The Samsung 840/840 Pro SSD thread

[S.B.G]

Thanks, I looked at that too and I didnt think it was the firmware. Looks like I am behind.


DXT06B0Q

Is it worth the hassle of upgrading, the newest firmware release notes just say:

Fixed minor bugs while improving sustained performance.

It's always a good idea to update the firmware as they're designed to improve performance and correct known bugs.

It really isn't a hassle, as the update takes only a couple of minutes.

 

[jjk454ss]

surely there is a hack to do this from a mounted optical drive??

It's always a good idea to update the firmware as they're designed to improve performance and correct known bugs.

It really isn't a hassle, as the update takes only a couple of minutes.

So a USB optical drive wont work? What about a USB Thumb Drive? I only figured it was a little bit of a hassle because I dont run Windows on my machine and don't have an internal optical drive.

 

[S.B.G]

surely there is a hack to do this from a mounted optical drive??

I can't rule that out as a possibility, but I am not aware of a way to do it.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

**** able to initialize the 840 in the optical bay but the 840 pro it failed to initialize in the OS bay. Nor will my t bolt devices turn on . External monitor and my Pegasus . So putting a OS now on a partition I created for the 840. Actually 2 partition one OS and one storage. Ill boot from the backup OS from the 840 and see if I can get the Pro to initialize . I had this issue with a OWC SSD drive awhile back.

 

[S.B.G]

So a USB optical drive wont work? What about a USB Thumb Drive?

The external USB SuperDrive didn't work for chmodme just now (a few posts up). I don't know about the thumb drive. Check out the PDF for proper instructions.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

I did burn the firmware update on the 840 pro before I started but I have a external cd drive. Not sure I can boot from it reading these posts

 

[chmodme]

The external USB SuperDrive didn't work for chmodme just now (a few posts up). I don't know about the thumb drive. Check out the PDF for proper instructions.

I tried, and failed, to mount anything successfully for purposes of this upgrade. I went as far as command line, which if the drive is installed internally on the SATA bus, works fine. But being connected to the USB bus, I finally decided I had better ways to spend my time

I tried USB-optical = fail
I tried USB-dongle = fail
I tried firewire SSD = fail


See above.

chmodme

 

[S.B.G]

I did burn the firmware update on the 840 pro before I started but I have a external cd drive. Not sure I can boot from it reading these posts

I tried first to boot to an external to load the firmware on my 840, but it didn't work for me either. I had to use the internal SuperDrive to get it to work.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

That's not good. I got my tbolt stuff going now ill boot from my OS internal back and see if I can get the pro to initialize . Pita

----------

Internal backup

Sorry iPhone typing

 

[frankieboy]

They don't look that off to me. However, try testing with higher QDs (i.e. Simultaneous I/O threads), try for example 3 and 32 (those are what we use for random write testing).

Thanks, Hellhammer. Here are my results for 3 and 32 threads, 4K random, respectively. Are they okay?

DiskTester 2.2 64-bit, diglloydTools 2.2.0, 2012-12-15 18:05
OS X 10.6.8, 8 CPU cores, 8192MB memory

Capacity GB: 466.07
Free space GB: 261.29
Simultaneous I/O threads: 3
Transfer size per I/O: 4K
Number of transfers (per thread): 131072
Test file size per thread: 32GB
Gap size (spacing): 0B
Total space required: 96GB
Aggregate I/O size: 1.50GB
File system unified buffer cache: DISABLED (default)
Test type: RANDOM
​

Writing 3 simultaneous streams...

          MB	Write MB/sec	Write ops/sec
          53	         9.0	      2295.0
          77	         6.5	      1664.1
          96	         5.4	      1373.4
         112	         4.7	      1197.2
         125	         4.2	      1071.9
         137	         3.8	       978.6
         148	         3.5	       905.5
         158	         3.3	       846.3
         167	         3.1	       796.5
         176	         2.9	       753.3
         184	         2.8	       717.0
         192	         2.7	       683.1
         198	         2.6	       653.2
         205	         2.5	       627.9
         212	         2.4	       605.0
         218	         2.3	       584.2
         224	         2.2	       564.7
         230	         2.1	       546.0
         236	         2.1	       530.4
         241	         2.0	       516.2
         247	         2.0	       502.9
         252	         1.9	       490.6
[...]
        1533	         0.4	        97.8
        1535	         0.4	        97.8
        1536	         0.4	        97.8

Reading 3 simultaneous streams...

