How reliable are SMART tests?

[cbrunny]

Windows 8 is reporting SMART errors on my OS SSD (OCZ Agility 3 - yes, I know.). It's obviously an older drive so it is very likely failing. Pretty sure it isn't a virus as a restart shows that the mobo reports the same error in pre-post check. Still boots and seems to operate normally. Both Windows and Mobo explicitly suggest the disk gets replaced immediately.

If the disk was acting weird I'd run to the store today and swap it tonight. That doesn't seem to be happening though. Do I have time to shop for a good deal?

 

[ArisVer]

You did backup didn't you?

 

[corkyg]

SMART technology standards only apply to the method of data transmission. Actual data is not standard between OEMs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.#Lack_of_common_interpretation
Based on past OCZ Agility 3 reports in this forum, I would be inclined to be prepared to replace the drive. If nothing else, back it completely. Better yet, clone it to a separate drive so that a replacement can be cloned for a quick fix.

 

[cbrunny]

Yeah I took a backup immediately and placed it on my storage drive. Hmm. I was hoping to get some more life out of it but I guess it probably is time....

 

[Quad5Ny]

1. Download http://sourceforge.net/projects/sma.../smartmontools-6.3-1.win32-setup.exe/download
2. Extract with 7zip
3. Keep smartctl.exe, Delete the rest
4. Open a Elevated (Administrator) Command Prompt
5. Run:

   smartctl /dev/sda -a -x > \Users\Public\Desktop\SMART_Dump.txt

6. Paste here using

    tag
   [/LIST]
   Note: Your drive might be /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, /dev/sdd, /dev/sde, etc.  Paste whichever one is the Agility 3 here.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I've got a 60GB Patriot Pyro SSD for which Stablebit Scanner reports a temperature of 128C. Everything else is fine. And -- no -- it isn't even warm to the touch.

Maybe it needs a firmware update -- I just don't know. It was in use as a cache drive for 3 years.

 

[ryderOCZ]

@cbrunny,

What error are you getting and what motherboard?

Thank you.

 

[Puffnstuff]

On my mb if it gets a smart warning from one of the attached drives it will halt during post and display the error and the drive information. I had a wd black 1.5tb fail recently and I had to remove it from the system before I could boot. I'd say that smart works pretty well and I want to know if a drive is about to fail. Since it was under warranty wd sent me a new replacement. As a matter of fact wd has one of the best rma processes that I've used.

 

[ArisVer]

I've got a 60GB Patriot Pyro SSD for which Stablebit Scanner reports a temperature of 128C. Everything else is fine. And -- no -- it isn't even warm to the touch.

Maybe it needs a firmware update -- I just don't know. It was in use as a cache drive for 3 years.

I get a false reading of 250 C for an M500 from HD Tune. Hardware Monitor reports it fine at 30 C.