OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD Problem

[TStokes]

FW 343 has the problem and is still shipping

I just installed a 120G OWC SSD in a MBP 6,2 and it has the classic wake/sleep issue. Have a fiend that went thru this and OWC re-flashed his to FW 310 on an RMA. Problems disappeared.

Just got off a chat session where the OWC rep said they were working on a release (said it is their main focus) and that my options were to send it back for FW 310 or to avoid sleep until the new release arrives. Didn't mention settings, Hibernate, etc. Seems OWC are over trying to work-around FW 343.

He would not give a date for the release.

If you need to buy an SSD now, I would request it come with FW 310 - but am not sure they would do that. If the sleep/wake issues are important to you, I would not install FW 343.

Using the information in this thread, I have changed settings and developed a procedure that seems to work for now. Provided the issue does not get worse with time, I intend to hold out for a few weeks in hopes that I can flash the new release myself without removing the drive. If it gets worse or it takes over a month, I will RMA it back for FW 310.

 

[asatnik11]

@TStokes - Would you mind sharing exact settings you changed to work-around this sleep issue with FW 343? Is it just a matter of disabling disksleep and never allowing the computer to go to sleep?

I just installed a 120G OWC SSD in a MBP 6,2 and it has the classic wake/sleep issue. Have a fiend that went thru this and OWC re-flashed his to FW 310 on an RMA. Problems disappeared.

Just got off a chat session where the OWC rep said they were working on a release (said it is their main focus) and that my options were to send it back for FW 310 or to avoid sleep until the new release arrives. Didn't mention settings, Hibernate, etc. Seems OWC are over trying to work-around FW 343.

He would not give a date for the release.

If you need to buy an SSD now, I would request it come with FW 310 - but am not sure they would do that. If the sleep/wake issues are important to you, I would not install FW 343.

Using the information in this thread, I have changed settings and developed a procedure that seems to work for now. Provided the issue does not get worse with time, I intend to hold out for a few weeks in hopes that I can flash the new release myself without removing the drive. If it gets worse or it takes over a month, I will RMA it back for FW 310.

 

[RaceTripper]

@TStokes - Would you mind sharing exact settings you changed to work-around this sleep issue with FW 343? Is it just a matter of disabling disksleep and never allowing the computer to go to sleep?

Look at post #106 of this thread where I posted the settings. You need to disable hibernate mode for sleep.

 

[TStokes]

My settings are below (pmset -g from Terminal). Basically the same as RaceTripper

In both AC and Battery modes, Hibernate is off.

On AC, I have sleep and disksleep off, although displaysleep remains on. This means the computer will never go into "idle sleep" while on AC, but the display will go dark.

On Battery, I still have sleep on, but disksleep is off. This leaves the risk of "idle sleep" while on battery, but I would rather risk a screen freeze than run the battery all the way down if I walk away.

Turning off Hibernate must be done from Terminal, but sleep and disksleep can be set for both AC and Battery from the Energy Saver preference pane.

AC Power -1*
Currently in use:
womp 0
halfdim 1
sms 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
gpuswitch 2
disksleep 0
sleep 0
hibernatemode 0
ttyskeepawake 1
displaysleep 10
acwake 0
lidwake 1

Battery Power -1*
Currently in use:
halfdim 1
sms 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
gpuswitch 2
disksleep 0
sleep 10
hibernatemode 0
ttyskeepawake 1
displaysleep 2
acwake 0
lidwake 1

With these settings, as long as I put the computer to sleep with the apple or lid closure, I have not seen a screen freeze. But there are other issues. Unable to turn the Airport on (wireless), disconnection of Airport card (reports "Airport not installed") computer re-start on shutdown, unresponsive to sleep command, etc.

I really want to UPgrade the firmware in this drive, but if there is no news from OWC in a couple weeks, I'm sending it in for a DOWNgrade to FW 310. (Edit: The SSD is in a box, now, waiting for RMA)

For now, the performance boost on app launch is worth some inconvenience - especially when launching Windows in Parallels. I can see how these little things could become intolerable, though.

Edit:I've been back-and-forth with this post, but the loss of the Airport card is conclusively linked to the SSD in the DVD port.

 

[walshlink]

Other than the hibernation/sleep issue (which I don't use), does firmware 343 bring any noticable increase in performace?

 

[Ifti]

I have a Vertex 2, 240GB, SSD.
Have had it installed for around 6 months or so now.
No sleep/wake issues whatsoever. Never bothered updating firmware either.

 

[TStokes]

What does FW 343 bring?

The PROs of FW 343 are not clear to me. People who downgrade to FW 310 have reported no functional or performance loss. The CONs of FW 343 are clear.

 

[PhillT]

My Mercury Extreme 120GB with F/W version 340 arrived 3 days ago and has the sleep issue also.
I don't have a lid to shut (Mac Mini '07) so I changed the Hibernate to "0" and set Energy Saver to Comp & Display sleep 15min, and ticked only one box, the "Allow power button to put puter to sleep"
This seems to have worked, fingers crossed.

Given the previous posts stating that OWC are aware of the 340 F/W version being a problem, I am wondering why they didn't send one with the earlier F/W, especially since this was an international order. Previous experience with OWC has been really good.

 

[PhillT]

Further to my previous post, should I need to change F/W version at some time in the future, can I do it by booting from and external drive which has bootcamp and windoze installed, and do the deed on the SSD installed in the Mac Mini?

 

[WardC]

So if I buy a new drive from OWC today or this week, will it be shipped to be with this problematic firmware or have they worked the kinks out? Are they still shipping drives which are known to have this issue?