          MB	 Read MB/sec	Read ops/sec
           3	         0.6	       141.1
           6	         0.5	       137.2
           9	         0.5	       139.8
          13	         0.5	       140.5
          16	         0.6	       141.0
          19	         0.5	       139.7
          22	         0.5	       139.2
          25	         0.5	       138.2
          28	         0.5	       136.9
          31	         0.5	       136.1
          34	         0.5	       135.6
          38	         0.5	       135.4
          41	         0.5	       135.3
          44	         0.5	       134.4
          46	         0.5	       133.5
          49	         0.5	       133.2
[...]
        1530	         0.5	       130.1
        1533	         0.5	       130.1
        1536	         0.5	       130.1

Simultaneous I/O threads: 32
Transfer size per I/O: 4K
Number of transfers (per thread): 4096
Test file size per thread: 1GB
Gap size (spacing): 0B
Total space required: 32GB
Aggregate I/O size: 512MB
Test type: RANDOM​

Writing 32 simultaneous streams...

          MB	Write MB/sec	Write ops/sec
          59	         0.9	       240.1
          88	         0.7	       177.6
         110	         0.6	       147.9
         129	         0.5	       129.4
         145	         0.5	       116.5
         160	         0.4	       107.0
         174	         0.4	        99.6
         187	         0.4	        93.8
         200	         0.3	        89.1
         212	         0.3	        85.0
         224	         0.3	        81.5
         235	         0.3	        78.6
         246	         0.3	        76.0
[...]
         497	         0.2	        53.8
         508	         0.2	        53.5
         512	         0.2	        53.4

Reading 32 simultaneous streams...

         MB	 Read MB/sec	Read ops/sec
          13	         0.2	        55.8
          27	         0.2	        55.4
          41	         0.2	        55.5
          55	         0.2	        55.7
          69	         0.2	        55.7
          83	         0.2	        55.7
          97	         0.2	        55.6
         111	         0.2	        55.6
         124	         0.2	        55.6
         138	         0.2	        55.5
         151	         0.2	        55.2
         165	         0.2	        55.1
         178	         0.2	        55.1
         192	         0.2	        55.1
         206	         0.2	        55.0
         220	         0.2	        55.0
         233	         0.2	        54.9
         246	         0.2	        54.8
 [...]
         479	         0.2	        53.3
         491	         0.2	        53.1
         502	         0.2	        52.9
         512	         0.2	        52.9

Write 512MB in seconds: 76.7
Read 512MB in seconds: 77.4
Aggregate write rate MB/sec: 6.7
Aggregate read rate MB/sec: 6.6

Write ops/sec: 1709
Read ops/sec: 1692

 

[kcrossley]

So, what's the solution to upgrading the Samsung 840 Pro firmware? Can you simply put the firmware onto a CD and boot from that or do you need to have Windows installed?

On another note, have any of you noticed Bluetooth issues after upgrading and especially if using the OWC Data Doubler?

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Bluetooth is fine with the OWC data double.

Still no love on initializing the Pro. May pull it out stick in a external , load OS on it than reinstall.

 

[kcrossley]

Bluetooth is fine with the OWC data double.

Still no love on initializing the Pro. May pull it out stick in a external , load OS on it than reinstall.

Then I wonder what happened to me, because after upgrading my Bluetooth connectivity sucks. My Apple Wireless Keyboard keeps connecting and disconnecting and keystrokes are laggy. Not sure what to do.

 

[hfg]

I tried, and failed, to mount anything successfully for purposes of this upgrade. I went as far as command line, which if the drive is installed internally on the SATA bus, works fine. But being connected to the USB bus, I finally decided I had better ways to spend my time

I tried USB-optical = fail
I tried USB-dongle = fail
I tried firewire SSD = fail


See above.

chmodme

I think I have been through the same sequence with trying to boot anything other than OS X on my late 2011 Macbook Pro with the SuperDrive removed and connected externally via USB. This has included Windows 7 and 8 install, Crucial SSD firmware update, and Samsung SSD firmware updates.

Each time I had to resort to reinstalling the optical SuperDrive back into the Macbook Pro to accomplish the necessary boot sequence. This has resulted in my current thinking of just leaving the optical drive internal to the computer for now with a large SSD.

I had been enjoying a "Fusion" setup with both Windows and OS X partitions on the SSD and joining it to the original 750GB 7200rpm hard disks in an optibay. But the occasional need for the optical drive to be reinstalled made having a tightly coupled Fusion drive impossible to maintain, so I split it back into a separate standalone SSD and this made the secondary hard disk logically easy to remove to utilize the optical drive as necessary. My need most recently was to reluctantly swap a 256GB 840 Pro back to a 512GB Crucial M4. I paused half-way through the process to update the Samsung firmware after reinstalling the optical drive, and before swapping the SSD for a larger one.

I sure wish I could find a solution for booting external "DOS based" CD disks from the Macbook Pro with an external optical drive!


