You are not logged in.

#1 2012-11-08 14:34:15

swordfish
Member
Registered: 2012-01-14
Posts: 160

Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

Hi there,

I just bought a Samsung 830 SSD Basic (64GB). It seems as if it needs a running Windows OS for firmware updates (seems to rely on an some kind of a Samsung tool). So my question is: Does anyone use a Samsung 830 SSD and know a way to perform a firmware update without using a Win OS?


Arch_x64 on Thinkpad Edge E520 (Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB Crucial M4 SSD) + ITX-Desktop (Asrock H77M-ITX, Intel Core i3-2120T, 8GB RAM, 64 GB Samsung 830 SSD)

Offline

#2 2012-11-08 14:41:22

WonderWoofy
Member
From: Los Gatos, CA
Registered: 2012-05-19
Posts: 8,414

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

I don't think there has been a firmware update for the 830.  I just got one, and I looked.  There has been an update to the included windows software, but not the actual firmware.

Offline

#3 2012-11-08 15:20:39

swordfish
Member
Registered: 2012-01-14
Posts: 160

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

WonderWoofy wrote:

I don't think there has been a firmware update for the 830.  I just got one, and I looked.  There has been an update to the included windows software, but not the actual firmware.

Hey WonderWoofy,

thanks for your answer - sounds good. But do you know this from using the Samsung tool under Win?


Arch_x64 on Thinkpad Edge E520 (Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB Crucial M4 SSD) + ITX-Desktop (Asrock H77M-ITX, Intel Core i3-2120T, 8GB RAM, 64 GB Samsung 830 SSD)

Offline

#4 2012-11-08 15:29:35

WonderWoofy
Member
From: Los Gatos, CA
Registered: 2012-05-19
Posts: 8,414

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

No I know this from going to their site after seeing in another forum that there was an update... but alas the poster was simply mistaken.

I think the "Magician Software" that is included with the drive actually allows you to make a bootable DOS usb/cd for firmware upgrades.  So I am not entirely sure that you are actually doing it from within windows.  The drive that I have there is an update for firmware (I hav the 830 128GB), but it was released in January, and my drive already has it (I think nearly all of them that you are able to buy in the stores do have it).

What is neat is that the firware itself is actually downlaoded as a separate file from the installer (or whatever the hell it actually is).  So presumably, you could create your own dos bootable usb, and drop it on there.  I am not 100% certain on this, but I had to do something similar to upgrade the bios firmware on my machine.

Offline

#5 2012-11-08 16:17:27

swordfish
Member
Registered: 2012-01-14
Posts: 160

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

WonderWoofy wrote:

I think the "Magician Software" that is included with the drive actually allows you to make a bootable DOS usb/cd for firmware upgrades.

Yes, you're right - but the "Magician Software" has to be installed on a Windows system which I don't have smile

WonderWoofy wrote:

What is neat is that the firware itself is actually downlaoded as a separate file from the installer (or whatever the hell it actually is).  So presumably, you could create your own dos bootable usb, and drop it on there.  I am not 100% certain on this, but I had to do something similar to upgrade the bios firmware on my machine.

The question is: If there is a firmware update, will it come as a file that I can dd on an USB stick? Or will I have to use the Samsung installer tool that requires a running Windows system?

Hmmm, actually I'm thinking about sending the Samsung SSD back and order a Crucial M4 in return ...


Arch_x64 on Thinkpad Edge E520 (Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB Crucial M4 SSD) + ITX-Desktop (Asrock H77M-ITX, Intel Core i3-2120T, 8GB RAM, 64 GB Samsung 830 SSD)

Offline

#6 2012-11-08 16:21:03

WonderWoofy
Member
From: Los Gatos, CA
Registered: 2012-05-19
Posts: 8,414

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

I think is will come as a simple file of the firmware itself.  You may then create a dos bootable usb stick (there is software floating around the interwebs to do this, and it is super simple) and put the utility and firmware on the device.  Cold boot from the newly made device.  Update.... profit!

Again, I am not 100% sure that this is how it is.  But from what I have gathered from looking at the available files and readme's on the firware downlaod page, this is what it sounds like.


Edit:  I just noticed this part ( have to learn to read teh whole thing better)

Hmmm, actually I'm thinking about sending the Samsung SSD back and order a Crucial M4 in return ...

The samsung 830 is one of the most reliable drives out there today, it is not as fast as some of the other top tier consumer drives, but it uses syncronous flash and Samsungs own controller.  I am not saying the M4 is a bad drive, as it also has synchronous flash and is of great quality.  But the samsung is pretty sweet.  That said, I also have a Kingston HyperX, and a Mushkin Atlas mSATA, and I have nothing but great thigns to say about both of those as well.  Of course the mushkin is mSATA, so intended for that tinly little WWAN slot, though there are adapters for it (and it is only 7 grams).

Last edited by WonderWoofy (2012-11-08 16:24:53)

Offline

#7 2012-11-09 08:54:58

hunterthomson
Member
Registered: 2008-06-22
Posts: 794
Website

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

You can check your logs. I thin dmesg without systemd...

With systemd use the journalctl command. Then type:  /SAMSUNG
You should see a line in your logs that will tell you what firmware version it has...

ATA-9: SAMSUNG SSD 830 Series, CXM03B1Q, max UDMA/133

CXM03B1Q is the newest firmware. Jan 19, 2012
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owner … M#content2


....Okay....? So, the UDMA/133 is not to be taken at face value.
Another thread on this had a post that said...
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1187981
technolog wrote:
These are clearly SATA 3 speeds, because practical speeds with SATA 2 do not exceed 270 MiB/s.

Last edited by hunterthomson (2012-11-09 09:39:08)


OpenBSD-current Thinkpad X230, i7-3520M, 16GB CL9 Kingston, Samsung 830 256GB
Contributor: linux-grsec

Offline

#8 2012-11-09 12:44:54

blackout23
Member
Registered: 2011-11-16
Posts: 781

Re: Firmware update for Samsung 830 SSD?

I can vouche for the Crucial M4 it can take a crap load of write cycles without degrading. Also extremely fast and has a great price. I'm using two of them here. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho … nm-Vs-34nm

Updating it is very easy on Linux. I'll just prepare a USB Stick with the ISO and Unetbootin. Boot it. Type "yes". Done. Reboot

Last edited by blackout23 (2012-11-09 12:45:24)

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB