The Samsung 840/840 Pro SSD thread

[cruiser76]

Hi all;

I currently installed 840 evo 250gb. I ran speed test (Blackmagic speed test), and first results are 400s for both write and read, but later continuing test results are 270s for write, 400s for read. Is this normal results? Is the test working like that?

My system supports sata 6 gb.

thanx

 

[aau]

I'm having difficulty updating to that latest firmware on my 256GB 840 Pro. It's in the HD bay of my Early 2009 Macbook Pro, and I'm replaced the optical with another brand SSD in an optibay. I've burned the firmware update ISO to a CD, but when I try to boot from a USB optical drive and I'm greeted with a black screen. I can boot from the CD on my PC so the disc itself is fine. I do a have a firmware password on my mac, could that be causing the problem? I've tried booting by holding down option and selected the updater CD,
(after inputting the firmware password), but still get a blank screen.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I'm having difficulty updating to that latest firmware on my 256GB 840 Pro. It's in the HD bay of my Early 2009 Macbook Pro, and I'm replaced the optical with another brand SSD in an optibay. I've burned the firmware update ISO to a CD, but when I try to boot from a USB optical drive and I'm greeted with a black screen. I can boot from the CD on my PC so the disc itself is fine. I do a have a firmware password on my mac, could that be causing the problem? I've tried booting by holding down option and selected the updater CD,
(after inputting the firmware password), but still get a blank screen.

I had the same problem on a 2011 Mac Mini, but without having a password, so I just assumed the disc that Samsung recommends doesn't work.

 

[ecschwarz]

I'm having difficulty updating to that latest firmware on my 256GB 840 Pro. It's in the HD bay of my Early 2009 Macbook Pro, and I'm replaced the optical with another brand SSD in an optibay. I've burned the firmware update ISO to a CD, but when I try to boot from a USB optical drive and I'm greeted with a black screen. I can boot from the CD on my PC so the disc itself is fine. I do a have a firmware password on my mac, could that be causing the problem? I've tried booting by holding down option and selected the updater CD,
(after inputting the firmware password), but still get a blank screen.

I think there was some issue with it being on an external optical drive - silly, I know, but you may have go to the route of updating via Boot Camp (or put your optical drive back in the computer for the update).

 

[dapperdee]

I have an SSD (Samsung 840 evo) in my main bay and an HHD in my optical bay on my early 2011 13" MBP. Do I need to disable the "hard disk(s) to sleep" setting?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I think there was some issue with it being on an external optical drive - silly, I know, but you may have go to the route of updating via Boot Camp (or put your optical drive back in the computer for the update).

That was only for booting.

 

[drsox]

Hi all;

I currently installed 840 evo 250gb. I ran speed test (Blackmagic speed test), and first results are 400s for both write and read, but later continuing test results are 270s for write, 400s for read. Is this normal results? Is the test working like that?

My system supports sata 6 gb.

thanx

I have the same problem with my Evo 250 in a MacMini. I used the same Evo 250 in a Win7 PC with Samsung Magician test software and found no change between Read and Write. So the problem is either Blackmagic or some interaction between the Samsung controller and the Apple H/W.

 

[081440]

iMac 7,1 and MBP 4,1 both upgraded with EVO 840

Just updated my second "older" intel Mac to Mavericks and an SSD. I used the Samsung EVO 840 with 250GB for both.

Upgraded a Mid-2007 iMac 7,1 20" to 6GB of RAM (OWC RAM) and the SSD and it's working great with 10.9.2!

Also upgraded an Early 2008 MacBook Pro 4,1 with 4GB of RAM (Apple RAM) to a SSD and it has been working great with 10.9.2 for more than 3 months.

Both machines have a noticeable speed increase and responsiveness from the SSD. The MBP uses SATA I connection and so is limited to about 135mb/sec read/write but the SSD is still noticeably faster and easier on the battery than my 7200rpm Hybrid Momentus XT. The iMac is SATA II and so I am getting about 250mb/sec write and 269mb/sec read.

If you are upgrading the iMac, be sure to get a full size carrier! you'll need it to handle the 3.5 inch cap left by the old hard drive. And make sure it's as long as a 3.5inch hard drive as well. NewerTechnology's Adaptadrive worked perfect.

I did download the Trim app for both machines, and I do have "Put Hard Disks to sleep when possible" selected and have yet to have any issues.

Also, noticeable heat decrease in the iMac over the original (possibly failing) 3.5 inch 7200 Barracuda.

 

[chmodme]

Interesting, I burnt the .ISO in Roxio Toast 10.x ( to update Samsung 840 EVO 750Gb )
Booted from the CDR, had to press "Y" a couple of times to accept the process
and also that it might erase my drive ! = scary moment.

It then said "confirm after power cycle SSD?" - so I was thinking, does the
updater do that or do I have to take the Mac apart and unplug the SSD ! ?

I just typed Y again for Yes.

Then I had a "software mismatch update failed" message.

BUT on reboot of the Mac I now do have EXT0BB6Q version, before it was
EXT0BB0Q

Very confusing, and now I don't know if it was properly "flashed" at all.

Anyone have similar weirdness going on ??

2011 MBP 840 Pro 512MB

I had the same experience, but I used the stock Disk Utility. This mirrors the last firmware update. Same weirdness as the process completes. I suspect they lack a graceful way to finish the process so it throws a generic error.

Upon reboot, it is updated. No issues. Seems like this is not a universal issue, but I assure you I have seen it before on my gear.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

...Also upgraded an Early 2008 MacBook Pro 4,1 with 4GB of RAM (Apple RAM) to a SSD and it has been working great with 10.9.2 for more than 3 months.

