firmware updates for the T5 or is the update only for the samsung software itself?(as the member above posted above)
This is all I could find on Samsung's site. As stated earlier, there is no firmware. If you dig deeper on their site you will find firmware for the bare SSD's but not for their portable products.
www.samsung.com
Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global
Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.
www.samsung.com
There are occasional updates for both the Samsung software and the T5 fw. I've had my T5 since summer 2018 and there've been ~4 or 5 updates of both fw and app since then.
read mick's comment above, he says there have been numerous firmware updates for the T5This is all I could find on Samsung's site. As stated earlier, there is no firmware. If you dig deeper on their site you will find firmware for the bare SSD's but not for their portable products.
Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global
Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.
I don't think they make the T5 fw updates available as standalone updates outside the Samsung app. I've not looked into it exhaustively, but when I did look, like you I didn't see any links to them on the Samsung site. I use Linux mostly now, so just hook the T5 up to a Mac now and again to check for / do any fw updates that may be waiting.This is all I could find on Samsung's site. As stated earlier, there is no firmware. If you dig deeper on their site you will find firmware for the bare SSD's but not for their portable products.
Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global
Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.
Is it easy to uninstall the Samsung SSD Software on the Mac if it’s something I no longer want on my Mac (for example, after I update the firmware on my T5) or is it good to have the Samsung app left installed on the Mac as is?
iirc the Samsung sw installs a kernel extension (kext) along with the usual userspace app bundle. The latter is easy to remove in the usual way but the kext requires a trip to the terminal to remove. I seem to recall there possibly being a script included in the install dir to automate the kext uninstall, but it's been a while.
The kext approach is about to become deprecated as Apple stop 3rd party kexts from being installed (~ Big Sur?); at some point soon Samsung will need to come up with another non-kext approach in their post Big Sur sw update. The use of a custom kext for what amounts to doing fw updates and administering the buuilt in encryption is frankly ludicrous but this is how hw manufacturers like Samsung roll.
The app is small and fairly unobtrusive so personally I'd just leave it installed for convenience unless having 3rd pty kexts installed particularly piques one's OCD
I figured I'd live with it in order to get the fw updates.
The kext approach is about to become deprecated as Apple stop 3rd party kexts from being installed (~ Big Sur?); at some point soon Samsung will need to come up with another non-kext approach in their post Big Sur sw update. The use of a custom kext for what amounts to doing fw updates and administering the buuilt in encryption is frankly ludicrous but this is how hw manufacturers like Samsung roll.
The app is small and fairly unobtrusive so personally I'd just leave it installed for convenience unless having 3rd pty kexts installed particularly piques one's OCD
I figured I'd live with it in order to get the fw updates.What's your impression of T7 performance? Any problems with overheating or disconnecting?
I am almost ready to buy 2 drives, either T5 or T7.
Very happy with the T7, as posted above I have two of the 2tb versions. One of them is a clone of my internal SSD and it does get quite warm when I run Carbon Copy. Not really a problem for me though. Here is what I get with USB-C on my 2018 Mini.
Never had an issue with them disconnecting and one of them is always plugged in. Never any problems with my three T3's either. However, my computers are set to never sleep (only the display sleeps).
Never had an issue with them disconnecting and one of them is always plugged in. Never any problems with my three T3's either. However, my computers are set to never sleep (only the display sleeps).
I just came back from bestbuy and purchased the 1tb T5, on the box it says that the T5 was produced in september 2020, Would it be safe to assume that its running the latest available firmware?(im trying to avoid installing the samsung software if its unncessesary),iirc the Samsung sw installs a kernel extension (kext) along with the usual userspace app bundle. The latter is easy to remove in the usual way but the kext requires a trip to the terminal to remove. I seem to recall there possibly being a script included in the install dir to automate the kext uninstall, but it's been a while.
The kext approach is about to become deprecated as Apple stop 3rd party kexts from being installed (~ Big Sur?); at some point soon Samsung will need to come up with another non-kext approach in their post Big Sur sw update. The use of a custom kext for what amounts to doing fw updates and administering the buuilt in encryption is frankly ludicrous but this is how hw manufacturers like Samsung roll.
The app is small and fairly unobtrusive so personally I'd just leave it installed for convenience unless having 3rd pty kexts installed particularly piques one's OCD
Also, when you say that installing the Samsung SSD software on the mac installs a kernel extension, is that something that always runs in the background whether the actual application is running or not or is it only running when the SSD Samsung Software is being used?(to update the firmware of the T5 etc)
Another question, Should i format the T5 to APFS or MacOS Extended journaled?
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Your guess re the firmware is as good as mine. I imagine it would be pretty recent with that manuf date. I don't recall there having been a fw update for the T5 in the past few months so it may be up to date.
Some kexts are loaded as needed; others are loaded at system start. Don't know re the Samsung kext & I'm not near a mac right now to check. You could install the utility and check for yourself:
kextstat | grep -v com.applewill list all currently loaded non-apple kexts.
tbh I think you're likely over thinking all this. The Samsung app is a tiny utility that will take up negligible system resources even if it does load a kext at system boot. You seem concerned to keep the T5 fw up to date and this app will do that for you. Conversely, if you don't want any 3rd party stuff on your system then don't install and just accept the fw that the T5 comes with. @Boyd01 hasn't bothered with the app and hasn't had any problems so I suspect either approach will be fine.
Thank you, Also, Should I format it APFS or MacOS Extended journaled?
As far as TRIM Goes, is it possible to enable it / does it come enabled on the T5 out of the box? ive been told TRIM can not be enabled on an external SSD Drive that is connected via USB on MacOS.
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I have a 500 gb T5 and had no problems with Catalina. I just use it as is without any formatting nor did I install Samsung's software.
@Boyd01 what Mac do you use it with? I have a macbook 13" 2016 and the T5 is very delicate, keeps disconnecting with just a small touch or movement. I've been thinking of buying a bigger storage and looking at the T7. Waiting for Black Friday
I am using a 2018 Mini and have never had an issue with my T7's or T3's disconnecting. Have also used them extensively on a 2012 Mini. But they just sit on a desk and don't move around.