problems with A-DATA S599/SF1200?

[magreen]

[Mods: this thread seems to be running in parallel to another thread here: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2126381]

What the heck is this? I just stumbled across these seemingly pervasive BSOD problems in newegg reviews with the A-DATA S599.
link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

Is this just ADATA trying to throw some FUD to cover their backsides, or has anyone else heard anything about SF1200 problems?

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your input regarding ADATA product. Please note that E-mail responses may be delayed due to Thanksgiving holiday last week.

Issues were recently discovered with all SSDs using Sandforce SF-1200/1222. We currently have a Beta solution, however, at this time it can only be implemented by ADATA Engineers. Please contact our customer service specialist so that we can make return shipping arrangements.

ADATA Los Angeles Office: Phone: 1-888-YO-ADATA x604
E-mail: support@adatausa.com

ADATA Customer Support

 

[sxr7171]

Oh *(&^. Well, I guess this means the Microcenter SSD also.

I guess that explains the BSOD.

 

[magreen]

Oh *(&^. Well, I guess this means the Microcenter SSD also.

I guess that explains the BSOD.

huh. This is not good.

Ok, while I'm at it I just read this comment from OCZ customer service in a newegg review for the Agility 2 that sent a chill down my spine that you can't use sleep or hibernate in XP with their SSD, and it's making me think twice about getting an SSD for my XP laptop:

link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227542

Manufacturer Response:Hello, Win XP was created before SSD drives were produced, and it has a few quirks that have been corrected with Win 7. We do recommend turning hibernate and sleep modes off for XP. Unfortunately computer hardware is also playing catch up with SSD drives, although that has improved as well. We are sorry for the difficulties.​

 

[magreen]

more reports of Sandforce BSOD and inability to resume from suspend problems:

http://jackzhang.posterous.com/another-unsolvable-problem-psa-for-corsair-fo
http://www.overclock.net/ssd/820724-corsair-force-vs-ocz-vertex-2-a.html
http://m.slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=2195553&page=3
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T5...graded-to-ADATA-SSD-S599-SandForce/m-p/323569
http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88786

and no I don't have skin in the game, I just feel the need... the need for speed! And I want to buy a $%^ing SSD for my lappie already.

 

[Zap]

I want to buy a $%^ing SSD for my lappie already.

If you're concerned with the Sandforce drives, you can always go Intel and just not worry about it. Check Hot Deals for a thread on getting one for possibly as low as $122 for 80GB Intel.

 

[magreen]

If you're concerned with the Sandforce drives, you can always go Intel and just not worry about it. Check Hot Deals for a thread on getting one for possibly as low as $122 for 80GB Intel.

Yes, that might be a good idea. I'll take a look over there. Thanks. I have to say I'm not happy with how high the intel prices have stayed. But maybe there's a reason for that that they've known all along?

Although the Sandforce problems I'm reading about make me worry about SSDs in general not being ready for prime time. Since everyone's so gung-ho about the SF ones, and assuming these reports are true, the bugs aren't stopping them from being gung ho.

Do you think the Intel is significantly different?

 

[Davidh373]

Well the Sandforce problems I'm reading about make me worry about SSDs in general not being ready for prime time. Since everyone's so gung-ho about the SF ones, and assuming these reports are true, the bugs aren't stopping them from being gung ho.

Do you think the Intel is significantly different?

Ok, what exactly is this? For one thing XP is OOOOOLD. Why would you think something that came out nearly 10 years later would be compatible? Other than that you point to an ADATA drive? These kind of seem like isolated incidents you're giving too much credit. Try it yourself before you judge. I've heard nothing but good things come from friends about SSDs. I actually suggested it for my friend and Boss' video editing workstation. He has put it to sleep just fine for around 5 months now. You are investing too much attention in the minority.

 

[Emulex]

no problems here on windows 7 sandforce (Callisto Deluxe 120gb) using latest firmware. i was skeptical but since i sell these things i had to use it (on my own boxen).

The microcenter G2 - yes - two BSOD followed by no boot device found - brand new install and all.

The G2 btw i have with full max power on windows server 2008 with the latest drivers etc. So it's not sleep. It's not power the box has a brand new PURESINE cyberpower monster battery backup.

So i'll rule the drive firmware is teh sux. We have two years to return the microcenter drive but sandforce is junk. Indilinx wasn't this bad.

Well this Callisto Deluxe 120gb i got for free - it isn't showing any problems so far. Latest firmware.

i ran intel X25-M for all of 2010 without a single hiccup - so yeah intel is the shiznit

 

[VirtualLarry]

This really sucks. I built two rigs recently, one with a Gskill Phoenix Pro 120GB, and one with an Adata S599 64GB. Hopefully they will put out a firmware update.

Is this problem only with XP? Because both systems I built were with Win7 HP 64-bit.

 

[magreen]

Ok, what exactly is this? For one thing XP is OOOOOLD. Why would you think something that came out nearly 10 years later would be compatible? Other than that you point to an ADATA drive?

Because until now, there were no indications that it didn't work with XP. Quite to the contrary, people have generally reported rave success with XP.

These kind of seem like isolated incidents you're giving too much credit. Try it yourself before you judge. I've heard nothing but good things come from friends about SSDs. I actually suggested it for my friend and Boss' video editing workstation. He has put it to sleep just fine for around 5 months now. You are investing too much attention in the minority.

Thanks for your input and advice. But I'm not just reporting isolated incidents. I'm quoting the Customer Service Departments of A-DATA and OCZ that their drives are either not reliably working at all, or not reliably working with XP. See my posts above.

 

[magreen]

This really sucks. I built two rigs recently, one with a Gskill Phoenix Pro 120GB, and one with an Adata S599 64GB. Hopefully they will put out a firmware update.

Is this problem only with XP? Because both systems I built were with Win7 HP 64-bit.

Where's Anand when you need him?

 

[Emulex]

so who is going to nag ADATA to fix the microcenter ones? They accept the ADATA S599 via rma to fix the problem.

I have to say i take back this callisto deluxe 120gb is running solid so far after the last firmware update (but i am not happy about how many firmwares before this problem existed).

I'm going to swap the microcenter G2 into this box to make sure its not specific ICH/chipset issue.

The wake up problem is very prominent with PATA-> SATA Converters with led's you can see a normal SSD (intel) blip the red light (who knows what it means) and boot - the microcenter G2 sandforce never blips the light and comes up ALWAYS as drive not found. it's like they didn't set timings correct or something. boot delay. who knows.

can you hack the firmware from a callisto of the same size to work with the other sandforce?

worst case you get to rma your drive and perhaps buy something else.

 

[magreen]

If you're concerned with the Sandforce drives, you can always go Intel and just not worry about it. Check Hot Deals for a thread on getting one for possibly as low as $122 for 80GB Intel.

screw it. I just bought a used 80GB intel G2 for $113 shipped -$10 with bill me later off ebay.

Tired of waiting and the next best I saw anywhere on an intel was in the $145 after MIR range.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hmm, the rig with the Adata SSD that I built my BIL seems to be having troubles. From what I can gather, it's having trouble shutting down. One time, they put it into sleep mode, and then the fans started to cycle on and off in 5sec intervals, and wouldn't wake up.

Although, now that I think about it, older P35-chipset Gigabyte boards had problems with sleep mode when overclocked above 333Mhz FSB too. (This one's at 412)

So I don't know if it's the SSD or what.

 

[rehless]

I have an A-DATA S599 64 gig that is on a win7 64 bit for a month or so and no problems, yet.

 

[sxr7171]

huh. This is not good.

Ok, while I'm at it I just read this comment from OCZ customer service in a newegg review for the Agility 2 that sent a chill down my spine that you can't use sleep or hibernate in XP with their SSD, and it's making me think twice about getting an SSD for my XP laptop:

link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227542

Don't allow this to prevent you from thoroughly enjoying an SSD. Get an Intel, they work perfectly.

EDIT: Just saw that you bought one. That's the way to go.

 

[sxr7171]

no problems here on windows 7 sandforce (Callisto Deluxe 120gb) using latest firmware. i was skeptical but since i sell these things i had to use it (on my own boxen).

The microcenter G2 - yes - two BSOD followed by no boot device found - brand new install and all.

The G2 btw i have with full max power on windows server 2008 with the latest drivers etc. So it's not sleep. It's not power the box has a brand new PURESINE cyberpower monster battery backup.

So i'll rule the drive firmware is teh sux. We have two years to return the microcenter drive but sandforce is junk. Indilinx wasn't this bad.

Well this Callisto Deluxe 120gb i got for free - it isn't showing any problems so far. Latest firmware.

i ran intel X25-M for all of 2010 without a single hiccup - so yeah intel is the shiznit

I'm running 3 of Microcenter in RAID-0 and I get the no boot drive found error and once a BSOD shorty after a resume. Anyway the no boot drive found error goes away when you do a restart with CTRL+ALT+DEL. At least it has the past 5 times I tried. Never know when that "good fortune" will stop.

 

[dmoney1980]

I have a Micro Center brand SSD (Adata / SF) and it works fine, but I was getting BSOD when waking from sleep but it turned out to be bad memory

 

[tweakboy]

lol A-DATA is a cheapo company, my gosh thats the worst hardware vendor out there. Why would you buy from them in the first place.

 

[magreen]

Don't allow this to prevent you from thoroughly enjoying an SSD. Get an Intel, they work perfectly.

EDIT: Just saw that you bought one. That's the way to go.

:thumbsup: thanks. Can't wait for it to get here. :whiste:

 

[Emulex]

Anyway the no boot drive found error goes away when you do a restart with CTRL+ALT+DEL.

^^ that is ghetto though. not right. period.

I can see the lights blink differently on a pata to sata bridge when i use a intel it blinks a red light on boot for a short bit. on the ADATA it does not and then does not find the drive ever. so its gotta be a timing issue. like wait 1 second for the pc. probably something stupid like that.

I'll go try raid-0 and see if i can use these buggers

 

[magreen]

Anyway the no boot drive found error goes away
^^ that is ghetto though. not right. period.

LOL... are you talking about my cheap-a$$ ebay drive? :biggrin:

 

[Burner27]

I have to say i take back this callisto deluxe 120gb is running solid so far after the last firmware update (but i am not happy about how many firmwares before this problem existed).

Huh? Are you saying you are having issues with your Callisto now after the FW upgrade?

 

[Emulex]

i'm saying i've seen no issues since upgrading to latest firmware with the callisto deluxe which is the same sandforce as the microcenter G2.

Microcenter G2 = problems with wake and no drive found ( no solution ) 0% trust.
callisto deluxe = problems all gone after latest firmware patch. 99% trust (need time).
intel x25-v/x25-m = never had any problems ever never never never. 100% trust.

I've deployed intel drives at work en masse with no problems with sata-1 (pata to sata converter laptops), pata to sata converters, and old p4-2.8ghz sata boxens all the way to dual E5540 servers.

These machines at work get the beatdown. right now i would not consider a non-intel because the intel are reasonably priced and solid. Also i've had great success with samsung in OEM environment (ie lenovo X300 with SLC samsung that it came with) and other laptops with oem samsung. solid. not stupid fast but to me 100% reliability trumps any speed benchmarks.

And the X25-v super fast. It's slow on writes but my workers write about 2-3% of the time compared to reads and benchmark queen shows read speed equal to that of the x25-M 80gb.

i'd say:
1. intel x25-m
2. samsung in oem package (delivered as part of the laptop/desktop only)
3. indilinx
4. then a good sandforce like the callisto with the right firmware.

I do not believe i should ever have to update "firmware" on a drive. If its bad, rma it or ditch it.

 

[taltamir]

intel x25-v/x25-m = never had any problems ever never never never. 100% trust.

actually it had 2 problems:
1. under certain conditions performance will degrade to nothing (a wear leveling bug)
2. bios password for HDD could cause dataloss.

both of which were patched in firmware.

that being said, that is by far the LEAST amount of firmware issues of any manufacturer, and upgrading the firmware on an intel drive does not cause dataloss.

Microcenter G2 = problems with wake and no drive found ( no solution ) 0% trust.

what controller is that?