-howard

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Okay pulled Pro out of Mac put in external and able to initialize . Yahoo

Cloning OS to it than install. Ill check firmware when all done and guess I should do trim enabler as well

 

[S.B.G]

So, what's the solution to upgrading the Samsung 840 Pro firmware? Can you simply put the firmware onto a CD and boot from that or do you need to have Windows installed?

On another note, have any of you noticed Bluetooth issues after upgrading and especially if using the OWC Data Doubler?

You don't need to put Windows on the Mac in order to upgrade the firmware. Here is the link to the OS X firmware update page at Samsung.

Download the appropriate ISO, burn it to disc and then restart the Mac holding down the Option button and then choose to boot to the CD/DVD drive and follow the on screen instructions.

 

[kcrossley]

You don't need to put Windows on the Mac in order to upgrade the firmware. Here is the link to the OS X firmware update page at Samsung.

Download the appropriate ISO, burn it to disc and then restart the Mac holding down the Option button and then choose to boot to the CD/DVD drive and follow the on screen instructions.

So is there anyway to do the upgrade with an Apple External Superdrive? I just tried and my MacBook Pro didn't recognize the AES.

Also, what happens if I update the firmware with software on the drive? Is it better to clone everything to another drive, then perform the firmware upgrade?

Thanks!

 

[S.B.G]

So is there anyway to do the upgrade with an Apple External Superdrive? I just tried and my MacBook Pro didn't recognize the AES.

So far not that I've heard of.

Also, what happens if I update the firmware with software on the drive? Is it better to clone everything to another drive, then perform the firmware upgrade?

Thanks!

I updated the firmware with all my stuff on it and had no problem at all.

 

[dukebound85]

So is there anyway to do the upgrade with an Apple External Superdrive? I just tried and my MacBook Pro didn't recognize the AES.

Also, what happens if I update the firmware with software on the drive? Is it better to clone everything to another drive, then perform the firmware upgrade?

Thanks!

Doesn't seem like it

Seems you need an internal optical drive for this.

Not sure why an apple external would make it any different in this regard as it is still USB mounted.

 

[kcrossley]

So basically you burn the .iso file onto a CD/DVD and then boot from the optical drive. Do you have to make the CD/DVD that you burn bootable?

 

[S.B.G]

So basically you burn the .iso file onto a CD/DVD and then boot from the optical drive. Do you have to make the CD/DVD that you burn bootable?

Yes. Burning the ISO makes the disc bootable.

 

[chmodme]

Then I wonder what happened to me, because after upgrading my Bluetooth connectivity sucks. My Apple Wireless Keyboard keeps connecting and disconnecting and keystrokes are laggy. Not sure what to do.

I use the Doubler, and had to deinstall it to reinstall the optical - so I could do the upgrade. Once reinstalled it works like it did previously.

I don't know the vintage of your computer, and I don't recall if it's a MBP? But they (the MBP) do differ in terms of how the little bluetooth module attaches, etc.

First thing I think of is double check the tiny little wires and connections? And there are little shield pieces to prevent shorting to the aluminum case, etc.....again, assuming it is a MBP?

chmodme

 

[kcrossley]

I use the Doubler, and had to deinstall it to reinstall the optical - so I could do the upgrade. Once reinstalled it works like it did previously.

I don't know the vintage of your computer, and I don't recall if it's a MBP? But they (the MBP) do differ in terms of how the little bluetooth module attaches, etc.

First thing I think of is double check the tiny little wires and connections? And there are little shield pieces to prevent shorting to the aluminum case, etc.....again, assuming it is a MBP?

chmodme

Thanks for the post. Yes, it's a 2012 MBP. I'll need to crack it open to check everything again. I don't recall any kind of shielding though. I really am not looking forward to reinstalling the optical drive.

More fiddling = higher risk of breaking something

 

[chmodme]

Thanks for the post. Yes, it's a 2012 MBP. I'll need to crack it open to check everything again. I don't recall any kind of shielding though. I really am not looking forward to reinstalling the optical drive.

More fiddling = higher risk of breaking something

I know exactly what you are saying. This little Friday doing BS has resulted in my thinking about the options - suck it up and get the 840 512 Pro and reinstall the optical drive.

Costly thinking....

chmodme

 

[kcrossley]

I know exactly what you are saying. This little Friday doing BS has resulted in my thinking about the options - suck it up and get the 840 512 Pro and reinstall the optical drive.

Costly thinking....

chmodme

The problem for me is that while I have no problem with the OS and apps being on the SSD, I just don't trust the SSD with my data, which is why I prefer the dual setup.

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I hacked my external Superdrive with this little jewel, but unfortunately the drive is not bootable Why does Apple do this stuff?

http://apple.stackexchange.com/ques...-appear-identical-to-internal-superdrive?rq=1