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Samsung T7 2TB slow R/W speeds
- Thread starter icemantx
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I have a couple of Samsung t7 "shield" drives (1tb).
Recently, one of them suffered a degradation in write (and read) performance. I was getting writes in the "single digit" speeds, so slow as to be next-to-nothing at all.
I had a cloned backup of the drive, so I re-formatted it.
This cleared up all write/read sluggishness, and it went back to normal.
Then I just "re-cloned" the data back to it.
Not sure what caused this.
But again, a complete erasure brought it back to normal...
Recently, one of them suffered a degradation in write (and read) performance. I was getting writes in the "single digit" speeds, so slow as to be next-to-nothing at all.
I had a cloned backup of the drive, so I re-formatted it.
This cleared up all write/read sluggishness, and it went back to normal.
Then I just "re-cloned" the data back to it.
Not sure what caused this.
But again, a complete erasure brought it back to normal...
1) this forum was incredibly helpful so thanks all.
2) the software that comes on the T7 shield I just got works on Mac OS, called- SamsungPortableSSD_1.0app allows for firmware updating
3) After doing this and plugging in the drive, it prompted to update firmware. After doing this and reformatting to APFS (encrypted), I'm seeing 837 MB/s write, 787 MB/s read.
Hope this is helpful!
2) the software that comes on the T7 shield I just got works on Mac OS, called- SamsungPortableSSD_1.0app allows for firmware updating
3) After doing this and plugging in the drive, it prompted to update firmware. After doing this and reformatting to APFS (encrypted), I'm seeing 837 MB/s write, 787 MB/s read.
Hope this is helpful!
Here's the Samsung site with software linked:
https://semiconductor.samsung.com/us/consumer-storage/portable-ssd/t7-shield
Scroll down to related resources for the Mac OS/ Windows softwares.
https://semiconductor.samsung.com/us/consumer-storage/portable-ssd/t7-shield
Scroll down to related resources for the Mac OS/ Windows softwares.
Wow, that update seems to have fixed the slow read speed I was getting! Thanks so much for posting this, otherwise I'd never have realised that there's a FW update available.
Update 08/05/2023
--
I've decided to do a better benchmark.
(all benchmarks were done with the included Samsung USB-C cable)
I should also mention that I did run the Samsung included software when I first plugged the T7, and it updated its stuff. Didn't really pay attention to the version - as I was not worried about it.
Installed MacDrive 11 on my Windows 11 machine (so I can mount APFS).
3: MacBook Pro 16" 2021, M1 Max (With
Blackmagic and other are in my previous post (page 1)
Not pointing fingers, but isn't that you, M-Series?
My disappointment really comes from the read speeds, since my primary use of this SSD is storing virtual instrument libraries.
--
I've decided to do a better benchmark.
(all benchmarks were done with the included Samsung USB-C cable)
I should also mention that I did run the Samsung included software when I first plugged the T7, and it updated its stuff. Didn't really pay attention to the version - as I was not worried about it.
SSD: T7 Shield 4TB
1: Windows 11, USB 3.2 Gen2 (ASRock Z390 Steel Legend), i9 9900KF
Installed MacDrive 11 on my Windows 11 machine (so I can mount APFS).
2: MacBook Pro 15" 2018, i7 (With T2 Chip)
3: MacBook Pro 16" 2021, M1 Max (With T2 Chip, obviously ACTUALLY it's all called M-series now)
Not pointing fingers, but isn't that you, M-Series?
My disappointment really comes from the read speeds, since my primary use of this SSD is storing virtual instrument libraries.
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Yeah, it's obvious that the M-series is the culprit here. I was getting read speeds between 230 - 280 MB/Sec before the update and now about 700. My SanDisk SSDs never had these issues though.
My guess is some compatibility issue with the Samsung NVME controller and the ARM chips. I've included an image of a speed test of my Crucial P2 nvme inside an Orico 3.2 enclosure on my first post. Got about the same speeds as the T7 Shield on the x86-64 machines.
Those are USB 2.0 speeds. Most USB-C cables only support USB 2.0 protocols (including the cables that Apple includes in their own products), so you usually have to specifically get a cable labeled with USB4 support for it to support everything.
What solved it for me was upgrading my USB 2.0 hub to a USB 3.0 hub! Simple enough, but jeez was this the last place I'd thought to look 😅
I just linked this in another thread, but the M1 Macs have a known issue with data transfer speeds over USB. https://9to5mac.com/2022/04/18/m1-mac-thunderbolt-4-ports-speed-tests/
I'm having the same issue on MBP M1 Pro with a 4tb T7 Shield
700MB/s max on write and 200 or so on read with Black magic design speed test.
I'm annoyed because I have a bunch of Sandisk Extreme 4tb drives that everyone keeps telling me are going to fail (they havent yet)... so I got this because i thought it would be more reliable.
700MB/s max on write and 200 or so on read with Black magic design speed test.
I'm annoyed because I have a bunch of Sandisk Extreme 4tb drives that everyone keeps telling me are going to fail (they havent yet)... so I got this because i thought it would be more reliable.
The issue is not with the drives you've purchased, it's an issue with the M1 Macs themselves.
My
I have 4 Sandisk Extremes and Extreme Pros and they are all doing 800-900mb/s so I don’t think it’s the Mac unless it’s something specifically with the Samsung?
My apologies for the misunderstanding, I thought you were having the same problem regardless of drive brand.
Interesting - are you using an M1? I do not have any data transfer speed issues on my M2 Mini using a 990 Pro nVME drive attached via USB-C.
@evbartl I have had the same problem today with my T7 Shield 4TB.
You need to update the firmware using Samsung utility app (available here ).
You might need to follow this procedure if Samsung app doesn't detect your SSD.
I also suggest to reformat SSD to APFS
Once updated your speed should be as per attached screenshot.
However I'm surprised that write speed is faster than a read. Hopefully it's the Apple thing and they will resolve with the macOS Sonoma.
Hope it helps
ps. I also have Sandisk Extreme pro (2x 2tb & 1x 4tb) and I am replacing them all due to recent drama with the lost data. Don't want to risk.
You need to update the firmware using Samsung utility app (available here ).
You might need to follow this procedure if Samsung app doesn't detect your SSD.
I also suggest to reformat SSD to APFS
Once updated your speed should be as per attached screenshot.
However I'm surprised that write speed is faster than a read. Hopefully it's the Apple thing and they will resolve with the macOS Sonoma.
Hope it helps
ps. I also have Sandisk Extreme pro (2x 2tb & 1x 4tb) and I am replacing them all due to recent drama with the lost data. Don't want to risk.
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Great. Enjoy. I bought 4 of them in total. I wonder how other people getting higher speeds as yours and mine are pretty much identical.
2 of my 3 T7 shield SSDs have recently became very slow, like 2-3 MB/s read and write speeds. After reformatting speed is back to normal, just to become slow again after a few weeks. Needless to say that's quite annoying.
Mine are still running fast with no problems. I have a 4tb t7 Shield for a local version of my website with about 100 million files (about 3tb) and an identical Carbon Copy Clone of it. In total, I have four 2tb T7's, one 2tb T7 Shield, two 4tb T7 Shields and three older T3's. All still working great so far and they all are very heavily used.