I doubt that.
Release date of OS X 10.9.2: 25th February 2014
Current date: 7th May 2014

I did download the Trim app for both machines, and I do have "Put Hard Disks to sleep when possible" selected and have yet to have any issues.

That you downloaded the app means nothing. It is also important, that you tell us which app you used, and how stable your system is.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

I'm guessing by this statement Samsung means TRIM is not supported in that it is not officially supported by Apple on aftermarket drives. So in that sense, I would say it is an accurate statement.

From the Samsung PDF:

It is not accurate, because Apples SATA-drivers (OS X) use the same protocol as the Microsoft or Intel SATA-drivers (Windows). The TRIM command is a standard SATA command.

 

[Weaselboy]

I'm guessing by this statement Samsung means TRIM is not supported in that it is not officially supported by Apple on aftermarket drives. So in that sense, I would say it is an accurate statement.

From the Samsung PDF:

On Macs, TRIM is only supported for Apple’s OEM SSDs and is not supported for Samsung’s (or any other manufacturers’) aftermarket SSDs.

It is not accurate, because Apples SATA-drivers (OS X) use the same protocol as the Microsoft or Intel SATA-drivers (Windows). The TRIM command is a standard SATA command.

Read what I said. It is an accurate statement. For whatever reason, Apple has chosen not to support TRIM on aftermarket SSDs, which is exactly what Samsung said.

 

[Wreckie]

Which would be better choise for iMac 2011 - 840 EVO or 840 PRO?

 

[ecschwarz]

Which would be better choise for iMac 2011 - 840 EVO or 840 PRO?

For most users on most machines, unless you are doing the most demanding tasks (server-level, video work, etc.), the 840 Evo will be "good enough" for most tasks and plenty fast. The Pro does have a 5 year warranty vs. the Evo's 3, but it also costs quite a bit more.

If it were a few years ago and the question was 840 vs. 840 Pro, I'd say 840 Pro, but now, the Evo is a great balance of performance and price.

 

[johnnnw]

Is it safe for me to upgrade my Macbook Pro with a 840 Pro to the new firmware?

I'm on my Windows partition right now in Samsung Magician and I see there is a firmware update.

Can I run this upgrade without any problem? Anyone else done it?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Is it safe for me to upgrade my Macbook Pro with a 840 Pro to the new firmware?

I'm on my Windows partition right now in Samsung Magician and I see there is a firmware update.

Can I run this upgrade without any problem? Anyone else done it?

Why shouldn't it be safe?

 

[johnnnw]

Why shouldn't it be safe?

Not sure really. I assumed it was designed for Windows and considering I mainly use OSX I was worried it would break something major or whatever.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Not sure really. I assumed it was designed for Windows and considering I mainly use OSX I was worried it would break something major or whatever.

I am quite sure that Samsung knows they sell drives for people that don't run Windows.

 

[johnnnw]

I am quite sure that Samsung knows they sell drives for people that don't run Windows.

You're right.

 

[MCAsan]

Got my Samsung 840 EVO 1TB this morning. I will use it for external backup of my 2012 rMBP that has a 768GB SATA-based SSD. If I use the Samsung via USB3 BOT mode, read/write was only around 200MBs. Put the SSD into an Inateck enclosure that does UASP and read/write was 400MBs+....basically the same as the internal SSD. Highly recommend the Samsung SSD ($430 on eBay) and the Inateck enclosure ($18 at Amazon).

I wonder if the Pro SSD would really give any more performance? Would it need to be on a Thunderbolt connection to see any improvement? Can you get closer to 500MBs with USB3 UASP as transport?

 

[Dewdman42]

Just picked up 1TB 840 EVO for my mid 2010 MBP and Mavericks. In case anyone is interested, speeds are roughly 250MB/SEC each way. Slower then I hoped, but maybe its older controller?

Anyway, I just want to say that I am enjoying the performance but I am having some problems with Sleep on the MBP. When I wake it from sleep, Apple Mail has to be restarted, and this leads me to wonder if the entire OS is at risk in some way when being put to sleep.

What is the reccomended mode of operation for this drive in terms of sleep or hibernate on OSX?

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

...Put the SSD into an Inateck enclosure that does UASP and read/write was 400MBs+....basically the same as the internal SSD. Highly recommend the Samsung SSD ($430 on eBay) and the Inateck enclosure ($18 at Amazon).

USB 3.0 does not support TRIM. That's the reason why you should not use USB enclosures for SSDs.

 

[saturnotaku]

Just picked up 1TB 840 EVO for my mid 2010 MBP and Mavericks. In case anyone is interested, speeds are roughly 250MB/SEC each way. Slower then I hoped, but maybe its older controller?

Your speeds are bang on for your machine. The 2010 MBP only supports SATA 3 Gb/s, which is 250 MB/s give or take.

 

[MCAsan]

Just picked up 1TB 840 EVO for my mid 2010 MBP and Mavericks. In case anyone is interested, speeds are roughly 250MB/SEC each way. Slower then I hoped, but maybe its older controller?

My Samsung 840 EVO did only around 250MBs when I connected it to via a Crucial cloning cabler to my rMBP's USB 3 port. But when I put the SSD into an Inateck FEU3NS-1E enclosure that does USAP.....the read/write speeds jumped to over 400MBs. Sounds like you need a USAP enabled enclosure. The Inateck one is around $18 on Amazon.

 

[saturnotaku]

My Samsung 840 EVO did only around 250MBs when I connected it to via a Crucial cloning cabler to my rMBP's USB 3 port. But when I put the SSD into an Inateck FEU3NS-1E enclosure that does USAP.....the read/write speeds jumped to over 400MBs. Sounds like you need a USAP enabled enclosure. The Inateck one is around $18 on Amazon.

He's not talking about external enclosures.