02HD firmware update impossible because of pre-production firmware?! (version 0953)

[idata]

I just tried to update my 160G Postville SSD firmware to version 02HD (latest), and I get the message that my SSD has pre-production firmware installed (version 0953)!

This is a brand-new SSD, just a couple of weeks old.

What worries me is that the label on the SSD itself says that it has FW 02G9, where the updater tool indicates that it has FW 0953.

I found a few links on the net of people having the same problem: http://www.amazon.com/review/R9244YDVV2HAM/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm http://www.amazon.com/review/R9244YDVV2HAM/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Some info about my SSD:

Model: SSDSA2MH160G2C1

SN: CVPO940001HQ160AGN

Pack date: 29 SEP 09

The drive was bought at a Dutch online shop: http://www.informatique.nl/131585/intel-x25-m-postville-160gb.html http://www.informatique.nl/131585/intel-x25-m-postville-160gb.html

Not only is Intel having a hard time getting good firmware released, even their manufacturing process isn't quite up to spec if you ask me.

Are there any other people having the same problem, especially Dutch/Belgian users who bought this drive at the same shop?

I already contacted Intel Customer Support just some minute ago...

/Charles

[idata]

My problem is solved (thanks Angel from Asus support!).

Charlie, if you have a similar Gmicron RAID controller (red SATA plugs) on your motherboard, don't use it. I talked with Asus support and they suggested I use the Intel P55 SATA connectors on the side of my motherboard instead. I tried that and configured the raid with intel storage manager utility, and WOW. Not only did it work, but now my drives are blazzing fast.

Here's my new speed:

Windows 7 gives a 7.9 score.

using AS SSD Benchmark:

Seq Read: 482.15 MB/s Seq Write: 136.34MB/s

4k Read: 13.11MB/s 4k Write: 32.71MB/s

4k-64Thrd Read: 273.98MB/s write: 110.92MB/s

Acc Time: read 0.220ms write: 0.129m

[idata]

My mobo is a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5, and I indeed tried to do the FW update on one of the JMicron sata-ports.

It is by default connected to the ICH10R ports, but I didn't want to risk switching from the "raid" to "AHCI" mode because I feared that my RAID10 set (4x1Tera) would need to be rebuilt.

I will give it a go tonight on one of the ICH10R ports (after first backing up the 2Tera raid array).

Let's hope that this is solved then... and if it is, another lesson learned! 🙂

Does any of you have experience on the ICH10R with switching from RAID to AHCI and back? Is the raid-set kept in place?

Thanks a million already for the tips, and I will keep you posted tonight on the progress (have to go to work now...).

/Charles

[idata]

The Intel Firmware Update Tool Users Guideline Doc clearly states that the tool will not update SSD's connected to a RAID controller. http://download.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/sata_ssd_firmware_update_tool_guidelines_322571.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/sata_ssd_firmware_update_tool_guidelines_322571.pdf

[idata]

Good news... I just tried to update the firmware with the SSD being connected to the ICH10R controller (after first backing up the data on the raid10-set and then setting AHCI mode instead of RAID), and it worked flawlessly!

After the update I set the ICH10R controller back to RAID instead of AHCI mode, and the RAID10-set was still ok.

Two lessons learned...

• The SSD didn't have a pre-production firmware (why did Intel state to the other user who had this problem as well that "0953" was indeed a pre-prod firmware?).Intel's manufacuring process is a-ok then (sorry for the false accusation Intel).
• The JMicron controller does indeed fool Intel's updater tool by passing another hardware (the JMicron SATA ports were in IDE mode by the way).

Maybe a last lesson learned as well... sometimes being too careful doesn't pay. I tried to perform the update on the JMicron SATA ports so I wouldn't have to switch the ICH10R set from RAID to AHCI and back (because I feared the RAID set might need to be rebuild).

@veggiem0nster: thanks for the golden tip! 🙂

@BDS73: yes, I know that updating the FW when connected to a RAID set doesn't work. That's why I tried to do the update on the JMicron controller's SATA ports (see above).

/Charles

[idata]

I got the same problem with the firmware update I just got an Intel X25-E 32 Gb and I get your SSD has pre-production firmware bla bla bla My hardware ID it is 045c my firmware it is 045C8860 I don't know how to have it updated