 

[RaceTripper]

So if I buy a new drive from OWC today or this week, will it be shipped to be with this problematic firmware or have they worked the kinks out? Are they still shipping drives which are known to have this issue?

Not everyone has the issue. I've never been able to duplicate it when I tried.

 

[WardC]

Thanks, but that still does not give me a solid answer. I think I will be better just buying the 512GB Toshiba Apple drives off eBay. Guaranteed to work.

 

[Avenger]

I chatted with OWC sales today online, and the rep. stated that if you want firmware 310 on a new drive, they can do it, but you have to order by telephone. I'm still uncertain if i want to buy it.

 

[altecXP]

I chatted with OWC sales today online, and the rep. stated that if you want firmware 310 on a new drive, they can do it, but you have to order by telephone. I'm still uncertain if i want to buy it.

It's totally worth it. I love my OWC, I have an MicroCenter brand, a C300 and my OWC. and my OWC is my fav. I was lucky enough to order while the 310 was the current FW and I have had no problems at all.

 

[TStokes]

I requested an RMA from OWC to downgrade the drive. Instead of a mailing label, they sent a note telling me they upgraded to FW343 to fix certain issues. I asked what those fixed issues are. Also asked for a schedule for the next upgrade. Will let you know when they respond.

With the SSD in the optical bay, I was getting wake/sleep issues as well as several others: immediate re-start on shutdown, refusal to sleep on command and Airport Wireless drops to the point of saying the Airport card was "not installed". All issues went away when I removed the SSD.

If they do the downgrade, I intend to install it in the main bay this time and will move the HD to the optical bay.

The SSD is nice, but not worth these issues. I am hopeful the downgrade will work, but am not extremely confident. I can say that I miss the performance - especially on launch of Windows in Parallels. If I were to buy one today, I would save the two weeks in shipping it 3 times and ask for FW310 up-front. Or see what the other vendors are doing.

Update 2/2/11: Nothing from OWC today, 4 days since the request. Sent another email asking for an RMA.

Update 2/3/11: OWC responded with a form-letter email for a "replacement" to downgrade the firmware to FW310. Despite a specific request for information about FW343 and a schedule for an upgrade to fix the FW343 wake/sleep issues, there were none.

 

[tasslehawf]

I just ordered a 120 gb today and after reading the stories I'm a little apprehensive to go ahead with my install.

I wonder if anyone has used one of the apple oem ssd's in the optibay and had any problems..?

 

[tjb1]

I just ordered a 120 gb today and after reading the stories I'm a little apprehensive to go ahead with my install.

I wonder if anyone has used one of the apple oem ssd's in the optibay and had any problems..?

There are no problems at all with the SSD's running 310 firmware...the Apple ssd is just an intel I believe and they are slow compared to current sandforce drives.

 

[tasslehawf]

There are no problems at all with the SSD's running 310 firmware

Well I imagine mine will be coming with the 343. I'm not looking forward to having to send it back to get reflashed. If it doesn't work out of the box, I think I'm going to return it.

 

[AudiB8]

Ugh. Wish I would have read this thread earlier. Ordered my OWC SSD and sure enough it has the latest firmware installed. Why would they continue to ship faulty firmware?

If I decide to keep it and update the firmare with the fix, does that mean I'll have to send it back to OWC to flash (ie: remove, erase, send back, wait, reinstall OS, etc)?

 

[tjb1]

Ugh. Wish I would have read this thread earlier. Ordered my OWC SSD and sure enough it has the latest firmware installed. Why would they continue to ship faulty firmware?

If I decide to keep it and update the firmare with the fix, does that mean I'll have to send it back to OWC to flash (ie: remove, erase, send back, wait, reinstall OS, etc)?

If you send it back you may not get the same drive back so just erase before sending.

 

[altecXP]

Thought they said they were going to have a fix out in January.

 

[TStokes]

Update with the fix

Today, the FW upgrade tool is windows only. Unclear if it will work with Parallels.

I am not confident a "fix" is coming. That's why I chose the downgrade. There is no information coming from OWC on this.

 

[CompanionCube]

So is there a safe SSD To buy for a MacBook Pro? I was going to get an OWC 240GB but after reading this thread, I don't think I will.

The Vertex 2's seem to have a ridiculously high failure rate.

 

[tjb1]

So is there a safe SSD To buy for a MacBook Pro? I was going to get an OWC 240GB but after reading this thread, I don't think I will.

The Vertex 2's seem to have a ridiculously high failure rate.

The OWC is fine, every sandforce drive has this problem...just call them and tell them you want 310 firmware on it.

 

[ZlatanSa]

MacBook Pro 13.3" model 7,1 + OWC SSD 40GB

Hello,

Just replaced my stock HDD ( 250 GB ) with OWC SSD 40 GB one. Stock one, i placed in Data Doubler, also from OWC. Before placing stock hdd in data doubler, ofcourse, I installed from DVD , Mac OS X 10.6.3, formatted SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), after that, I turned my Mac off, and replaced DVD/CD Rom with Data Doubler, on which i put stock HDD ( 250 GB ). I turned on my PC, formatted second HDD ( stock one ) to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) too. After that, I have done upgrades, to 10.6.6.

My problem is that in normal work, surfing trough firefox, skype and so on, somehow Mac start to be unresponsive for at least 10-15 sec, and this is happening randomly, even durring I am writting this post.

While the Mac is un-responsive , i can see marble of doom (

) which is spinning.

After 10-15 sec, Mac is responsive, and I can continue doing stuffs....

Also I attached to this post Info about Mac, and Info about S-ATA....

If anybody can help, I would appreciate it.

Many thanks to everybody.